Senior Project Manager

Responsabilités

CARE International is committed to transforming lives globally by addressing poverty, advancing social justice, and promoting tolerance. Our vision encompasses a world where every individual lives with dignity, security, and equal opportunity. Central to our mission is the empowerment of women and girls, as we firmly believe that sustainable progress cannot be achieved without gender equality and inclusive rights for all. CARE International in Zambia, in collaboration with Children Sentinel Trust Zambia (CSTZ), is currently executing a Nyenyezi Plus Project The initiative will take place in the Eastern Province, specifically within the Linda and Chipangali districts, as well as in the Southern Province, covering the Coma and Monte districts. Its primary goal is to enhance the welfare of children, adolescents, and young parents by broadening access to high-quality early childhood development, foundational education, and vital life skills. The project includes a longitudinal study designed to produce evidence regarding the interconnected effects of its integrated interventions in key areas such as early childhood development, education, financial inclusion, and community engagement. The insights gained from this study will enhance program design and guide strategic investments in comprehensive child and adolescent development initiatives. CARE Zambia, an international non-governmental organization dedicated to relief and development initiatives, seeks a dynamic, experienced, and driven professional to join its team in the following role. With active projects spanning Eastern, Scapula, Lusaka, and Southern provinces of Zambia, the organization invites applications from candidates who demonstrate innovation and motivation. Job Title: Project Manager Reports to the Education Program Manager. Location: Chipata Type of Contract: Fixed Term Job Summary The Project Manager will provide strategic direction and oversee the comprehensive management of CARE Zambia’s SOAR III Nyenyezi Plus Project, ensuring the successful execution of interventions aimed at enhancing foundational learning, early childhood development, and alternative education for children, adolescents, and young parents. This position will be responsible for managing project delivery, fostering partnerships, engaging stakeholders, leading the team, and monitoring performance to achieve the project’s goals. The incumbent will spearhead the expansion of SOAR models, reinforce early childhood development, literacy, numeracy, and life skills initiatives, and supervise the longitudinal study to produce evidence that guides program enhancements, policy advocacy, and sustainable educational outcomes. Duties and Responsibilities: Project Planning and Coordination (20%) In this role, you will be responsible for overseeing project planning and coordination, comprising 20% of the position’s duties. This includes developing project timelines, allocating resources, and ensuring alignment with organizational objectives. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to establish clear project scopes, milestones, and deliverables, while monitoring progress to maintain efficiency and adherence to deadlines. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities are essential for success in this position. Offer strategic leadership and supervision to project implementation partners as well as other key stakeholders involved in the project. Develop, revise, and oversee comprehensive project work plans, ensuring alignment with timelines, budgets, and resource allocation strategies. Deliver projects in full alignment with CARE Zambia’s operational plans, project Terms of Reference, and established methods and standards. Investigates and addresses complex challenges encountered during project execution, engaging with stakeholders to offer tailored advocacy, training, mentoring, and support as needed. Paragraph: The role encompasses 20% of responsibilities dedicated to Research Management and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL). This position requires oversight of research initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives, and implementing robust MEL frameworks to track progress and measure outcomes. Key duties include coordinating research activities, analyzing data, and reporting findings to stakeholders to inform strategic decision-making. Proficiency in research methodologies, data management, and performance assessment is essential, along with the ability to develop clear reports and presentations. Collaboration with cross-functional teams and adherence to compliance and ethical standards are also critical components of this position. Offer strategic direction for all project research, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) initiatives, guaranteeing strict adherence to project goals and donor specifications. Oversee the execution of the longitudinal study, guaranteeing adherence to research protocols, ethical norms, quality control measures, and the punctual fulfillment of key milestones. Coordinate the efforts of research collaborators, external advisors, and on-site personnel while ensuring rigorous data collection, thorough analysis, verification, and the preparation of comprehensive reports. Monitor project performance by evaluating progress against established indicators, targets, and deliverables, and propose corrective measures to improve implementation and outcomes. Generate, disseminate, and leverage evidence to enhance program performance, guide strategic policy involvement, and facilitate the broader implementation of proven interventions. Stakeholder Engagement (15%) Facilitate and enhance collaborations with governmental bodies, funding organizations, academic institutions, operational partners, and local community stakeholders to ensure seamless and impactful project execution. Serve as the primary technical liaison in technical working groups, sector coordination forums, donor meetings, and other stakeholder engagement platforms, representing the project with professionalism and expertise. To facilitate stakeholder engagement, coordinate and lead meetings, workshops, learning sessions, and dissemination forums aimed at communicating project updates, research outcomes, key insights, and proven methodologies. Collaborate seamlessly to advance the project’s longitudinal study by meticulously coordinating research initiatives, data collection, analysis, and dissemination efforts. Drive strategic initiatives by leveraging project evidence to shape policy decisions, enhance program effectiveness, advance advocacy efforts, and facilitate scale-up, all while fostering robust communication channels, engaging key stakeholders, and cultivating enduring partnerships. Providing leadership and overseeing a team constitutes 15% of the role’s responsibilities. Deliver strategic direction, oversee project personnel—including staff, consultants, and field teams—and manage daily operations to guarantee smooth execution of project tasks and successful attainment of established objectives. Provide expert technical direction, coaching, and mentorship to project team members, cultivating an environment of high performance, accountability, and ongoing professional development. You will oversee the full scope of people management functions, encompassing workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, work allocation, performance management, and staff development, ensuring alignment with organizational policies and procedures. Foster a cohesive, outcome-focused team environment by driving collaboration, enhancing communication channels, and streamlining coordination among project teams and external partners. Monitor, assess, and document individual and team performance to deliver prompt feedback, drive performance enhancements, and ensure alignment with project objectives and organizational benchmarks. Financial and Administrative Management responsibilities encompass 10% of the role, focusing on overseeing fiscal operations, budgetary control, and administrative efficiency to ensure organizational compliance and effectiveness. Oversee project financial management, including budgets and expenditures, to guarantee adherence to donor regulations, organizational policies, and legal requirements. Collaborate closely with the Finance and Grants teams to uphold the integrity of financial reporting, maintain precise budget tracking, facilitate accurate forecasting, and implement robust financial controls. Ensure the procurement of goods and services, management of contracts, consultant agreements, sub-awards, and vendor relationships adhere to organizational policies and donor specifications. Effectively oversee the organization, maintenance, and administration of project documentation, records, and filing systems to ensure adherence to contractual, legal, and regulatory standards. Support audits, reviews, and financial reconciliations by facilitating the prompt processing of transactions and guaranteeing the provision of precise financial and administrative records. Project Reporting & Documentation (10%) The role requires preparing and maintaining accurate, timely reports and documentation to ensure transparency and compliance with project standards. This includes compiling progress updates, financial summaries, and risk assessments while adhering to established guidelines. Strong attention to detail, proficiency in data analysis, and the ability to present complex information clearly are essential. Experience with project management tools and software is preferred. Craft and deliver comprehensive donor, organizational, and statutory reports with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring they are prepared accurately and submitted promptly in strict adherence to approved reporting standards. Monitor project execution to ensure alignment with established work plans, allocated budgets, predefined targets, and key performance indicators. Compile and synthesize technical, financial, monitoring, evaluation, and research data into detailed progress reports. Compile and distribute project outcomes, insights gained, established best practices, innovations, and notable success cases to facilitate continuous learning and effective knowledge management. Deliver consistent project performance reports that incorporate insights from the longitudinal study to senior management, donors, government partners, and other relevant stakeholders, enabling informed decision-making and strategic policy advocacy. Maintain precise project documentation and deliver prompt reports on implementation challenges, risks, and compliance concerns, while proposing suitable corrective measures. Resource Mobilization (5%) Compose comprehensive technical reports tailored to donors and stakeholders, ensuring clarity and precision in all documentation. Facilitate the expansion of CARE Zambia’s funding portfolio to support organizational growth initiatives. Proactively identifying programming opportunities and assisting in the creation of compelling concept notes and proposals are key responsibilities. Risk and Compliance Management (5%) The organization requires a professional to oversee the Risk and Compliance Management function. This role is responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks to ensure adherence to regulatory standards and internal policies. Key responsibilities include developing and implementing risk management frameworks, monitoring compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and providing strategic guidance to senior management. The successful candidate must possess strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills, along with a deep understanding of risk management principles and regulatory frameworks. Additionally, experience in a similar role within the financial services or regulatory sector is highly preferred. Evaluate and address potential risks spanning operational, financial, and research domains to ensure organizational stability and integrity. To uphold ethical approvals, safeguard standards, and comply with donor regulations, meticulous adherence to established protocols is essential. Assess financial and operational risks, developing and enforcing suitable controls to protect project assets and uphold accountability standards. Ensure adherence to donor agreements, organizational policies, and applicable legal and regulatory standards while resolving any audit findings or compliance discrepancies. Qualifications, experience, and personal attributes required for this role include: Degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, or an equivalent field. With a minimum of five years of hands-on experience in a related field, the ideal candidate will bring a wealth of practical knowledge and expertise to the role. Possesses a strong background in overseeing and executing social research initiatives, demonstrating hands-on experience in project leadership and coordination. Professional Rewriting: Demonstrates expertise in designing, implementing, and overseeing educational initiatives, with particular emphasis on foundational learning programs and alternative education pathways. Qualifications in Project Management, coupled with a minimum of three years of hands-on experience in leading projects that involve multiple partners and stakeholders, are highly desirable. Proven capability in producing detailed process and outcome reports is required. Professional Version: The role necessitates effective communication and collaboration with fellow staff members, community representatives, as well as District and Provincial Education teams, alongside District and Provincial Health teams. Demonstrated capability in making strategic project decisions regarding staffing allocations, budget management, resource utilization, and methodological approaches. Proven skill in fostering and maintaining strategic partnerships with donors, government entities, collaborators, fellow CARE affiliates, and beneficiary communities, demonstrating initiative and strong interpersonal capabilities. Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills and the capacity to collaborate effectively within a team environment. Demonstrates exceptional ability to interact effectively with others and convey information clearly and persuasively. Proficiency in computer applications and systems is essential.

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