Program Manager

JOB TITLE: Program Manager

SALARY SCALE: 2500 to 3000 (USD)

ABOUT ABAAD

ABAAD – Resource Centre for Gender Equality is a UN ECOSOC-accredited organization that aims to achieve gender equality as an essential condition to sustainable social and economic development in the MENA region.

JOB PURPOSE:

The Program Manager leads all project coordinators and ensures that efficient and quality project management standards are applied. S/He assists in identifying and resolving all issues efficiently for all projects. S/He coordinates with the Implementation Manager and Grants Coordinator to monitor all phases of project management cycles and maintain project objectives within the required timeframe and budget.

REPORTING LINES:

Post holder reports to: Head of Programs

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Project Management:

• Work with ABAAD Head of Programs to develop and maintain standardized project management tools and guidelines
• Provide support and guidance to project coordinators on project management cycle
• Supervise project coordinators to ensure projects are implemented in an efficient manner
• Provide day-to-day support and coordination, including administrative and financial support. address issues and report any challenges or bottlenecks to Head of Programs;
• Conduct periodic risk assessments to update implementation plan accordingly;
• Monitor adherence to grant agreements, policies and procedures and relevant external and internal rules and regulations;
• Contribute to quarterly reports and other ad hoc reports to meet donor and internal requirements;
• Support in building the capacities project coordinators on donor guidelines and requirements and project management tools
• Ensure MEL and detailed implementation plans, stakeholder analysis, risk matrix and relevant tools are developed and in place for each grant
• Ensure the budgets are managed effectively, value for money is obtained, and all expenditure authorized appropriately, supported with documentation, and in line with policies/procedures.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of activities, monthly expenditure reports against approved budgets and log frames
• Ensure funds expenditures within budget parameters, in line with program activity plans and financial policies and no over or under spend

Program Quality Delivery:

• Regular/ Routine monitoring of the projects work plans, financial/cash flows, and milestones.
• Coordination with grants unit to ensure projects adhere to the quality benchmarks

(SoPs, Sectors Guidelines, partnership guidelines as well)

• Maintain a close working relationship with technical teams to support coherence in approaches, raising and follow up on key issues and strategy development.
• Coordination and production of project reports and other deliverables.  Organize and participate in field visits by donors and partners

Monitoring, Evaluation

• Support monitoring and evaluation efforts to document project outputs, outcomes, and impact to inform donor and other internal reporting;
• Ensure that technical quality and standards are considered and respected during project implementation;
• Ensure the project progress is effectively monitored through regular data collection, analysis of indicators and activities and documented with proper sources of verification;
• Advise project team to adapt implementation of the project according to monitoring and evaluation findings;
• Advise on and assist with project reviews conducted by internal and external monitoring and evaluation team;

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in project management (NGO is a must)
• University degree in social science or related discipline, including gender and development;
• Proven track record of working in a similar capacity with the national and/or international NGOs in the region; familiarity with US, EU and UN requirements
• Knowledge of gender and gender equality;
• Highly skilled in report writing in both languages (Arabic and English – French is a plus);
• Excellent oral English and Arabic communication skills
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills

COMPETENCIES

• Anticipates problems and regularly provides solutions. Demonstrated capacity to innovate and think creatively
• Efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results
• Calm in stressful situations
• Identifies priority activities and assignments