Project Coordinator – Community Reconciliation

ABOUT ARK:

ARK is a social enterprise, empowering local communities through the provision of agile and sustainable interventions to create greater stability, opportunity, and hope for the future.

We believe that resilient communities are the foundation of local, national, regional and international development and stability – and ultimately a safer, peaceful and more prosperous world. At ARK, we have delivered research and programmatic interventions validating this approach in over twenty countries since 2008. As a social enterprise we work in partnership with communities, our donors, and other implementers to build local capacities, generate opportunity and bring about sustainable change.

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

The position will work with the ARK’s Yemen programme Chief of Party on a project in southern Yemen to support community level reconciliation activities and strengthen community cohesion. The Project Coordinator is responsible for achieving the project’s objectives effectively, efficiently and compliantly, overseeing all aspects of project management through each project phase in accordance with ARK and the client’s policies and procedures. The Project Coordinator is also responsible for the management of the project team, project resources and coordination across ARK’s wider operations team. ARK Project Coordinators also contribute to the growth and development of the company by identifying new business and organisational development opportunities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lead the Project:

• Lead the planning and implementation of all project activities in collaboration with the project and operations team (Research, MEAL, Finance, Human Resources, Compliance and Logistics and Procurement), consortium partners and implementing partners to ensure activities are aligned with the project objectives in accordance with ARK Project Management policies and procedures. Provide continuous oversight of the project and identify any need for adjustment and improvement of systems and processes to improve efficiency, optimise utilisation of resources and improve quality of deliverables.
• Ensure all staff and service provider-related tasks are carried out in accordance with ARK’s and the donor’s policies and guidelines. This includes recruitment, performance management, security, staff development and training, and disciplinary action.
• Coordinate weekly project team meetings with key internal stakeholders to review activities and agree upcoming deliverables with all project team members. Brief the client and other external stakeholders on project activities as required.
• Review financial glidepath with Finance staff monthly to identify underspends and overspends. Brief financial aspects in weekly reports. Brief the COP on any budget lines anticipated to result in a 10% variance. Ensure that budgets are spent in accordance with donor funding and donor regulations within the appropriate timeframe.
• Review the Project Risk Register and Security Plan at least monthly or on being made aware of a change in the threat level to ensure that it remains accurate and relevant, and all risks are managed appropriately.
• Review the Monitoring and Evaluation collection plan, Results Framework and Logical Framework monthly with the project’s Monitoring and Evaluation staff.
• Conduct Logistics and Procurement (L&P) planning for each phase of implementation including briefing all L&P stakeholders. Review all L&P paperwork to ensure that it is compliant, realistic and will meet the contractual deliverables.
• In coordination with ARK Communications Department, develop an external communications strategy to publicise activities and achievements, contribute to external debate and knowledge, and promote ARK to potential employees, consortium partners, implementing partners and clients. Implement the external communications strategy in collaboration with ARK’s Communications Department and review the strategy regularly.
• Oversee the delivery of all contracted client reporting deliverables including monthly, quarterly, analytical and closedown reporting. This includes briefing relevant stakeholders of their required inputs in advance, supporting in the writing of certain parts of the report and conducting the final review before sending to the CEO for final sign off.

Business Development

• Support Business Development activities by identifying new programming opportunities and liaising with potential partners, advising business development staff of the context and suggested activities, liaising with finance staff to create budgets and contribute to bids.
• Ensure that senior managers are fully briefed and cognisant of the portfolio, including key successes, obstacles and opportunities for growth.
• Build and maintain professional relationships with a wide range of relevant partners, clients and sub-grantees.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Essential

• At least 5 years of professional experience in a project management role in Yemen, with a focus on community reconciliation, conflict prevention and resolution, peacebuilding, social cohesion and/or community-led initiatives involving different demographic groups.
• Bachelors degree in a relevant field such as international development, international relations, area studies, political science, sociology, public administration, communications and media studies. Masters degree preferred.
• Excellent team management skills.
• Ability to work under pressure, be a self-starter, team builder, innovative and demonstrate the capacity for maintaining high professional standards.
• Full professional fluency in Arabic and English.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite.

Desirable

• Relevant project management qualification such as PMD Pro, PMP or PRINCE 2.
• Postgraduate degree in a relevant field such as international development, international relations, areas studies, political science, sociology, public administration, communications and media studies.
• Experience of MEAL systems and processes in a development project environment.
• Familiarity with donor compliance and regulations.

MORE ABOUT OUR COMPANY:

What Makes Us Different

We pride ourselves on being the first people able to access and operate in challenging fragile and conflict-affected environments. We are expeditionary by design and our systems and structures enable flexible and agile responses while ensuring safe, effective and compliant delivery.

Working with and through teams drawn from the communities in which we operate enables us to deliver impactful interventions built on intimate local understanding. In collaboration with our global network of international and local experts, we integrate nuanced understanding of the challenges we aim to solve with best practice and field-leading innovation to deliver programming that meets short-term stabilisation objectives and builds the evidence base and knowledge needed to lay the groundwork for long-term peacebuilding and development programming.

What We Do

We enjoy sectoral experience in civil society development, good governance, protection and human rights, refugees and migration, stabilisation, gender, security and justice, as well as cross-cutting experience in programme design and learning, organisational development and management, research and analysis, needs assessments, monitoring and evaluation, communications and capacity building.

Our People

Today, our team covers a diverse range of professional backgrounds; from diplomacy, humanitarian, development and the military, to the UN, civil society groups, multilateral organisations, journalism and the private sector.

They bring sectoral expertise in civil society development, good governance, protection and human rights, refugees and migration, gender and security and justice, as well as practical experience in programme design and learning, organisational development and management, research and analysis, needs assessments, monitoring and evaluation, communications and capacity building. The multi-disciplinary and multi-national nature of our team means the research we undertake and the programmes we deliver are grounded in empirical need and deliver measurable and sustainable impact.

ARK Group is an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. ARK Group does not discriminate on the basis of ability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation. We welcome all kinds of diversity. ARK Group places human dignity at the centre of its development and stabilisation work and is thus committed to the protection from sexual exploitation and abuse of children and adults. All ARK Group employees and related-personnel are expected to share this commitment, and only those who also uphold these values will be recruited as part of our team. This vacancy is therefore subject to a range of due diligence checks.