Project Manager

Job Title: Project Manager

Grade: UP Grade G – 3A

Name of the Project: “Strengthening Urban Public-Private Programming for Earthquake Resilience (SUPER)”

Salary Range: As per organizational policy

Line Manager: Head of DRM & ER

Job Location: UP Country Office, Dhaka

Duration:

Other Benefits: As per organizational policy

Last Date of Application: 20 July 2022

Organizational Background:

United Purpose (UP) is a movement of people and organisations that strive to end poverty and inequality across the globe.

UP is a leader in community-led development and grassroots innovation. For more than 45 years, UP is working globally with frontline activists, community organisations and individuals to help people gain agency over their own lives – so they can move Beyond Aid. Partnerships and effective collaboration with government institutions, community based organizations, private sector and a network is key to UP’s success.

We take this approach because we believe persons’ ability to determine their own future should never be dependent on benevolence or charity, but always within their own control. We use innovation and creativity to make this happen, and we are not afraid to explore new methods to achieve better results.

UP Bangladesh Country Programme:

Bangladesh has a rapidly growing economy. We work with local people and organizations to strengthen their businesses by making value chains more productive, efficient and transparent. Our projects tackle key issues including gender equality, life-sustaining assistance, Disaster Risk Management, Humanitarian Assistance, human rights, inclusion and safeguarding. https://united-purpose.org/

United Purpose is working in Bangladesh since 1993. United Purpose is currently implementing a consortium project where Action Aid as a lead, World Vision and United Purpose as a consortium member. This project is funded by DG-ECHO.

We are looking for a dynamic team player to implement a DG-ECHO support project in the area of Dhaka North and South City Corporation. The position holder will be responsible to direct implementation of the project interventions upholding the compliances and the organisation’s standards.

Expected Deliverables:

The focus of this position will be the implementation of a new programme called the “Strengthening Urban Public-Private Programming for Earthquake Resilience (SUPER)” in North and South City Corporation of Dhaka a consortium project led by Action Aid. This project will be implemented by United Purpose with support from DG-ECHO. SUPER aims to increase national capacity and coordination of disaster management ultimately contributing to a strengthened earthquake disaster risk management (EQDRM) of urban communities. The project is built upon following pillars:

• Improving knowledge and awareness of the earthquake threat;
• Harmonizing, cooperating and communicating about the earthquake risk and on solutions to prepare for it;
• Evaluating the vulnerability of existing buildings and proposing solutions and tools to reduce it; and
• Training and advising on risk and solutions to adapt to it and building local capacity.

Deliverables: The project is expected to achieve the following deliverables:

1. Database: Hazard assessment of the major urban centers covering building and infrastructure and development of database.
2. Assessment Report: of earthquake risk perception and of the relevant socio-economic environment within the city corporation areas;
3. Earthquake Action plan: Earthquake Action plan for two city corporations in Dhaka;
4. Awareness Material: Education and outreach to the general public with an emphasis on schools and hospitals;
5. Training Manuals: Improvement of the preparedness and response capacity at the local level to be achieved through training and awareness sessions.
6. Project Closure Report: A comprehensive document containing lessons learnt.

Summary of Key Functions:

1. Overall project management;
2. Policy advice and technical guidance;
3. Project monitoring, reporting and quality assurance based on the principle of result-based management;
4. Knowledge management and gender equality;
5. Partnership and advocacy.
6. Any other responsibility assigned by the line manager within the scope of this JD.

Details of Roles and Responsibilities:

1. Overall project management:

• Ensure sound project management of and take full responsibility for the implementation of the project, as per the project documents and the UP rules and regulations;
• Prepare annual work plan (AWP), break it down to quarterly work plan and ensure implementation of the same;
• Provide direction and guidance to the Project Team;
• Report to the Head of DRM and ER to assure the overall direction and integrity of the programme;
• Build, motivate and lead a high performing team consisting of project personnel, expert consultants, service providers, and conduct performance assessments of the team, as per UP rules and regulations;
• Provide inputs in identification of linkages between the project and other related projects to maximize the efficient and effective use of resources;
• Management of project budget, as per the project document;
• Manage financial allocations according to authority delegated.
• Coordinate the recruitment of projects personnel with UP HR Unit;
• Ensuring proper use and maintenance of projects equipment and office records and any other documentation by the project personnel.
• Prepares a detailed work plan for the project, manages the procurement and the project budget to assure timely involvement of experts, organisation of training and public outreach, purchase of required equipment etc. in coordination with UP Procurement Unit.

2.Policy advice and technical guidance:

• Provide conceptual guidance and technical advice to the Project team and Project counterparts in the area of disaster management in general and earthquake in particular.
• Provide strategic leadership and steer the regulatory and policy formulation processes within the Project in line with the Project document, observing the application of national and international standards and conventions in these processes and ensuring sustainable and lasting changes;
• Guide the design of the Project comprehensive assistance to local governments and local utilities and provide technical advice in its delivery;
• Participate in project-level committees, policy and capacity development working groups and events;
• Ensure that achieved policy and legislative is mainstreamed
• Provide technical support and back-up services to Head of DRM and ER.

3.Project monitoring, reporting and quality assurance based on the principle of result-based management:

• Review on a regular basis projects details, schedules, deliverables and budget as articulated in the Annual Work Plan – AWP (evidence of progress towards expected outputs, according to schedule, within budget) with the project team;
• Monitor and analyse Project progress, using applicable monitoring & evaluation and risk management;
• Manage and monitor the identified project risks and issues; submit new risks and issues to the Head of DRM and ER for consideration and decision if required; update the status of project risks and issues by maintaining the logs;
• Ensure timely submission of the Project Progress/ Annual Narrative and Financial Reports and other reports as may be required by UP and consortium partners;
• Monitor and analyse the project environment and progress, using applicable monitoring and evaluation and risk management tools where relevant;
• Advice on timely readjustment of project strategies and corrective actions as necessary;
• Carry regular, announced and unannounced performance monitoring of the project team, as well as conduct field visits and quality checks of projects events, sites and activities;
• Prepare analytical reviews and systematically capture lessons learnt from the project implementation; identify follow-up actions and submit them for consideration to the Head of DRM and ER;
• Submit annual Project Implementation Reviews and other required progress reports (such QPRs) to the Head of DRM and ER in accordance with the Project Document.

4.Knowledge management and gender equality:

• Ensure wide dissemination and visibility of project achievements;
• Support continuous learning by the project team;
• Ensure dissemination of information and knowledge management within the team for effective project implementation;
• Ensure that achieved project key results, knowledge tools and products have been mainstreamed within the project field work, as well as within other relevant partners, stakeholders their institutionalization and application beyond scope of work;
• Manage the transfer of projects deliverables, documents, files, equipment and materials to national beneficiaries;
• Ensures gender is effectively mainstreamed throughout the project activities, work plans, budgets, reports, researches, analyses and, where specifically relevant, analyzed in detail;
• Ensures knowledge on gender equality is incorporated in Project knowledge management activities and products.

5.Partnership and advocacy:

• Establish and maintain good working relations with relevant institutional and organisational partners at state, entity, and local levels as relevant for the project implementation;
• Arrange, prepare and follow-up on meetings with direct stakeholders such as local and national Government, industry, affected local communities and/or NGOs (representing local or wider environmental/ ecological concerns), project consultants and contractors;
• Encourage active participation of all stakeholders in order to promote empowerment and ownership of national counterparts and stakeholders.
• Actively work on the relationships with the local authorities and other project stakeholders, ensuring full understanding, cooperation and a best fit of the programme activities with the needs of the beneficiaries
• Animate effective dialogue with partners and among stakeholders and engage with relevant donors and contribute to the CO resource mobilization efforts
• Identify and support the realisation of synergetic initiatives and/or contribution from various stakeholders, which would add value and maximise the programme results;
• Ensure full understanding, cooperation and, wherever possible, synergy of the project efforts of the Community in the area.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Minimum Master’s degree in relevant discipline
• Project Management training/certification is an advantage

Experience:

• At least seven years of relevant work experience in national and international organizations (experience in DG-ECHO funded DRM, CCA or environmental program desirable).
• Knowledge of designing of earthquake prevention/emergency plans with visible impacts on enhanced resilience in developing country contexts;
• Knowledge on vulnerability assessment of buildings;
• Excellent IT skills especially MS Word processing, PowerPoint and Microsoft Excel;
• Interest and experience of working in multi-cultural environment;
• Strong project management experience would be an advantage;
• Good understanding of theory of change, logical frameworks and indicator setting;
• Strong knowledge and understanding of different government structure and excellent understanding of humanitarian assistance in emergencies;
• Knowledge on preparation of ToR, MoU, etc. for project contract signing and prepare FD6 and other relevant documents for project approval from the NGO Affairs Bureau.

To know more about us, please visit our website at: **https://united-purpose.org/**

Other Information:

• Salary and other benefit: Competitive salary as s per United Purpose HR Policy.
• Career Growth: In an international environment, there is excellent opportunity for professional growth in development sector.
• Special Note: Highest preference will be given to female candidates to maintain gender balance in UP Team.