Project Manager

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Position: Project Manager
Responsible to: Head of Mission
Location: Ramallah – West Bank
Closing date: 10 / June / 2014
Job Type: Full Time job open to Palestian nationals only

THE ORGANIZATION

With over 30 years of experience, Handicap International (HI) is an independent and impartial aid organization, currently active in 60 countries, working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. It works alongside people with disabilities (PwDs) and vulnerable populations, taking action and bearing witness in order to respond to their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

HI has been present in the Middle East since 1987 and currently operates in Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine, with a regional office based in Amman, Jordan, and field offices in each country. In Palestine, HI has been active since 1996 and works in both Gaza and West Bank, through several projects funded by the European Commission (EC), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg (MOFA Lux), the Canada Department of Foreign Affairs Trade and Development (DFATD), the French Development Agency (AFD), and Caritas Germany. It annual budget for 2014 is more than 1.5 million Euros, and it employs more than 20 nationals and one international staff, divided in 3 offices (Jerusalem, Ramallah and Gaza).

The PROJECT

The project entitled " Improved Access to Essential Services for Persons with Disabilities in Highly Marginalised Areas of occupied Palestinian territory” which will be implemented by Handicap International and is funded by Canada – DFATD, is initially planned until the end of 2016.

The project aims to improve the access of highly vulnerable persons with disabilities to essential services in Palestine. The project has four main components, the first two of which focus on access to basic educational services for children with disabilities in two zones of the Gaza Strip, while the final two focus on access to essential rehabilitation and health services for people with disabilities in targeted areas of Area C and Bedouin communities of the West Bank.

Objectives of the position

HI is seeking a candidate to fill the position of Project Manager, under the direct supervision of the Palestine Head of Mission. The Project Manager will be responsible for the implementation of the West Bank activities of the project entitled " Improved Access to Essential Services for Persons with Disabilities in Highly Marginalised Areas of occupied Palestinian territory”.

The West Bank components of the project focus on providing comprehensive rehabilitation services through mobile teams:

The first component of the project focuses on the development and strengthening of mobile rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities living in targeted zones of Area C and the Bedouin communities of the West Bank. This component will be led primarily by the two partner organisations who will directly manage multi-disciplinary mobile rehabilitation teams, with HI providing continual technical support and follow-up during the project implementation period, as well as support and guidance on the management and coordination on the teams. These mobile teams will provide a range of home-based services to benefit women, girls, men and boys with primarily physical impairments in targeted areas, according to specific needs identified.

The second component of the project aims to facilitate a greater access of persons with disabilities to other essential services in the West Bank. This component of the project will place a particular focus on existing health care centres, with an initial assessment of their needs and the provision of specific materials and technical support to render their services and infrastructures more accessible for PwDs. This component of the project will also focus on developing and strengthening existing referral networks and mechanisms in targeted areas of the West Bank bringing together stakeholders representing various types of services.

Key tasks and responisbilities:

Responsibility 1: Project Management

Key tasks:

-You are in charge of the implementation of the project under your responsibility.

-You are responsible and accountable for the respect of the HI Project Cycle Management Guidelines as well as the respect of the HI Technical Guidelines related to your project, with support from the Regional Technical Unit.

Responsibility 2: Human Resources / Team Management

Key tasks:

-You are responsible for the management of the team under your supervision.

-You draft related job descriptions, actively participate in their recruitment, supervise their work on a regular basis, evaluate them based on their individual actuion plan.

Responsibility 3: Partnership Management

Key tasks:

-You ensure representation of HI towards implemeting partners for the project.

-You define with the partners their role and responsibilities within the frame of the project.

-You design partnership agreements relaated to the project.

-You set up a coordination mechanism (steering committee) for the project with relevant stakeholders.

Responsibility 4: Reporting

Key tasks:

-You submit a monthly internal report on the project under your responsibility.

-You prepare and update on a regualr basis the HI Planning and Monitoring Tool.

-You prepare donor reports according to schdule and requirements set in the donor(s) contract(s).

-You submit monthly updates for the HI internal newsletters.

-You ensure the knowledge management for the project under your responsibility.

-You draft project proposals related to your field of intervention or expertise.

Responsibility 5: Budget Management

Key tasks:

-You are responsible for the budget of the project.

-You ensure respect of HI and donor financial guidelines with the Support Services Team.

-You prepare a procurement plan for the project and update it regularly.

-You plan, follow up and validate expenses related to the project.

-You design annual budget for the project using HI internal tool and update it on a regular basis.

Responsibility 6: Representation

Key tasks:

-You represent HI in sectoral cluster meetings related to the project in the area of intervention.

-You attend workshops, seminars, meetings and conferences related to the project in the area of intervention.

-You may be aksed by your line manager to represent the organization in other fora.

-You represent HI towards stakeholders in the field and area of intervention of the project.

Responsibility 7: Internal Coordination

Key tasks:

-You are an active member of the country management team.

-You ensure coordination with other projects at national and reguional levels in the same or related fields of intervention.

-You participate to the design of new projects and carry out assessments when required.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Education and Experience

-At least five years professional experience in working in project implementation, preferably in the disability field.

-Extensive experience working for an NGO or civil society organization.

-Master Degree, or equivalent, in social science, public health, management, or other related fields.

Profesional Skills

-Excellent capacity to plan, to anticipate, to prioritize and to solve problems

-Proven analytical skills

-Demonstrated management skills

-Experience in training and capacity building

-Strong communication and interpersonal skills

-Writing / reporting skills in English and Arabic

-Computer skills (office pack and internet)

-Excellent networking and coordination skills

Personal Skills

-Arabic speaker with Enligh fluency

-Demonstrated leadership capacities

-Ability to work under pressure

-Ability to handle multiple assignments and meet deadlines

-Team player with good negociations skills

-Positive, innovative, inspirational and problem solving attitude

-Valid driving license needed

Initial contract will be for a period of 1 year and may be renewed according to performance.

Handicap International is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from women and persons with disabilities

Interested candidates may please send their resume with cover letter not later than the 10th of June 2014 with the reference (Project Manager – West Bank) to hr.opt@hi-me.org