JOB DESCRIPTION
Title: ECHO Project Manager
Location: Gaza/Cairo
Travel: 50% of time
Job Family and Grade: Program Management & Leadership, M4
Pre hire checks
This role is classified as requiring standard Enhanced Due Diligence
- Scope
Department: Program
Reporting to: Deputy Country Director – Program
Direct reports: 2
Budget responsibility: EURO 4m
Relationship management Program Team, Country SMT, Regional Support Office
2. Context
About Relief International
Relief International (RI) partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change, and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience and promote long-term health and wellbeing.
Currently, RI is active in 15 countries around the world, including some of the most fragile: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Myanmar, occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), Pakistan, Philippines, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen.
Relief International includes the four corporate members of the RI Alliance: Relief International Inc., Relief International-UK, Relief International-France and Relief International-Europe Under our alliance agreement, we operate with a single, shared management structure.
About our Country Program
Relief International was operational in OPT starting in 2007, and after entering hibernation period in 2017, has recently reactivated its operations at the end of 2023. Relief International is currently building its response to the current and evolving situation in both Gaza and the West Bank through both a direct implementation and partnership approach. Relief International’s programming in OPT follows Relief International’s global strategy with Health as a central focus with components linked to our work in Health through the sectors of WASH, Protection, Education and Livelihoods. The context in OPT is extremely dynamic and requires focus on nexus programming that brings together both humanitarian service delivery combined with systems strengthening and longer-term programming. Navigating complex program challenges, including ensuring program quality within a very difficult operational environment, will be a key area of focus for the ECHO Project Manager.
Middle East Region
RI operates in seven countries in the Middle East region: Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, occupied Palestinian territory (oPt),, Syria, Turkey and Yemen, with a focus on the four RI sector pillars: Health, WASH, Education and Economic Opportunity. We employ more than 4,000 staff (direct and indirect) in the Middle East region and implement a range of humanitarian and development programs valued at approximately $70 million USD on an annual basis.
3. Job Profile
The ECHO Project Manager is responsible for leading the implementation of RI’s ECHO project focused on delivery of secondary healthcare services in Gaza. The PM will lead the strategic planning and the quality implementation of RI’s ECHO project; and will be responsible for day-to-day relationship management of partners and key external stakeholders as it relates to project implementation. This position requires an individual who is accustomed to the pace of emergency response programming, has experience in successfully leading a diverse team, is flexible and highly responsive, and excels at building and strengthening relations with external actors.
4. Key responsibilities
Accountability and Complexity
- Overall responsibility over the management of the project
- Work closely with country SMT to ensure access, risk mitigation and support supply chain for effective program delivery.
- High level of coordination with the leadership of the implementing partners to ensure oversight of day-to-day implementation.
- High level of internal and external coordination to ensure medical and non-medical supplies needed for the quality implementation of the project are procured and imported in country in compliance with RI and Donor regulations.
Project Oversight and Reporting
- Lead and provide overall management to the implementation of all project components ensuring effective, timely, on budget and successful delivery of project milestones and results, ensuring an appropriate project management framework in line with RI guidelines. Review the short- and long-range plans for delivery of project services and provide guidance to the RI staff and implementing partners to improve planning, management and delivery of quality services or various program components.
- Responsible for the financial, administrative and operational management of the project in line with RI policies, rules, standards and procedures, as well as donor requirements – in collaboration with relevant departments.
- Act as the budget holder for the project, ensuring that all expenditure is in line with project budget/forecast, and that transactions and documentation comply with RI policies, procedures and minimum standards. Carry out regular budget monitoring and forecasting to ensure spending within the agreed budget parameters.
- Ensure program quality in coordination with the Health and Nutrition Technical Advisor and technical team in Gaza for the direct and indirect implementation of the project.
- Lead the development of donor reports, and collaborates with relevant colleagues (technical advisors, MEAL, awards and partnership and all support functions) to ensure timely submission of high-quality reporting that complies with donor requirements.
- Develop an efficient internal communication strategy to ensure clear, effective communication with relevant colleagues (project staff, technical advisors and technical teams, MEAL, awards and partnership and support functions) involved in the quality, timely and compliant delivery of the project.
- Lead, in coordination with the Awards and Partnership Manager the management of project’s partners – ensuring effective monitoring of partners’ activities.
- In coordination with DCD-P and other members of the team, ensure proper visibility to the project – internally and externally.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning
- In collaboration with MEAL team, develop and support effective monitoring and evaluation system to ensure collected data during project implementation are correct, verified, analyzed and utilized for project adaptation.
- Follow routine data collection and reporting procedures; prepare and ensure submission of all required reports to external stakeholders as required, including but not limited to Clusters, MoH, etc.
- Carry out field assessment/ monitoring visits for evaluating the effectiveness, identifying problems and providing technical support to staff.
- Facilitate learning along with MEAL and Technical Team to review implementation and adapt programming accordingly.
Internal and External Coordination
- Represent RI at sector working groups, coordination meetings as well during other stakeholder meetings (if relevant), and maintain a positive, continuous and visible presence for RI.
- In coordination with other members of the team, ensure needed reports are shared with in-country clusters/working group clearly highlighting project’s achievements, challenges, etc.
- Ensure RI’s mandate is shared and explained to relevant stakeholders.
- Pro-actively liaise and build rapport with local officials, community representatives, UN agencies, and any other relevant stakeholders.
- Keep Deputy Country Director and country SMT well-informed regarding developments and emerging issues related to the implementation of the project.
- Engage in program development initiatives related to OPT.
People Management
- Ensure staffing is available to support the program implementation.
- Responsible for day-to-day management of RI’s ECHO program staff based on internal HR processes to ensure successful project’s implementation.
- Provide mentorship /coaching to direct staff as well as other key program teams.
- Strengthen champion for stronger teamwork and collaboration among program and other relevant departments.
Behavior and conduct
- Ensures that behavior inside and outside of work promotes the values in RI’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies.
- Acts with integrity and holds themselves accountable for being respectful, inclusive and professional.
- Reports any concerns.
Management and leadership
- Ensure the highest standards of behavior inside and outside of work promotes the values in RI’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies.
- Be a model for ethical conduct standards for other team members.
- Embrace diversity, and model inclusive and equitable behaviour.
- Ensure own actions and the actions of the teams’ members they manage do not adversely impact the safety of the RI team and the vulnerable communities we serve.
- Ensure donors, partners and communities are aware of RI conduct and reporting mechanisms.
- Ensure safeguarding is embedded in all the work we do.
- Be responsible for ensuring a culture and systems in place for reporting.
- Report any concerns.
5. Person Specification
Essential criteria
- Master’s level education in a relevant field or bachelor’s degree with commensurate work experience
- 3-5 years of progressive experience in project management – preferably in health projects and in emergency/conflict settings
- Strong knowledge of ECHO regulations and experience working on ECHO funded projects
- Excellent organizational, budget, project management, communication and writing skills.
- Leadership skills, including the ability to supervise and motivate staff.
- Experience working with local and international partners.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively with colleagues in a multi-cultural setting.
- Experience conducting capacity building activities and enthusiasm to share knowledge and information with others.
- Ability to work independently, set priorities, and manage time efficiently.
- Excellent English oral and writing skills.
Desirable criteria
- Previous experience working in OPT/Gaza or conflict affected areas.
- Previous experience in managing Health Programs
- Knowledge of Arabic
6. RI Values
Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as “Do No Harm,” Relief International Values:
- Integrity
- Adaptability
- Collaboration
- Inclusivity
- Sustainability