Project Manager at Search for Common Ground (SFCG)

⏲ Feb 3, 2023, 10:51 AM
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Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is an international non-profit organization that promotes the peaceful resolution of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and Brussels, Belgium, Search’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict - away from destructive approaches towards cooperative solutions. With more than 600 staff worldwide, Search implements projects in more than 30 countries across the globe.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Project Manager

Location: Nigeria

Job Description

The Project Manager is responsible for the management and implementation of the COMITAS II project in Adamawa and Taraba States. Based in Yola, with frequent travel to field activity locations, the position will be responsible for all aspects of programmatic, financial, and administrative coordination of the project.
Principal tasks will be to oversee the project portfolio, determine appropriate implementing mechanisms to achieve the project’s strategic goals, serve as the primary project liaison for donors, partners, and stakeholders, oversee activity planning and budgeting and reporting /evaluations, and ensure compliance with management and financial procedures.
The position will report to the Head of Office Middle Belt and work closely with other country-level support staff.

About the Project

Search for Common Ground (and partners), with the support of the EU is implementing the second phase of the project ‘Contributing to the mitigation of conflict over natural resources between farmer and herder communities in Adamawa and Taraba States, Nigeria (COMITAS 2). The project pursues four specific objectives:
Strengthen traditional conflict resolution in the targeted locations in Adamawa and Taraba States to support conflict prevention and mitigation efforts.
Improve trust in authorities’ commitment to providing security and adequate resource management to help prevent communities to turn towards violence.
Address the root causes of conflict between farmer and herder communities over natural resources
Improve intra and inter communal perceptions.
The project will be implemented in selected communities across Adamawa and Taraba states and will work to contribute to the mitigation of conflict over natural resources, supporting community-based Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) to identify risks and partner with civil society, security or government actions to institutionalize strategies and approaches that will build community capacity and skills for sustainable peace. Additionally, the project seeks to ensure conflicts identified through the EWER feed into multi-stakeholder forums for dispute resolution and higher-level policy change and create open and neutral spaces for farmer and pastoralist community members and leaders to identify collective solutions.

Roles and Responsibilities

Deliverables:

Key Area 1: Project management, planning, reporting and budget management.
The Project Manager is in charge of the overall implementation of the projects, including relating with other consortium partners.
Oversee and monitor the implementation of the COMITAS 2 project
Monitor the BvA and the actual/planned project expenditure, submit expenditure reports and supporting documents after a careful check of form, substance and quality.
Project Management Tool (PMT): Regularly update the PMT for projects, ensuring accurate and up-to-date work plans and projections.
Performance management: Interface with staff across all departments on regular basis
Lead in staff capacity-building and identifying learning/growth opportunities;
Coordinate with the Head of Office in the development of project staffing plan;
Manage staff members accordingly
External engagement: Maintain regular communication with consortium partners, meet with local authorities as needed, facilitate approvals; meet with partner leadership, and conduct regular meetings
Provide inputs to strategy development and planning related to technical area of work
Infuses organizational Values into all work
Key Area 2: External representation of Search.
In coordination with the Head of Office, the position is responsible for collaboration with institutional partners in the field and for representing Search as appropriate in project locations, including in donors’ meetings and with the government.
Participate in the various coordination mechanisms with other humanitarian organizations in the field at the request of the project leader
Participate in relevant technical groups in Yola
Project activities: design project activities (e.g., objectives and structure of activities); lead and/or deliver project activities; coordinate with trainers in the design and delivery of project activities
Reporting: review and finalize project documents (e.g., presentations, and agenda); finalize donor reports; review and finalize monthly and activity reports before sharing; review General Ledger (GL) and support country finance team (CFT) in producing financial report
Compliance: coordinates with the appropriate country management team member in ensuring project, finance, and logistics staff follow donor rules/regulations; ensure donor compliance; lead capacity-building sessions to streamline rules and regulations
Program management, quality and project design: Coordinate with Design, Monitoring & Evaluation (DM&E), Grants Management System (GMS), Head of Office in the organization of reflection sessions
Note and record lessons learned via donor reports
Ensure reviews and reflection sessions lead to adaptive work plan
Make sure that approved Search methodologies are utilized
Coordinate with Global Affairs & Partnerships Program Development team, as needed
Support in attending fundraising and networking meetings

Behavioral Competencies

Working with People: The ability to respect the views and contributions of other team members; shows empathy, listens, supports; consults others and shares information and expertise, builds team spirit and adapts to the team.
Flexibility: The ability to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities, to tolerate ambiguity, to adapt personal style to different people and situations.
Drive for Results and Efficiency: The ability to set quality standards, monitor and maintain quality of work, and set goals to achieve continuous improvement.
Relationship Management: The ability to manage interactions, to provide service and to support the organization while building an effective internal and external network.
Leadership and Navigation: The ability to manage and contribute to initiatives and processes within the organization while making progress toward change and continuous improvement.
Critical Evaluation (for managers and up): The ability to interpret information to make business decisions and recommendations based on keen analysis, best practices and an understanding of preferred outcomes.
Business Acumen: The ability to understand and apply information to contribute to the organization's strategic plan.
Developing others (for people manager): The ability to provide support to enhance performance and professional growth.
Communication: The ability to effectively exchange information with others, to effectively deliver critical information, to gather information and communicate with others.
Global and Cultural Effectiveness: The ability to value and consider the perspectives and backgrounds of all parties and be able to work cross-culturally.
Ethical Practice: The ability to integrate Search vision, mission and core values, integrity and accountability throughout all organizational and business practices.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in a related area required while a Masters in Conflict Resolution, International Relations, or related field would be an added benefit;

Required Experience:

At least 5 years of experience in peacebuilding, gender mainstreaming and Do No Harm related work.
At least five (5) years of experience in managing a small team and project management in the field of conflict resolution, conflict transformation, development or related fields.

Other Relevant Requirements:

Knowledge of and exposure to a wide range of of women’s role in conflict prevention; peace; conflict transformation; governance; and development and humanitarian issues;
Good knowledge of the country context and ability to network with both civil society and public sector
Experience in setting performance objectives of teams and leading a team.
Willingness to keep abreast of new developments in farmer-herder issues, policies, laws etc.,s and peace-building fields;
Good knowledge of North Central, including the political, economic and social dimensions;
Basic computer skills (Microsoft Office Suite) and other software
Detail-oriented with ability to meet deadlines, both prescribed and self-imposed
Willingness and desire to learn while demonstrating self-initiative
Ability to adapt to new cultures and work in diverse environments
Ability to review and analyze and interpret financial reports, budget versus actuals, financial projections and procurement documentation;
Good interpersonal and networking skills, as well as the ability to conduct professional working relationships;
Analytical capacity, including the ability to analyze and articulate peace, human security and conflict issues;
Ability to work with people at all levels, ranging from high-level national officials to community leaders;