Project Manager, LDSC

Full Job Description

iDE is an international NGO with over 40 years of experience in designing and delivering market-based anti-poverty programs in 11 countries. We are a world leader in making markets work for the poor as well as the longest-established market development specialist NGO in Bangladesh. iDE believes that markets can be a powerful force for improving smallholder prosperity by creating income and livelihood opportunities for poor rural households. iDE Bangladesh currently has eight projects in Agricultural Markets, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and Access to Finance with a focus on women’s economic empowerment and climate-smart technologies.

iDE Bangladesh is looking for a qualified Project Manager for the LDSC-funded Project. The objective of this project is to support existing WASH, Agriculture and Nutrition activities using iDE’s market systems-based approach.

The Project Manager (PM) position leads the implementation of the expected. It will provide the project with overall vision, leadership, and guidance – internally with project staff and externally with donors, private sector actors, the Government of Bangladesh, and stakeholders. Moreover, the Project Manager will assume principal responsibility for overall project management and technical operations to ensure that project tasks are completed and objectives are met. This position will be directly responsible for field operations (led by 03 Field Team leaders and a wider field team of around 50 staffs). She/ he is also responsible for implementing the project interventions and field operations with the support of the Operations and Programs teams and various support teams such as Finance, Admin, and MERL. 

The PM will have to lead the field team, guide partners, and assist in developing the project DIP, develop the budget and project implementation strategies, develop technical papers and tools for smooth field implementation, project progress monitoring, and proposed changes that are required for quality field implementation. The incumbent needs to ensure quality engagement of human resources according to the project’s requirements; facilitate the staff capacity building process, initiate project startup, and smooth closing initiatives. She/ he must also be competent and able to guide the field team for quality project implementation, must be able to play a leadership role in project management, and review the performance of project staff. The work also includes taking part and directly engaging in crisis management, leading and managing projects (including communication) with donors and other partners.

Number of Position: 1 (One)

Job Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh

Reporting Line: Associate Director-Programs

Contract Duration: One Year Initially; The contract will be extended subject to the performance and availability of donor budget.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks:
The responsibilities of the Project Manager include but are not limited to the descriptions below.

General Responsibilities

●        Provide strategic, operational, and financial leadership to the project

●        Function as a supervisor for Field Team Leaders, Domain Managers and Project Technical Specialists (WASH, Agriculture and Nutrition)

●        Directly support partners in the implementation of the project

●        Play a leading role in the delivery of project outcomes and expected results in accordance to project strategy, which provides a framework for rural economic and service market

●   Play an active role and coordinate with relevant technical units in planning and provide programmatic guidance for the project staff, partners, and other stakeholders according to project guidelines and donor requirements

●        Provide strategic direction and support field team, partners, and private sectors in operating project interventions as per plan and adopt relevant changes considering local situations

●        Monitor the progress of field teams and provide regular updates to the senior management team and lead partners to deliver high-quality and measurable outcomes

Setting the tone

●        Actively seek an environment of adaptive management and implementation

●     Create a positive environment of piloting, trials, testing theories, learning from mistakes, and critical analysis

●        Actively and openly engage iDE program units to strengthen project strategy

●        In collaboration with the Associate Director-Finance & Operations, actively work with functional units to achieve the organizational mission and values

Planning, and Strategy Development

●        Collaboratively plan and implement project activities through the preparation of multiyear and annual work plans in collaboration with the Domain Managers, Technical Specialists, and Field Team Leaders

●        Facilitate and frame the strategic direction of the project in collaboration with the Associate Directors

●        Ensure the application of iDE’s WASH, Agriculture and Nutrition market system approach and closely work with market actors specific to selected value chains and business groups/actors

Reporting and Submissions

●        Submit timely donor reports on a monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis as determined in the contract

●        Manage the contracting cycle and the required project documentation

Finance and Administration

●        Manage budgetary control of expenditure, manage donor funds, and prepare financial reports in line with donor requirements and iDE regulations in collaboration with the finance department.

●        Closely work with finance, admin, and HR teams to address the organizational and external (NGOAB, relevant Ministry, Donor, Audit, etc.) compliance issues.

Monitoring and Evaluation

●        Support the Monitoring Evaluation Research & Learning (MERL) Expert in data quality control and timely entry of project data into relevant databases

●        Actively engage in initiating best practices, key learnings, unique cases, and other relevant documentation to share with the wider team

●    Monitor progress and quality of the field team and provide regular updates to the Associate Director

Staff Supervision and Capacity Building

●        Ensure the application of iDE’s code of conduct and people-first approach

●        Collaborate with the relevant Associate Director regarding the supervision of international supervisees

●        Supervise relevant staff in project implementation as required for the project

●        Coach Supervisees in the development of skills in activity implementation, strategic thinking, and critical analysis

●        Develop and lead capacity building initiatives and monitor the progress of staff improvement

●        Collaboratively develop monthly work plans with direct staff balancing project implementation and team member capacity

●        Participate in the annual performance appraisals (APA) process for all supervisees

Coordination and Support

● Lead in ensuring that the public, private, and NGO sector stakeholders are well-informed of the project goals

●        Support cross-program activities including:

●        Product innovation

●        Technology commercialization

●        Best practices documentation

●        Cross-project learning activities

●        Participate in relevant working groups and Dhaka-level PM meetings and workshops

●        Maintain close contact and communication for project planning, strategy formulation and other issues with supervisor, technical specialists, and institutional support teams

●        Harmonize approach with other PMs through best practice sharing and feedback

●        Quarterly travel to all field hubs at least once for problem solving and systems development

Rapport Building

● Coordinate with development, private and public sector partners at the national level for possible partnership and strategy refinement

●        Coordinate and report to donor on a regular basis as per the annual coordination strategy and cross-visits

Other Responsibilities

●        Actively follow and engage with Global initiatives in other countries and other Bangladesh programs for stronger network connections

●        Actively learn and develop skills related to online platforms used by iDE including but not limited to: Salesforce, Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets

●        Maintain use of online platforms for sharing reports, documents and data

●     Represent iDE at external events and meetings as agreed with supervisor

●        Participate in all relevant meetings and workshops

●        Undertake additional tasks subject to workload and skill sets such as photography, cross-project trainings and evaluations

Skills and Experience: A successful Project Manager will have the following skills and experience and will be comfortable with the following conditions.

Education

Relevant post graduate qualification preferably in business, development studies, management, WASH and/or equivalent experience

Work Experience

●        At least 8 years of experience working in the development sector on which a minimum of 3 years in a managerial position and lead project implementation. Experience of working in MSD approach will get preference

●        Perform the role of budget holder at least for 3 years with experience in managing a large team ( around 20+) would be essential.

●        Proven leadership in the administration of similar activities with skills in strategic planning, management, supervision and budgeting.

●        Prior experience in WASH, Agriculture and Nutrition sector preferred or at least one sector leaded with market based approach

●        Familiarity and experience with project management concepts such as Logical Frameworks, Impact Logic or Results Chains

●       Considerable understanding of rural markets, trading relationships, and rural service provision. Knowledge on the roles of the private sector, government and civil society/NGOs in creating an effective service market;

●        Experience of value chain approaches to market development and sub-sector analysis

Management and Programmatic Skills

●  Proven experience in managing WASH, Ag, and/or Nutrition projects;

●        Capacity in managing partnerships with GOVT and Private sectors for introducing technology, promotion, and sales of WASH, Ag. products and services will be desirable;

●        Experience in working with A2F partners and an advanced understanding on WASH credit portfolio would be considered as advantage

●    Proven experience in managing grants contracts and private sector engagements in the agriculture sector will be required.

●     Ability to responsibly manage funds, monitoring and team progress

●        Ability to plan and implemented iterative field level activities for market systems change

●        Understands the facilitative role of the market development approach

Personal Skills

●        Undertake additional tasks subject to workload and skill sets such as photography, cross-project trainings and evaluations

●        Energetic and focused approach to sales coaching and mentoring

●        Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills

● Ability to work with various national and international team members and flexibility to adapt to different work conditions

●        Ability to interact and collaborate with a broad range of public and private sector and NGO partners

Physical and Language Skills

●        Ability to travel and undertake fieldwork in rural contexts

●        Strong written and oral communication skills in English, including ability to present coherent and convincing messages to different audiences

●        Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite, e-mail and the internet

●        Familiarity with internet based software systems such as Google Apps

Application Deadline: 21 April 2024

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview

(Any personal persuasion will result in disqualification)

Women are actively encouraged to apply

iDE provides a women friendly work environment with flexible work arrangements, appropriate skill development opportunities and good career development potential for high performing individuals. We are committed to creating a diverse environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Employee selection and related decisions are made without regard to gender, race, age, disability, religion, national origin, color, or any other protected class.

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