Project Manager Project Technical lead/ Coordinator

Job Title:  Project Manager Project Technical lead/ Coordinator

Duty Station: West Bank

Duration of Contract: 16 months with the possibility to extend based on fund, availability and satisfactory performance.

Closing Date for Applications: Date of: 20 21/11/2021 Time: 16:00 pm

Project Description:

The project aims to support unemployed Palestinian IT graduates to get jobs by upskilling to better meet the need of local and international job requirements. Despite the C-19 crisis, the number of jobs available in the Palestinian IT market is still growing and particularly for front end, back-end developers, and data specialists. The boom in the online retail and services is contributing to this growth. Despite this, fresh graduates from Palestinian universities face difficulties in meeting local and international jobs’ standards due to the learning gaps between supply and demand, which inhibit their access to such jobs, limit their ability to keep pace with technology shifts, and meet the challenges of a fast-moving digital landscape.

Background on PITA

Palestinian Information Technology Association of Companies – PITA is the voice of the ICT sector in Palestine. It has more than 150-member companies working in different ICT sectors such as software and outsourcing sector, hardware sector, training and consultancy sector, Internet and telecommunications sectors.

PITA is the reference and representative association of private ICT sector. PITA was founded in 1999 by a group of Palestinian entrepreneurs as a non-profit organization to advance the interests and positive societal impact of Palestine’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. A new generation of forward-thinking entrepreneurs with a heritage that takes them back thousands of years in history is bringing together profound change to the technology and startup landscape. Having the vision towards “A nation nurturing innovation and contributing to world knowledge” and the mission “To lead the ICT sector towards an innovation-based economy”.

Position Profile:

The Project Manager is responsible for implementation and management of the project, where he/she will be responsible for full oversight and implementation of the project in coordination with the project consortium. 

Reporting Line: The Project Manager is responsible for ME Officer. The Project Manager will report to the Steering Committee.

Key responsibilities:

Ensure direct implementation and supervision of the project:

• Be responsible for the implementation of programme activities and financial management of the programme.
• Monitor activity implementation progress and ensuring quality bi-monthly and annual narrative reporting.
• Monitor project expenditure and adherence to contracts/agreements established with project partners and counterparts on project implementation.
• Assisting Consortium’s Coordinator in preparation of overall project reports.
• Support PITA implementing CO-Applicant in ensuring that data encoding and data analysis is being done properly and diligently.  
• Support PITA implementing CO-Applicant in activity planning framework and strengthen the implementation including ensuring effective MEAL framework. 
• In consultation with related project members, lead the planning and implementation of training, regular field visits, workshops, study tours and facilitate workshops, discussions and consultations with partners and stakeholders, attend trainings, one-on-one coaching or mentorship.
• Work with implementing partner staff to collect and compile all available data and information on the progress, key threats, and issues related to project and present field data gathered for further analysis and for MEAL and communications’ products. 
• Provide Consortium’s Coordinator with technical information related to the development of project field activities and approaches. 
• Perform administrative tasks such as support finance and logistics (e.g. financial documentation, procurement, visits, travels, etc.) for the project, provide translation and interpretation when required, maintain project filling system to be applied and followed by all project staff (MIS). 
• Develop and maintain database of all technical reports, presentation, maps, data and information, pictures produced by the project as well as list of organizations and related stakeholders working in related fields, related products, etc. 
• Ensure good and close liaison in collaboration with project network, coalitions and clusters when relevant.  
• Develop network of project collaborators and agents for implementation, from local sources and provincial/district offices. 
• Promote organization’s presence in the community by attending meetings, workshops and related field activities alongside partners.
• Coordinate the evaluation and monitoring of implementation of the project work plan, and ensure that MEAL system is well-maintained and constantly updated by the project implementing partners. 
• Provide inputs to communications products, materials, and campaigns to ensure accurate information of the project when required. 
• Secure community and project stakeholder participation and ensure accountability to projects participants in development of the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, and support the implementation of the feedback and complaint response mechanism
• Prepare and follow-up required to produce technical reports and assessments, and protection from violence.
• Additional duties and responsibilities as required by the general manger
• Supervise the work of the Youth Employment and empowerment programme staff
• Provide high quality advice on youth training and youth employment in soft and technical skills.
• Ensure good partnerships and business development with private sector key players. 
• Responsible for communicating and reporting.
• Facilitate career guidance and job placement.
• Support field management and leading the collection of all needed evidencing documents for outputs and outcomes claims;
• Provide guidance on learning/labor needs assessment.
• Talent Acquisition in business development, employment and enterprise development.
• Organize/facilitate technical skills training within existing projects and business skills training for youth.

Ensure monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of the project: 

• Oversee and track progress of the implementation of key activities (scans on youth skills and labor demand; skills training curricula development: skills training delivery; peer-to-peer network creation; internships, career guidance and job placement).
• Collecting evidence of outputs and outcomes and preparing outcomes claims for submission to supervision management.
• follow up with M&E for data entering into the Management Information System (MIS) to ensure reporting integrity is maintained;
• Conduct field visits to attend trainings, one-on-one coaching or mentorship, etc., internship hosts, and employers, as needed, to ensure maintaining robust processes and procedures for data collection and the gathering of evidence for outputs and outcomes;
• Oversight, quality control and support to local implementing partners.

Ensure coordination and external relations of the project:

• Identify local (implementing) partners, training institutions, Local Service Providers and trainers.
• Ensuring good connections between the PITA and relevant members/DIB manager /projects in in Palestine and beyond
• Engage local institutions and enterprises in technical training relevant for training and IT sector.
• Matching trained youth with career opportunities (internships, job placements).
• Engage and maintain key partnerships and collaboration modalities.
• Integrating project components with technical institutes/farmer field schools/business development service providers.
• Support internship placements with companies.
• Support opportunity mapping to match trained youth with private sector job opportunities.
• Coordinate ‘push’, ‘match’ and ‘pull’ dynamics.
• Identify opportunities for youth-led businesses in IT sector. 
• Advise on (criteria and mechanisms for) selection of youth.

Promote an open, participatory, and teamwork organizational culture.

• Perform any other relevant duties as assigned by PITA.

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Qualifications:

• 5 years of experience in a relevant discipline e.g., IT, and business, management administration;
• Proven track record in implementation of projects of similar nature in development organizations in the following areas:
• Entrepreneurship/private sector development
• Youth employment and job placement 
• youth skills development
• inclusive business/market models
• multiple stakeholder facilitation private partnerships;
• (action) research for innovative development solutions
• Demonstrated experience in managing capacity building programs with preferably a background in training;
• A proactive, solution driven and entrepreneurial individual who will explore and develop innovative approaches that appeal to rural youth;
• Excellent social / networking skills, ability to engage with government, private sector and civil society;
• Experience in coordinating/working with diverse stakeholders. Working with target groups is highly preferred.
• MEAL capacity building processes.
• Experience in maintaining online database and reporting.
• Experience in implementing MEAL plans, data collection and analysis.
•  
• Proficiency in MS office (word, excel, PowerPoint, and outlook…etc.) 
• Good knowledge of project management. 
• Excellent Report writing skills in English. 
• Good understanding of partnership building and engagement strategies. 
• Excellent communication (writing and oral), advisory, reporting and presentation skills;
• Excellent People management skills with Strong project budget/finance skills
• Experience in project monitoring and evaluation with excellent analytical skills
• Experience in proposal development and business development

Key competencies/qualities:

• Entrepreneurial spirit (capable to speak with business/private sector)
• Youthful mind-set (not necessarily young, but someone who can place youth in the center of attention, someone geared to youth empowerment)
• Risk-taker and creative mind-set
• Keen on learning and knowledge development (notably on what works well, and how youth become “better”); keen on the principle of continuous improvement