Project Manager

Position : Project Manager   
Line-manager: Head of mission – OPT
Position Type:  Fixed Term   
Location of the position: Gaza Strip

Main internal interfaces Within mission: Head of Mission
Other Project team
Administration and Support teams (Admin & Support manager in JRS; Admin officer and other team member in Gaza field office…)
Technical advisor
At regional level: Regional Technical Unit=
Main external interfaces Local authorities
Partner organisations DPO, Service Providers, Parent groups
Other non-governmental organisations, INGO, Cluster
 
Work start date:  April 1st 2012   
End of contract :  October 31st 2013


OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION:
Under the line management of the OPT Head of Mission, ensure implementation of the project entitled ‘strengthening self advocacy and Awareness for the rights and equal opportunities of persons with disabilities in the Gaza strip” as defined in the proposal, and as  required by donor’s and HI standards, involving all relevant persons and stakeholders in the process’ and participate in the design of new projects.

THE ACTION:
For a sustainable change, the project aims at contributing to the development and implementation of policies that will both improve the access of PwDs to the necessary services and create inclusive environments, enabling PwDs to fully enjoy their rights by participating in all spheres of social life. The project further aims at enabling PwDs to advocate for their rights through their representing organisations, the Disabled People Organisations (DPOs).
Handicap International has already developed similar projects and capacities in South East Europe and in the Middle -East. The project’s approach combining direct training and support to local DPOs’ advocacy and networking initiatives through small grants schemes, has proven to be particularly effective to strengthen the disability movement’s capacity to produce sustainable change for PwD's.
More precisely, the action will consist of two main, inter-related components:
1-An overall training curriculum will be developed for developing and strengthening the capacities of the PwDs activists and DPOs as the project’s primary targets. The training curriculum will provide the DPOs with key legal and policy knowledge and will strengthen their advocacy and organizational skills. The training curriculum will be developed using HI's previous international experiences in disability and DPOs training, in consultation with relevant local stakeholders including PwD's themselves, service providers and public authorities and  in the framework of the UNCRPD and other relevant human rights instruments.  
2-The project will directly support local advocacy initiatives to be implemented by the DPOs, giving an opportunity to voice their community’s demands to improve access to services and other rights. Indeed the limited access to social services and barriers that PwDs experience at a community level must be addressed at that level.


JOB DESCRIPTION:
Responsibility 1: 
1-Project management in Gaza :
Under the supervision and responsibility of the Head of Mission
1-1 Project management
Lead, supervise, and ensure the project implementation:

Launch of project with regular planning
-Ensure initial review and update if necessary of the different stages, tasks involved in realizing this project, indicators, outputs, timetable and budget. (P&M tool)
-Determine the methodology to be used in the project implementation with the support of the Head of Mission (HoM), Program Development Support (PDS) and Regional Technical Unit (RTU). 
-Ensure presentation to and discussion with partners ; the Project manager is representing HI towards them.

Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation
-Guarantee the implementation of HI project monitoring and evaluation policy
-To set up monitoring system and tools and ensure the continuous monitoring of the activities of the project.
-Co-ordinate between all the project’s internal and external interfaces.
-Ensure regular update of the project planning and tasks based on monitoring and reporting
-Prepare the evaluation phases and implement any recommendations concluded from the evaluations carried out.
-Responsible for implementation of the project activities:

1-Initial Workshop gathering DSP, I/LNGO (TDH Italy, UNRWA….), DPOs, Pwds activists.
2-Curriculum centred on disability rights and rights based approach                                                                                    
3-Select and train a core group of 15 PwDs activists members or not of DPOs (3 pers per govenorate, 10 training days)
4-Training of trainers for the core group of 15 PwDs activists’ members or not of DPOs trained.
5-Organization of 5 training sessions  provided across the gaza strip, targeting in total 50 PwDs activists members or not of DPOs
6-5 days training of 15 PwDs activists members or not of DPOs on  local awareness  and advocacy initiative
7-support for approximately 5 local awareness or advocacy initiatives at a community level (1 per gov)
8-Workshop on analysis of local awareness, advocacy practices, and lessons learned

Partnership
-Update and/or confirm identification of implementing partners based on project planning with the support of the Head of Mission and Technical Advisor.
-Define jointly with the partner roles and responsibilities of each party within the framework of the project, propose and finalize (when validated) partnership agreements.
-Set up a co-ordination mechanism between the partners.
-Communicate on the project’s activities with all of the partners.

Internal and external reporting
-Submit monthly project activity report (activity and internal budget follow up) to the Head of Mission based on P&M tool.
-Submit quarterly project report (P&M tool) and organise and lead project quarterly reviews
-Write the activity reports related to the project according to donors schedule and requirements and submit to the Head of Mission.

1-2 Team management

-Propose team job descriptions and recruit a project team with HoM validation.
-Assess project needs in term of internal and external human resources and propose accordingly to HoM.
-Manage the project's team.
-Develop with the team members Individual Action Plan and update it every 6 months.
-Conduct Job evaluation of his/her project team once a year and mid term evaluation every 6 months.
-Adopt security procedures for the project in accordance with HI security guidelines.

1-3 Project quality

In collaboration  with the RTU and PDS in HI-ME

-Ensure that activities are implemented in accordance with technical framework defined and validated by RTU.
-Ensure the project’s quality in terms of realization and impact.
-Identify any technical, methodological or documentary resources or additional skills for guaranteeing the quality of the project.
-Participate in analyzing lessons learned on the association's experience gained on the projects and activities.

1-4 Administrative, budget and financial management

-Propose any contracting procedures necessary for the project’s implementation. Manage the project’s financial, logistical and material resources.
-Ensure a correct follow-up of the Financial, administrative and logistic aspects of the project
-Monitor the project budget consumption as being responsible to validate the commitment of expenses related to the project activities and it’s follow up within his/her delegation limit, design the project yearly budget (IN, R1) & prepare update (R2, R3, R4)  using HI appropriate tools, propose necessary budget reallocations to the HOM if required..
-Work in close collaboration with the Admin officer in Gaza.

Responsibility 2:
2. Other tasks required
-Identify and participate in the design of future new project(s) in collaboration with the Head of Mission.
-Develop network among disability stakeholders. 
-Contribute to have better knowledge and understanding on disability issues in Gaza through regular need assessment, stakeholders mapping, and regular update to HoM.
-Provide all the information necessary for and participate in the process of drawing up the annual strategy and/or the budget estimates for the sector or the programme.
-Represent Handicap International  in Gaza in collaboration with the Head of Mission

JOB REQUIREMENTS:
     
-The position is based in Gaza
-Ability to work under pressure in an unstable and changing environment, Flexibility, ability to take initiatives and make decision
-Ability to work in a team / Group leadership

PROFILE SOUGHT:

SKILLS:
-Good Organizational skills/ Proactive
-High Level Written and verbal skills
-Good skills in organization, co-ordination and the transfer of knowledge are essential. The person must be able to work independently and without constant supervision.
-Excellent communication skills are essential to ensure cohesion with other projects and partner staff.  Diplomacy and good negotiating skills are primordial
-Good understanding of Disability Rights issues and advocacy
-Capacity to formalize tools and procedures
-Motivation for Rights Based Approach
-Training capacities
-Good level of spoken and written English

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
-Level of education : Bachelor degree in Human Rights / OT
-At least 5 years of experience in project cycle  management with proven skills in planning, monitoring and evaluation
-Experience in budget management
-Experience in human resources management


Handicap International is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from persons with disabilities interested candidates may please send their resume with cover letter before the 7th of March 2012 to [email protected].