Plan Academy Project Manager

AR020 – Plan Academy Project Manager

Reports To: Project Lead (Country Director for Plan Bangladesh)

Location: Negotiable and based out of a Plan Country or National Office

Closing Date: Sunday 4th September 2011

3 year contract

The salary range for this role will be US$60–80,000 per annum depending on experience plus benefits.

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter detailing your salary requirements and quoting reference AR018 to recadmin@plan-international.org

PURPOSE Plan’s strategy to 2015 seeks to reach as many children as possible, particularly those who are excluded and marginalized with high quality programmes that long lasting benefits. Important in the realization of this goal is an approach to development and emergency work in which the views, rights and protection of children is central. Plan calls this the Child Centred Community Development Approach (CCCD). Plan believes that the quality of its work relies on the proper use of this approach. In order to ensure that there is consistency in the use of this approach across the work of the organization, Plan has devised a related strategic project called ‘The Plan Academy ‘.

The Plan Academy shall endeavour to improve core knowledge, skills, behaviour and practice around child rights-based community development at all levels of the organization, be it work in the field or at National Organisation, or International Headquarters.

The position reports to the Project Lead (Currently the Country Director of Plan Bangladesh). The Plan Academy Project Manager (PAPM) will manage the Plan Academy project to be implemented by the Project Working Group, ensuring cost-effective delivery of the project goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Project Manager has no direct reports but will oversee and advise on the activities of a highly complex project implemented by the Plan Academy Project Working Group(PAPWG). Responsible for managing the project budget currently estimated at $4 million dollars over 3 years, you will manage the core deliverable of the project through the project working group within the 24-36 months timeframe.

1. Planning and Coordination The PAPM will devise clear plans and coordination mechanisms for the project delivery that enable the different key stakeholders to deliver on time their part of the project Areas of work under this responsibility will include: • Full 3 year business project plan • Established methodology for management and best practices in the delivery of the project • Identification of all functions needed for project delivery, including additional support • Management of consultancy TORs and selection • Facilitation of coordination/planning processes

2. Monitoring and Communication of Progress The PAPM will set clear monitoring processes in place for the tracking of progress and its communication to all key stakeholders Areas of work under this responsibility will include • Establishment of M&E system effective globally with agreed KPIs for whole project and individual parts including financing • Accurate project delivery information is readily available • Tracking processes • Regular reporting mechanisms to PAWG on delivery and accountabilities of the project against budget

3. Risk Management The PAPM will identify areas of risk that could impact on delivery quality and timing. Areas of work under this responsibility will include: • Establish project risk register owned by stakeholders • Monitor regularly • Report and suggest actions

4. Technical Advice and Support to Project Delivery The PAPM will identify capacity gaps in the project stakeholders to deliver against the project outputs. Areas of work under this responsibility will include: • Analysis of M&E will reveal management weaknesses and technical capacity gaps • Reports to PAPWG will highlight the gaps and solutions proposed

5. Networking & representation responsibilities Areas of work under this responsibility will include: • Promoting the project across Plan and gathering comprehensive buy-in • Linkage with other institutions pursuing similar work

6. Resource Mobilisation Areas of work under this responsibility will include: • Raising funds in support of key aspects of the project

Dealing with Problems: • Global project with multiple stakeholders with different views of the project’s purpose and long-term potential impact • Management structure that is at a distance over different time zones • Large budget but spread across wide organisational needs

Communications and Working Relationships: Main contact will be with: • Plan Academy Working Group (Project lead, the four regional CCCD programme specialists, the NOPD chair (to represent the NOs), the IH Head of Learning & Development, the IH Program Effectiveness Manager, and representatives of partner institutions). • Support will come from the People and Culture Department with Global and Regional representation, Information Communication and Technology staff, Communications and National Organizations’ Human Resource Directors/Managers • The PAPM will need to communicate with other institutions sharing our interest in this field.

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE Knowledge • Knowledge of the international development sector and the rights-based/participation debates • Knowledge of critical path analysis and up to date project planning methods • Knowledge of the INGO structures and how they operate an advantage • Educational qualifications relevant to the delivery of cost-effective project management in this field

Skills • Proven skills in the management of the delivery of complex projects • Excellent organizational and co-ordination skills • Budget forecasting, monitoring and Finance management skills • Project Workgroup Facilitation skills • Ability to earn credibility of the executive leadership. • Ability to work in an international cross-cultural environment. • Project Management skills using a variety of formal methodologies and informal styles • Excellent written communication skills • Strong influencing and negotiation skills • Skill in use of computers, and computer based Project Management tools such as MS Project and Visio. • Skill in development and management of multiple funding and resources • Skilled in accessing sources of knowledge and expertise to build organisational and individual capacity

Behaviours • Versatile, personable and flexible in the face of a complex project • Self-driven, can work with minimal supervision • Creative and with initiative to seek workable solutions • Works collaboratively & listens actively to the views of those impacting on the project • Sensitive to differing cultures as they impact on project delivery • Decisive and Results focused following debate • Sensitivity to working in a culturally diverse organisation and region

LANGUAGES • PAPM must be able to speaks, read and writes English fluently • Knowledge of Spanish and/or French is desirable.

References and background checks will be carried out in conformity with Plan’s Child Protection Policy.

Plan operates an equal opportunity policy which recognises the value of a diverse workforce.