Header

Liberia Project Manager / Head of field Office (female)

medica mondiale is a German based feminist women’s rights organisation supporting women and girls in war and conflict regions. medica mondiale provides psychosocial and legal counselling and trauma sensitive medical consultation, and enhances protection – both through its own projects and in co-operation with local women’s organizations. At a political level, medica mondiale actively advocates the enforcement of women’s rights and interests and demands consistent punishment of crimes as well as effective protection, justice and political ownership for women survivors of sexual and gender based violence.

For our Programme in Liberia we are offering the position of a Project Manager / Head of field office (female)

Background Since 2006, medica mondiale has been implementing a comprehensive programme in rural areas of Liberia, tackling the consequences of sexualized and other forms of gender based violence for women and girls through a multi-sectoral, interdisciplinary approach, contributing to their protection and empowerment and reinforcing their access to justice and the health system. One major programme is the Recovery and Empowerment Programme for survivors of sexualised violence that interlinks the following main areas of action: Recovery for survivors of violence through supportive psychosocial counselling; trauma sensitive reproductive health education; social and political empowerment; set up of community based protection networks through community mobilisation and establishment of protection focal points; promotion of structural changes on political level through advocacy towards equal rights, protection, and justice for women. This programme is part of the Reintegration and Recovery Programme (RPP), a development programme of the Republic of Liberia, co-financed by the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW Development Bank. In the framework of RRP medica mondiale works in partnership with Welthungerhilfe (infrastructure and agricultural programmes) and IBIS (education). In addition to that, medica mondiale will set up a project focusing on Ivorian refugee women and girls residing in host communities in Southeast Liberia. This project will be coordinated by another international coordinator based in Zwedru, who will report to the PM / Head of field office and the Head of Mission Liberia.

Project Setup medica mondiale operates in three south-eastern counties of Liberia: Grand Gedeh, River Gee and Sinoe, with its main field office in Zwedru. Duty station of the Project Manager is Zwedru, however the position requires frequent travel to all field locations. Annual budget of the RRP is ca. 1 mio per year. The Head of Field office supervises ca. 70 Liberian staff, both technical and support staff.

Position summary The RRP Project manager ensures that the RRP strategy is in place and regularly reviewed and that activities are consistent with the strategy and mission of medica mondiale Liberia and the Charta of medica mondiale. She reports to the Head of Mission in Liberia. She liaises and cooperates effectively and diplomatically with the partners at field level. She ensures that the RRP programme is implemented, monitored and adjusted appropriately and effectively. She has strong capacities to reinforce and strengthen management structures and systems with a focus on finances and HR. She possesses strong leadership and interpersonal skills and a passion to build local capacities. The RRP project manager has an in-depth understanding of programmes focusing on sexual and gender based violence and awareness raising, is able to analyze contexts from a political and feminist perspective and has an empowering and inclusive approach.

Key responsibilities - In close cooperation with the Head of Mission, provide leadership, strategic direction and management for the RRP programme of medica mondiale in Liberia, strengthening and optimizing management structures and systems with a focus on finances and HR - Ensure high quality of medica mondiale’s services and reinforce a women-centred, feminist and empowering approach towards staff and beneficiaries - Ensure donor-reporting requirements are met on time and reports (both narrative and financial) are delivered in high quality - Manage RRP programme funds within the budget framework; ensure all administrative, financial and logistic requirements are met, including security management - Identify areas for improvement and provide recommendations to Head of Mission - Coach and mentor the Liberian counterpart (RRP deputy programme manager) and other key Liberian staff and build their capacities both at individual and team levels; reinforce teambuilding processes and ownership - Give strategic input in the further development of medica mondiale Liberias peace component and awareness raising programme - Undertake and strengthen advocacy on field level for the rights of survivors of sexual and/or gender based violence - Liaise and cooperate effectively and diplomatically with partners, line ministries, UN and other stakeholders; ensure effective cooperation - Cooperate with medica mondiale headoffice departments upon request (mainly international project department, trauma work department, PR and fundraising) - Represent medica mondiale within Liberia and internationally, upon request Experience/knowledge and skills - Substantial relevant experience in developing and managing large-scale community projects, with focus on sgbv and protection in conflict and post conflict areas - Profound knowledge of the different forms and consequences of violence against women and sexualized war and post-war violence, and of women’s rights - Strong leadership skills; proven experience to supervise a considerable number of staff both national and international; skills to develop local capacities, to motivate and to ensure participation and ownership - Demonstrated track record in financial management and HR management - Ability to manage security, logistics, and operations - Experience with PCM, proposal writing and budgeting - Familiarity with participatory planning and monitoring - Experienced trainer - Communication and negotiation skills - Excellent command of the English language combined with strong writing skills - Stress-resilient and able to work in remote areas with limited infrastructure - Work experience in rural African settings; regional experience in Liberia or West Africa would be an asset

Personal Skills - Feminist background and a clear commitment to work with a women centred and empowering approach - High degree of cross-cultural competence; respect for different nationalities, ethnicities, and religions - High level of accountability to survivors of sgbv, the Liberian team, the Head Office of medica mondiale, partners, donors, and identification with medica mondiale Liberia’s mission and vision - Flexible and innovative - Analytical skills - Approachable and communicative - Self aware

We offer - Contract from February 2012 to September 2013 (20 month) - Salary and benefits based on medica mondiale’s salary scale for international assignments - Insurance, travel cost refund etc.

Start: February 2012 Closing date of this posting: 3rd of January 2012

Further information on medica mondiale and our projects can be found on our website: www.medicamondiale.org

How to apply:

Please email your application (CV, cover letter and references in one single document not exceeding 2 MB) as well as your salary expectations to recruitment@medicamondiale.org