Project Manager – Jordan Municipal Support Program (JMSP)

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is the national voice for Canadian municipal government.  FCM is dedicated to improving the quality of life in all communities by promoting strong, effective and accountable municipal governments.   

Position:   Project Manager – Jordan Municipal Support Program (JMSP)

Department:  FCM Programs

Location:  Ottawa

Classification: Level 5

Salary Band: $71,000 - $89,500

Duration: Five-year contract starting in January 2017, pending approval          

Languages:  English & French with Arabic considered an asset

 

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is planning to implement a $20.6M five-year project called Jordan Municipal Support Program (JMSP). The conflict in Syria is having a huge impact on Jordan, which is now hosting over 1.4 million Syrians, 85% of whom are living outside of refugee camps in some of the poorest areas of the country. In certain municipalities, refugees outnumber residents, a situation that presents many challenges, particularly for the delivery of local services. The ultimate goal of this project is to strengthen the resilience of municipalities primarily in the central and southern parts of Jordan that have been impacted by the influx of Syrians displaced by the war. The project has three main objectives:  i) strengthening the leadership and administrative capacity of Jordanian municipalities; ii) working in selected host communities in central and southern Jordan to implement more effective strategies for managing solid waste using new technologies and approaches and by enhancing citizen engagement; iii) promoting sharing of knowledge, good practices and lessons learned that will benefit other municipalities throughout the country. To achieve these objectives, FCM will work closely with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs (MOMA) and other strategic partners in Jordan to strengthen local leadership, enhance administrative skills and improve service delivery capability in a minimum of 12 host municipalities in Jordan.

 

The proposed JMSP will be implemented by FCM, in cooperation with Jordanian partners, to ensure that all project initiatives are aligned with national programs, and with other donor-funded initiatives to avoid duplication.  A needs assessment and a set of criteria approved by the Project Steering Committee will help determine the municipalities from central and southern Jordan that will be directly involved in the JMSP demonstration projects and capacity building initiatives. Best practices, tools and manuals will be shared with others through workshops, study visits and seminars. FCM will mobilize Canadian municipal practitioners and elected officials from FCM’s membership to provide peer-to-peer technical assistance.

 

Main purpose

Under the supervision of JMSP Project Director, the Project Manager will be responsible for coordinating the overall Canada-based operations. She/he will be in constant liaison with the decentralized project team, and required for the implementation of the JMSP project as per the contribution agreement and FCM standards. Responsibilities include: managing processes, deliverables and collaboration among various stakeholders, overseeing the development of communication and knowledge products, contributing to the development of plans, strategies and reports, and staff management.

 

Key Responsibilities:

 

Application of Global Affairs Canada (GAC) results-based management (RBM) approach

• Manages project planning, monitoring and reporting mechanisms and deliverables based on RBM management approach and methodologies (Inception Plan, PIP, Baseline survey, AWP, Reports, etc), which includes coordinating, reviewing and consolidating input from decentralized Amman project office and FCM departments and services. She/he is the guardian of the RBM approach for the project.

Technical Assistance: Securing technical expertise from municipal partners

• Manages the Canada-based project operations including the recruitment, training and mobilization of Canadian municipal experts; she/he develops and nurtures partnerships with municipal members, organizes study tours and workshops, and contracts external consultants or other technical assistance as required.  She/he provides training on country specific and cross-cultural issues to all experts recruited for the project.

Securing Ottawa office support (Program Services Unit/Director’s Office/ FCM departments)

• Mobilizes support from various FCM departments, the Program Services Unit and the Director’s Office (corporate services) to secure technical assistance to the project and the project office in Amman.  Requests range from HR support on employee relations or benefits issues to dealing with IT technical issues to helping relieve administrative back logs.

Liaison with GAC and other project stakeholders

• Manages the relationship with project funding agency (GAC Project Team Leader), external monitor, Jordan Embassy, and other relevant networks, and maintains board members & governance representative informed and engaged in the project.

Participation in FCM-Programs activities (participate, contribute, benefit)

• Participates in the development of FCM-Programs tools, processes and strategies; facilitates the integration of the Jordan Municipal Support Project in various FCMI planning and management mechanisms through active involvement in various meetings such as Monday Morning Meetings, Departmental Coordination Committee, No Fly Week activities, Annual Conference, etc; and contributes to the development of new FCM project proposals.

Ensures the development of JMSP communications and knowledge products

• Manages the development of JMSP communication and knowledge products and activities (such as project information on FCM website, case studies, webinars, visual materials, etc.).

HR Management (project staff, consultants, volunteers, others)

• Manages effectively the human resources associated with this mandate, including individual performance management (FCM staff, interns, etc.), as well as contracts and terms of reference for external resources, ensuring work or services are delivered on-time, on-budget, and within expectations.

Financial Management

• Contributes to the development of project budgets; manages budget component associated with Canada related operations; works with the Finance department for the preparation and monitoring of financial reports.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Master’s degree in public administration, municipal affairs, planning, international development, project management, economic development or related field or equivalent education or experience.
• Seven years’ experience in managing international development cooperation projects, preferably in Jordan or the Middle-East, and preferably in a GAC context.
• Strong management skills including people management, budgeting, work planning, monitoring, reporting and results-based management approaches.
• Knowledge of the Canadian municipal network and the expertise available in the network.
• Previous experience mobilizing and managing volunteers, consultants and experts.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal, negotiation, presentation and influencing skills to effectively engage and establish relationships with external stakeholders, FCM members, senior officials, experts.
• Ability to negotiate priorities and objectives in order to align varying viewpoints and create unified approach.

Language Requirements

• Excellent knowledge of English, including superior writing skills, and the ability to work in French. Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.
• The benefits to joining the FCM team include summer hours (Fridays off between July 1^st and Labour Day); offices located in the ByWard Market, FCM’s commitment to employee development and a competitive range of employee benefits and services. 

For additional information on this posting, or for further information on FCM, access our website at www.fcm.ca.

Visit the careers section of our website to apply. Deadline for applications is January 2, 2017.

 

We thank all candidates for their interest; however we will only contact those selected for an interview. All the applications will be kept on file for six months following the hiring.