Project Manager M/F

European Institute for Cooperation and Development (IECD), an international solidarity organization created in 1988, implements economic and human development projects, in partnership with local institutions, enabling young people and people in precarious situations to access decent and sustainable jobs, in a quality educational and health environment. More than 30 years of experience in the fields of education, vocational training and access to employment for young people, have enabled the IECD to develop a real know-how at the service of the most vulnerable people.

IECD operates in 18 countries, 4 geographical areas (Near East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa/ Madagascar, and South-East Asia), and is structured around flagship programs and a proven service offer on more than 70 projects.

In Liberia, IECD launched the project STRIVE in September 2020. The project focuses on three components:

• Developing Technical and Vocational Educational Trainings (TVET) and the national TVET system in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
• Increasing the employability of trainees to facilitate their professional integration.
• Supporting vegetable farmers in Bong County to improve economic opportunities.

As part of its activities in TVET, IECD is supporting the improvement of Electricity, Masonry, Hospitality and Agriculture TVET trades, working with TVET training centers to improve the quality of training and the infrastructures of the centers.

We will come to the end of the STRIVE project in 2025, with new projects on the horizon for the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025. These projects will focus on Education, Reintegration and Entrepreneurship, with strong themes such as sport and gender, youth in needs.

There are two aspects to the mission:

• The first one is for the Project Manager to supervise and monitor the feasibility of new projects, the drafting of proposals, being a force of proposal on different themes of education and reintegration of vulnerable youth, with the aim to lead the implementation of these new projects, once approved.
• He or she will also oversee administrative project management on the current Strive project and will report directly to the current TVET project manager, while offloading some of his administrative tasks. She/he will ensure this mission by ensuring the administrative skills development of the local team, the continuous improvement of the impact with the young beneficiaries, and by being attentive to new opportunities to extend the scope of the project. This aspect of the mission will be limited in time (6 to 9 months months), while waiting for the start of the new projects.

1/ Operational implementation of projects

• Define and lead the new project strategy, and agree it with AFD, ministries and partners, in line with the IECD expertise, experience and guidelines/mission.
• Help negotiate the terms and conditions of the new projects.
• Conduct the deployment of the activities of the new projects (plan the activities, define the objectives and results to achieve, identify priorities, proposal, budget, partnership set ups…)
• Lead the implementation of the new project with the agreed and signed scope.
• Ensure execution is in line with the set objectives and KPIs.
• Work with the Grants team in tight lead time situations.
• On the TVET side:
  • Assist the TVET program manager with all operational tasks related to TVET project by continuing the deployment of the Strive TVET project with the team. This includes planning of activities of the team, fixing objectives & results and identifying priorities.
  • Maintain the current partnerships with the training centers and ensure a daily follow-up.
  • Ensure proper evaluation and measurements are in line with the set objectives. Report & alert any discrepancies, risks of any kind (humans, financials, partners….) and propose solutions.
  • Help capitalise the knowledge and expertise on TVET for the new projects.
  • Ensure transversal follow-up (Guidance and Employment, activities with schools, etc.)
  • Mobilize local and international expertise for the successful carrying out of activities.
  • Ensure the monitoring and evaluation of the activities, in collaboration with the M&E manager.
  • Participate in the knowledge management work and capitalization, to contribute to the improvement of similar IECD projects in other countries.
  • Any other operational tasks required for the TVET project.

2/ Management of the program teams

• Build and follow the team's work plan for the proper coordination of each pillar of the projects.
• Upskill competences within the team and ensure its management: Evaluation, training, loyalty retention, team cohesion, in line with labor law.
• Assist and support the TVET Project Manager in the organization of the current team.

3/ Institutional representation, reporting and communication

• Contribute to the building of the relationships with the relevant stakeholders in TVET and in the public and private sector.
• Contribute to the reporting and meetings when needed with the partners and institutional partners.
• Supervise the communications on the project in collaboration with the Communication team: website updates, newsletters issues, creation of communication tools.
• Establish synergies between new projects and TVET so we can have some reusability level.

4/ Financial and administrative management

• Ensure internal monitoring and control procedure compliance, in coordination with the financial controller.
• Contribute to the narrative and financial reporting in relation to the financial partner.
• Supervise the overall budget of the new projects, and the TVET budget in coordination with the TVET Project Manager.
• Monitor and track purchases related to the project, as well as the public tenders.

5/ Line management

• He/She will be under the management of the Country Director, the Project Manager will oversee reporting, executing the IECD Liberia strategy for future projects and collaborating with the current support and program team.
• He/She will be under the technical management of the TVET project manager, the project manager will be a support on the current TVET project and will be assigned to administrative, operational and management tasks according to his recommendations.
• He/She will have under his/her management a project team with some officers and assistants regarding the new project and the M&E/gender department.

YOUR PROFILE

Experience:

• Significant professional experience required (minimum 3 years) in a Project Manager position, preferably with experience in education, entrepreneurship and/or reintegration of young people in difficulty. An experience in the Liberian vulnerable youth context is a plus.
• Interest in the field of development and international solidarity
• Preferably, foreign experience in a developing country

Expected skills:

• Management of multicultural teams.
• Ability to work in a team and in a matrix.
• Operational and financial management of projects is required.
• Ability to develop new partnerships.
• Proficiency in English (spoken and written), knowledge of French is a plus.
• Mastery of the Office pack, particularly Excel, imperative

Personal qualities:

• Leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, solution and results oriented.
• Rigor, organization, pragmatism
• Diplomacy and adaptation to different levels of interlocutors
• Good working skills: this position of responsibility requires a strong commitment and perseverance.
• Strong moral qualities: honesty, humility, respect
• Relational ease, open-mindedness, listening, patience
• Adaptation to the local culture, interest in the geopolitical context

CONDITIONS OF THE MISSION

Contract: Agreement under French law, “Volontariat de Solidarité Internationale” (VSI) - training prior to departure

• Under the responsibility of the Project Manager for TVET
• In close collaboration with:
• The Administrative and Financial Department
• the Human Resources Department, based in Monrovia.
• The Program team based in Paris.
• The Country Director and its CMT (Coordination Management Team)

Dates and duration of the position: as soon as possible, 2-years VSI agreement, renewable.

Location: Monrovia, Liberia.

Contractual conditions: Remuneration according to profile

• Housing participation (1750 $US/month)
• Two round trip per complete year of assignment for the VSI (including initial and final mission’s flight)
• Complete medical and social package
• Provision of a shared service vehicle
• Paid leave: 2 days per month + local public holidays. 5 additional days are included per complete year of assignment.

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