Summary
Date Posted: Saturday, April 16, 2022 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
The Organisation
Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.
We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.
Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.
We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.
We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

ROLE PROFILE
Title: Project Manager – Play Matters- Sparking Life Long Learning Project
Functional Area: Programmes
Reports to: Head of Program Implementation
Location: Kampala- Uganda
Travel required: Yes
Grade: D2

ROLE PURPOSE
Plan International Uganda is looking for a Project Manager to provide strategic leadership in the implementation of a 5-year project- “Play Matters- Sparking Life Long Learning Project funded by the LEGO Foundation. The project is aimed at supporting play-based learning for children aged 3-12 years in refugee and host communities in the West Nile region. The project goal is to see every child inspired by playful learning, in every setting, every day, at school, in the home, and in the community. The project began in 2020, and will continue to 2025. It is implemented as a consortium, lead by IRC and implemented jointly with Plan International, War Child Holland, Innovations for Poverty Action, and the Behavioural Insights Team. The project is implemented across Uganda, Ethiopia and Tanzania, which are collectively home to over 1 million refugee children. The project works closely with government stakeholders to reach teachers, caregivers, community leaders and governments to improve holistic learning outcomes for 800,000 refugee and host community children aged 3-12+ using learning through play methodologies. In Uganda, the Plan International areas of implementation are around Adjumani, Yumbe and Rhino Camp.
The Project Manager will be fully responsible for successful stakeholder engagement, and timely, efficient, and gender-responsive implementation of all project interventions in a bid to achieve the project outcomes to ensure that: 1) Preschool and primary school teachers and education personnel apply play-based learning in their classrooms; 2) Parents and caregivers apply and support play-based learning with their children; 3) Government and humanitarian actors integrate play-based learning into their services and 4) Support Introduction and testing of innovative solutions for out-of-school children:

Dimensions of the Role
The Project Manager will be responsible and ultimately accountable for the project’s strategic direction, quality programming and delivery of results, financial management and compliance, team leadership, coordination and collaboration with project consortium members, stakeholder and partner relations, and other donor deliverables. S/he will demonstrate excellent project management and problem-solving skills, a very high degree of maturity, flexibility, organization and communication skills, and strategic thinking to meet the demands of a dynamic and sometimes unpredictable operating environment while ensuring Plan International’s systems and policies and donor requirements are adhered to, especially gender transformative programming and child and youth safeguarding. The Project Manager will be fully integrated into the Country Program Team based in Kampala and will provide effective and quality leadership to the projects’ implementation teams based in the field.

RESPONSIBILITIES/ ACCOUNTABILITIES
1- Program delivery
• Defines and updates clear project work plans for each district/location regularly to reflect a changing environment.
• Understands the project management cycle and utilizes tools (including detailed implementation plans) effectively to implement and achieve project results, and comply with donor requirements, government, and partnership agreements.
• Achieves project results, and monitors appropriate benchmarks, targets and performance indicators.
• Coordinates technical inputs on education, WASH, child protection in emergency and gender to support a high quality of implementation ensuring that programmatic strategies are of high quality, based on best practices and in line with donor standards.
• Articulates changes in project activities (if any) clearly and produce clear documents justifying changes, analysis of change impact, and budget impact.
• Systematically reviews risks and challenges to quality implementation and compliance and develop clear and timely mitigation strategies including resources required.
• Develops and implements a clear plan to strengthen programme quality and compliance in the project delivery.
• Produce well-documented, accurate, and quality narrative/financial reports in line with donor reporting requirements.
• Creates an efficient knowledge management system/approach that helps learning, sharing, scaling up, and innovation.
• Produces knowledge management documents in coordination with Plan Uganda’s and Plan Denmark’s technical advisors, showcasing achievements as outlined in the project documents.
• Participates and provides valuable input into the technical network meetings.
• Supports the Business Development department and the Technical Advisor Education in developing proposals that build on the initial achievements of the project or address additional constraints in education system in refugee hosting areas in Uganda.
• Promotes full integration of the project with other initiatives implemented in the same location in close coordination with the Programme Area Manager and other Project Managers.
2- Communication and Working Relationships
• Builds strong relationships with Plan Uganda, Consortium members and government stakeholders
• Engages and effectively represent Plan International in strategic partnerships with relevant NGOs (local and international), National and district local government entities /stakeholders as appropriate, to maximize use of our resources and emergency program impact and ensure alignment and strong partnerships so that co-funding requirements and targets are met;
• Effectively networks with donors, and other partners implementing similar programs in project locations.
• Develops appropriate internal and external Working Relationships (and partnerships) to support quality project delivery and compliance.
3-Advocacy, Influencing, and Visibility
• Represents Plan International Uganda at the district and national level to champion implementation of advocacy and influencing agenda.
• Supports with technical documentation of evidence from the project and produce stories of change when required.
• Ensures that the project is fully aligned with the Advocacy Strategy and the SDG influencing plan.
4– Staff Management
• In consultation with the Technical Advisor-Education, recruit, interview and select staff and/or volunteers with appropriate skills for the project activities.
• Manages project staff and/or volunteers according to the established policies and practices of the organization.
• Ensures roles, responsibilities and expectations are clearly communicated and understood by the full project team and consortium partners and tasks are appropriately delegated.
• Ensures internal team and consortium planning meetings are organized regularly to provide direction and guidance.
• Staff performance reviews are conducted, staff mentored/coached in line with Plan International Uganda’s Performance Management System.

Key relationships
• Close collaboration and strong working relationship with project consortium partners
• Close collaboration with Danish National Office of Plan International
• Close collaboration and interdependence with the Plan International Country Programme Team and Business Development Department at Country Office, Program Area Offices, and other support departments (Finance, Admin, Risk Management, Human Resource, Sponsorship)
• Regular working relationship with Program Area teams, especially Project Coordinators /Project Managers and other focal points implementing similar projects.
• Communications Department to ensure proper visibility and compliance with branding.
• Local, national and international Civil Society Organizations, Private Sector actors, Government institutions (especially District Education Offices and Office of the Prime Minister) and UN agencies to ensure Plan’s work is well linked to other initiatives.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge
• At least 8-10 years of demonstrated experience in managing Early Childhood Development and Primary Education programs in Emergency and Development contexts
• Master’s degree in an interdisciplinary area such as Education Management, Development Studies, International Development, Strategic Planning, Program Management, etc. or equivalent
• Proven leadership, inter-personal and cross-cultural skills, and ability to build and motivate multi-disciplinary teams
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively managing consortium projects with skills in effective partnership management
• Previous successful financial management of projects with budgets of $1 million or higher, and with multiple partners (including government and civil society).
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally in person and with remote teams
• Strong understanding of gender responsive programming and meaningful child participation in programs
• Conversant with national and decentralized education service delivery systems, structures, operations, and networks
• Knowledge of effective participatory Monitoring, Evaluation and Research systems and processes
• Ability to work independently and as a team player who demonstrates leadership
• Experienced in engaging with the international donor community and developing donor reports for grants
• Experience with Learning through Play approaches will be considered a strong asset
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work in a matrix environment
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presentation and public speaking
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to multitask while working on projects with varying activities, objectives, and deliverables
• Good negotiation and influencing skills
• Creates a strong sense of purpose within the portfolio and with stakeholders
• Sound judgment and decision-making in complex situations
• Aware of the impact on others and adjusting own behavior accordingly
• Frequent travel within Uganda

Plan International’s Values in Practice
We are open and accountable
• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people
We strive for lasting impact
• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.
We work well together
• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.
We are inclusive and empowering
• We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
• We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace
• We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives.

Physical Environment
• Typical Office environment with frequent travel to the field

Level of contact with children
• Occasional direct interaction with children

Child Protection Policy Responsibilities (mandatory for all staff)
• Adhere to the Child Protection Policy, Code of Conduct and reporting any CPP issues.
• Responsible for the implementation of the CPP standards as they apply to the area of responsibility plus the development of actions to address identified gaps and monitoring their effectiveness.
• Ensure that all Plan International partners, visitors, and associates in his/her area of responsibility are provided with, are made aware of and have signed and returned a copy of the child protection policy. Inform the partners, visitors, and associates that they must comply with the policy in all contacts and communications with children during their visit.
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Location: Kampala, Country Office
Type of Role: One year fixed term renewable
Reports to: Head of Program Implementation
Grade: D2

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 96

Level of Education: Postgraduate Degree

Job application procedure
Use the link below to apply.
https://jobs.plan-international.org/job/Kampala-Project-Manager-Play-Matters-Sparking-Life-Long-Learning-Project/768368701/

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