Project Manager

Who are Plan International?

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 85 years, and are now active in more than 80 countries.

Role Purpose

The conflict in Ukraine is resulting in a major humanitarian crisis with over 4 million people having fled to neighbouring countries, and millions displaced within Ukraine. Plan International is responding to the crisis and working in partnership with civil society organisations in Ukraine, Poland, Romania, and Moldova to meet the key needs of those affected by the crisis as well as host communities.

Plan International has been present in Ukraine since August 2022 and has established partnerships with civil society organisations, ensuring national actors are equipped with technical support, best practices, and flexible resources, with a primary thematic focus on Child Protection, Education, and Mental Health & Psychosocial Support.

Dimensions of the Role

The post-holder is responsible of the coordination of one specific institutional donor funded project, including but not limited to project start-up, project activity monitoring, partnership management, and project closure. The project is funded by Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Accountabilities

Under the supervision of the Programmes Director, the Project Manager will perform the below main activities:

• Oversee partner implementation of project activities within the deadlines and standards
• Make frequent monitoring trips to the project areas to monitor project activities, identify opportunities and constraints and make any necessary adjustments, including capacity strengthening
• Regularly update the progress, priorities, and constraints of project implementation
• Represent Plan in internal/external meetings
• Ensure that Plan’s child protection and safeguarding policy is respected, and all cases of abuse are reported and responded to.
• Guide the project implementation, including developing and update work plans, budgets and logical frameworks with responsibilities and mandates
• Monitor performance of the partner teams and internal Plan staff assigned to the projects to ensure all milestones set in the annual work plan are met
• Implement the project according to Plan’s and donor’s project cycle procedures and standards
• Ensure that agreed roles and responsibilities between program stakeholders are fulfilled as per contractual obligations
• Work together with the programs and finance staff to ensure timely delivery of high-quality reports that meet donor and Plan International standards and requirements.
• Conduct capacity building for national and partner staff in project management and project implementation, supported by Plan’s technical Teams.
• Ensure that senior management, project and partner staff understand donor communication protocols and visibility requirements.
• Establish and ensure effective channels of internal and external communications

Key relationships

Country Director, Programmes Director, Technical Specialists, and support staff (Finance and logistics); Local project partners; Ukraine Response Hub and Global Hub relevant teams; relevant colleagues in Plan Germany

Technical expertise, skills, and knowledge

Essential Knowledge

• University degree (Master) in relevant field
• Proven experience with an International or local NGO
• Proven experience with projects funded by international donors (experience with German institutional donors GFFO or BMZ will be an asset)
• Good knowledge and understanding of humanitarian principles and established
• Experience of implementing projects in education, SRHR, child protection, Mental health and psychosocial support, cash and voucher assistance, gender and participatory approach will be an asset

Essential Skills

• Strong strategic decision-making and communication skills including reporting and presentation
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Ukrainian and English;
• Demonstrated ability of teamwork, coordination, and planning
• Knowledge of usual office software (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and regular communication channels (Teams, email, Skype).

Essential Behaviours

• Committed to Plan International’s strategy and values
• Experienced with working in collaboration with Senior Management
• Team player and relationship builder
• Able to work calmly under extreme pressure, volatile & insecure environment and at unpredictable (long) hours during emergency response
• Works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment
• Communicator;  Promotes innovation and learning; Communicates clearly and effectively;  Strong team building and motivational skills;  Demonstrates clear respect to all and especially children and women without discrimination
• Demonstrates honesty and transparency in holding self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and Plan’s standards of behaviour

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

We create a climate of trust inside and outside the organisation by being open, honest, and transparent. We hold ourselves and others to account for the decisions we make and for our impact on others, while doing what we say we will do.

We strive for lasting impact

We strive to achieve significant and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people, and to secure equality for girls. We challenge ourselves to be bold, courageous, responsive, focused, and innovative.

We work well together

We succeed by working effectively with others, inside and outside the organisation, including our sponsors and donors. We actively support our colleagues, helping them to achieve their goals. We come together to create and implement solutions in our teams, across Plan International, with children, girls, young people, communities, and our partners.

We are inclusive and empowering

We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge inequality in our programmes and our workplace. We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives. We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential.