Finn Church Aid (FCA) is Finland’s largest development co-operation organisation and the second biggest organisation in Finland working in humanitarian aid. FCA is a founding member of the international aid alliance of churches, ACT Alliance. FCA seeks positive change by supporting the most vulnerable people in fragile contexts. We specialize in supporting local communities’ right to peace, livelihoods and quality education.

In Kenya, FCA has been working since 2014 in all three thematic areas, supporting local communities and governments to resolve and prevent conflicts in five counties of northern Kenya; providing access to primary education in Turkana, Garissa, Marsabit, West Pokot and Samburu, Kenya’s poorest counties; and improving access to quality education for children, youth and their families with holistic support mechanisms.

Finn Church Aid Kenya is looking for a Project Manager.

Primary purpose of the position

As the Project Manager, you’ll be responsible for achieving the project’s objectives in Kakuma/Kalobeyei, overseeing all aspects of project management through each project phase in accordance with FCA and the donor policies and procedures. You’ll also be responsible for the management of the project team, project resources and coordination across FCA’s wider operations team. Project Manager also contributes to the growth and development of the organization by identifying new funding and organisational development opportunities

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Program Planning:

• Lead the planning and implementation of all project activities in collaboration with the operations team (Research, MEAL, Finance, Human Resources, Compliance and Logistics and Procurement) and implementing partners to ensure activities are aligned with the project objectives in accordance with FCA Project Management policies and procedures.
• Provide continuous oversight of the project and identify need for adjustment and improvement of systems and processes to improve efficiency, optimise utilisation of resources and improve quality of deliverables.
• Manage all key internal stakeholders through the creation and implementation of a stakeholder management analysis and strategy. Particularly build strong working relationships with representatives of the donor(s) and partner organisations, as well as other relevant parties to understand their interests.
• Ensure all staff and service provider-related tasks are carried out in accordance with FCA’s and the donor’s policies and guidelines. This includes recruitment, performance management, security, staff development and training, and disciplinary action.
• Coordinate weekly project team meetings with key internal stakeholders to review the previous week’s activities and agree upcoming deliverables with all project team members. Brief the management and other external stakeholders on the project activities as required.
• Review financial glidepath with finance staff monthly to identify underspends and overspends. Brief financial aspects in weekly reports. Brief the Program coordinator and/or Finance Manager on any budget lines anticipated to result in a 10% variance. Ensure that budgets are spent in accordance with donor funding and donor regulations within the appropriate timeframe.
• Work with the Program Coordinator and other education team members and partner organizations to develop project implementation and procurement plans.
• Work with the Program Coordinator and the MEAL team to prepare and/or revise project monitoring tools to track indicators and monitor achievement of objectives and impact of the program.
• In collaboration with the Program Coordinator, prepare plans for capacity building and training of school managements on various trainings needs
• Prepare plans for regular field monitoring visits together with Program Coordinator and other Education staff.
• Review the Monitoring and Evaluation framework. data collection tools, Results Framework and Logical Framework monthly with the project’s Monitoring and Evaluation staff.

Program Implementation:

• Design and manage education projects, including education in emergencies, accelerated learning programs and youth education, using innovative approaches.
• Ensure that project activities are implemented in accordance with the approved work plans and with the involvement of partners and concerned stakeholders at all levels.
• Ensure project activities are implemented in the most efficient, effective and sustainable manner.
• Assist education team in the development and implementation of a modality of strengthening and improving management of schools’ committees and pupils through community mobilization and improvement of training materials and programs.
• Ensure effective and efficient distribution of textbooks and other instructional materials to target schools
• Conduct regular data collection using existing tools to track project performance on indicators and measure overall impact and for donor reporting purposes and make recommendations on the improvement of these tools.
• Ensure that good practices and lessons are documented and shared with the MEAL team and the education team for replication and wider dissemination.
• Travel to all project sites to conduct regular monitoring of projects quality together with other project team members.

Reporting, Monitoring & Evaluation:

• Ensure that field-based monitoring data and information is collated regularly and made available to Program Coordinator and the MEAL Team for reporting and monitoring purposes.
• In collaboration with the MEAL Team, focus on project data collection to generate practical information that can be used for ongoing program decision-making while also capturing results at the impact level.
• Assist the Program Coordinator in preparation of periodic progress reports in a timely manner for both internal and external use.
• Provide regular progress reports on activities, expenses, purchases and staffing to the Program Coordinator and senior management team (SMT).

Program Support Operations:

• Coordinate with other departments to ensure operational systems are in place to support field activities including logistics (transport, warehousing and asset management), procurement, security and administration.
• Coordinate with other FCA programs/sectors to ensure integration and that the projects run smoothly and efficiently and draws from best experiences and lessons for improved programming
• Represent FCA in sectoral coordination, emergency meetings, clusters and/or zone-level working groups.
• Support the Education Specialist in developing proposals, concept notes and managing education projects, including education in emergencies, accelerated learning programs and youth education, using innovative approaches

Qualifications and experience

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Education/ Social sciences or its equivalent
• Minimum of three (3) years’ work experience in education sector especially in refugee programming (implementing PRM, ECHO, UNHCR, UNICEF funded projects).
• Knowledge of education in emergencies, education sector policy, child rights and protection issues
• Experiences of facilitating community-based training, capacity building school managements, and awareness campaigns.
• Positive attitude towards community work with emphasis on the ability to learn from communities and support participatory, innovative approaches to problem solving
• Fluent in written and spoken English, Kiswahili and the local language in the camps and the host community
• Good report writing skills
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions
• Commitment to Finn Church Aid Child Protection Policy.

Desirable qualifications

• Previous experience in working with INGOs delivering education and girl child education services
• Demonstrated teamwork skills
• High level of motivation and enthusiasm for education
• Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills
• Understanding of the dynamics of the refugees is essential
• Experience of working with communities and other agencies that support education
• Experience in delivering digital/virtual learning programmes.