Overall Purpose of the Role

The Project Manager will provide overall leadership, strategic direction, and management for the PULSE project. S/he will be directly responsible for the timely and quality completion of all project deliverables in line with donor agreements and organizational standards. The Project Manager will lead the project team, coordinate with stakeholders, ensure compliance, and facilitate learning and reporting.

Key Responsibilities

1. Project Leadership & Deliverables Management

• Provide overall direction for the design, planning, and implementation of the PULSE project.
• Ensure the completion of all project deliverables within agreed timelines, budget, and quality standards.
• Develop detailed work plans, implementation schedules, and result frameworks aligned with project objectives.
• Supervise and support project staff to achieve results effectively and efficiently.

2. Monitoring, Quality Assurance & Learning

• Work closely with the MEAL Coordinator to track progress against deliverables and indicators.
• Conduct regular spot checks and field visits to assess the quality of implementation.
• Address implementation gaps and take corrective measures to meet project deliverables.
• Capture and integrate lessons learned and best practices for adaptive management.

3. Reporting & Compliance

• Prepare and submit high-quality project reports (monthly, quarterly, and annual) to donors and management.
• Ensure compliance with donor requirements, organizational policies, and contractual obligations.
• Maintain documentation to demonstrate progress and evidence of completed deliverables.

4. Stakeholder Coordination & Representation

• Liaise with government departments, local authorities, NGOs, and community stakeholders for smooth project implementation.
• Represent the project in donor meetings, coordination forums, and external networks.
• Ensure effective communication and collaboration with partners and consortium members (if applicable).

5. Financial & Resource Management

• Manage project budgets, expenditures, and financial reporting in collaboration with the Finance team.
• Ensure that financial utilization is aligned with the delivery of project outputs.
• Monitor budget variances and recommend timely adjustments.

6. Team Development & Capacity Building

• Provide leadership, mentoring, and capacity building to project staff.
• Ensure staff performance is aligned with project deliverables and organizational values.
• Promote a culture of accountability, safeguarding, and teamwork.

Qualifications & Experience

• Master’s degree in Social Sciences or equivalent (Development Studies, Project Management, or related field).
• Minimum 5 to 7 years of professional experience in project management, preferably in donor-funded projects.
• Proven track record of managing and completing project deliverables on time and within budget.
• Strong knowledge of project cycle management (PCM) and results-based management (RBM).
• Experience in donor compliance, financial oversight, and high-quality reporting.
• Excellent leadership, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office and project management software/tools.

Key Competencies

• Strong leadership with results-oriented approach.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong communication and negotiation abilities.
• Commitment to accountability, transparency, and safeguarding.