Project Manager

Project manager

Purpose of the Role

The Project Manager provides overall strategic, technical and operational leadership for PAPDA’s IMPAACT Project. The post holder ensures timely, high-quality and compliant implementation; coordinates head-office and field teams; manages relationships with the donor, consortium lead, government and other stakeholders; and ensures that project resources, risks, learning and results are managed effectively.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

Strategic and Programme Leadership

• Lead project  planning, implementation and periodic review of the project strategy, workplan, targets and budget.

• Translate the approved proposal, logframe and donor requirements into clear operational priorities for the field team.

• Ensure integrated, conflict-sensitive and technically sound implementation across anticipatory action, DRM, health/WASH preparedness, cash preparedness, crisis-modifier and community-engagement components.

• Provide regular management direction, problem-solving support and timely decisions to maintain delivery against milestones.

Team Management and Technical Oversight

• Supervise, coach and appraise the two Project Officers and provide functional oversight to Social and Outreach Workers.
• Clarify roles, approve team plans and travel, monitor workloads and foster a respectful, accountable and high-performing team culture.
• Coordinate technical inputs from PAPDA, consortium members, consultants and government counterparts.
• Ensure staff induction, capacity strengthening and compliance with organizational policies and humanitarian standards.

Coordination, Partnership and Representation

• Serve as PAPDA’s principal focal person for the IMPAACT Project and maintain effective communication with the consortium lead, donor and partners.
• coordinate with ACF, EDRMC and regional DRM structures, oversee trigger activation, ensure rapid response within 48 hours where applicable, and document lessons for national scaling.
• Represent PAPDA in national, regional and project-level coordination, technical working groups, dialogue events and review meetings.
• Build constructive working relationships with Afar regional bureaus, woreda administrations, DRM structures, sector offices, communities and humanitarian actors.
• Ensure agreements, action points and partner commitments are documented and followed up.

Financial, Operational and Risk Management

• Prepare budget forecasting, expenditure review and activity-based financial planning with Finance, Logistics and Procurement teams.
• Ensure value for money, timely procurement, appropriate asset and supply management, and full compliance with PAPDA and donor procedures.
• Maintain and periodically update programme, access, safeguarding and operational risk registers; escalate critical risks promptly.
• Support security analysis and ensure field movement and duty-of-care measures are applied.

MEAL, Reporting and Learning

• Ensure the project MEAL plan, indicators, data-quality controls, accountability mechanisms and learning agenda are implemented.
• Compile, review and approve narrative reports from field, donor updates, workplans, case studies, after-action reviews and other project documentation.
• Use monitoring evidence and community feedback analysis to adapt implementation and improve results.
• Ensure timely documentation and dissemination of lessons, evidence and good practices from pilot activations and preparedness actions.

Expected Deliverables and Outputs

• Prepare annual, quarterly and monthly implementation plans and forecasts.
• Timely, accurate and high-quality narrative reports.
• Effective coordination and documented follow-up with consortium, government and community stakeholders.
• Project activities delivered within approved scope, schedule, budget and quality standards.
• Updated risk register, issue tracker, procurement plan and management action log.
• Staff performance plans, monthly performance reports, supervision records, and capacity development activities completed and documented in accordance with PAPDA's performance management system.

Required Qualifications, Experience and Competencies

• Master’s degree in Project Management, Development Studies, Disaster Risk Management, Humanitarian Studies, Public Health, Social Sciences or a related field; a relevant bachelor’s degree with substantial additional experience may be considered.
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian, anticipatory action, climate change, natural resource management  or resilience programming, including at least three years in a programme/project management role.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-sector or consortium projects, preferably funded by ECHO or another institutional donor.
• Strong knowledge of anticipatory action, disaster preparedness, crisis response, cash preparedness and community-based programming.
• Proven competence in budget management, donor compliance, results-based management, risk management and high-quality report writing.
• Excellent leadership, negotiation, coordination, analytical and communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital project/data-management tools; excellent written and spoken English. Knowledge of Afar or Amharic is an asset.
• Experience working in pastoralist, fragile or hard-to-reach settings is strongly preferred.

Work Conditions and Requirements

• Based at PAPDA Head Office in Addis Ababa with frequent and sometimes extended travel to Abala, Megale and other coordination locations.
• May be required to work outside normal hours during critical project events, emergencies or reporting periods.
• Salary and benefits will be in accordance with PAPDA’s approved salary scale and policies.

Safeguarding and Cross-Cutting Responsibilities

• Comply with PAPDA’s Code of Conduct and policies on safeguarding, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), child protection, anti-fraud, confidentiality, health and safety, and data protection.
• Promote gender equality, disability inclusion, meaningful community participation, conflict sensitivity, Do-No-Harm, and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP).
• Immediately report safeguarding concerns through PAPDA’s approved reporting channels while maintaining confidentiality and a survivor-centred approach.

How To Apply

Interested and qualified applicants can apply by attaching their updated CV and application letter, including educational credentials and experience letter, by clicking here till the deadline.