Project Manager (Nutrition Activity - World Bank) - DRC

The Organization:

Interchurch Medical Assistance (IMA) World Health, a member of Corus International, has been present in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since 2000. Corus International is the parent of a family of world-class organizations working to deliver the holistic, lasting solutions needed to end extreme poverty once and for all. We are a global leader in international development, with 150 years of combined experience across our brands. Our nonprofit and for-profit subsidiaries include IMA World Health and its fundraising brand Corus World Health, Lutheran World Relief, CGA Technologies, Ground Up Investing, Cadasta, and Farmers Market Brands. In DRC, Corus operates under IMA World Health. Our more than 400 employees around the globe are experts in their fields and dedicated to helping the world's most vulnerable people break the cycle of poverty and lead healthy lives.

At Corus we believe that good only grows stronger and we reflect that belief in our workplace culture. We value every employee's specialized area of expertise and nurture professional growth. We promote an engaging and supportive work environment, where employees feel enabled and driven to innovate, learn and collaborate. And because our subsidiaries often function as partners, our employees have the opportunity to work across our enterprise family.

Job Brief:

Position Summary:

This position will be an employee of IMA World Health DRC.

The Project Manager provides a multi-level strategic leadership, technical oversight and fiduciary accountability for the implementation of a large-scale nutrition project designed to reduce chronic malnutrition among children under two and improve nutrition outcomes for pregnant and lactating women. Working through the existing health system, the project will strengthen household practices during the first 1,000 days, community-based nutrition and referral mechanisms, the management and quality of services in health zones and provincial structures, and national nutrition strategies and health-system initiatives. The 2-year project will focus on:

• improving access, utilization, and quality of community essential nutrition practices and health services;
• integrating nutrition into Maternal Neonatal and Child Health services; and
• empowering households by reinforcing community structures and implementing income-generating activities.

Actual hiring is contingent upon signed award and donor's approval. Congolese nationals are highly encouraged to apply.

Project Leadership (15%)

• →Leads the planning and development and periodic review of the overall project workplan and implementation strategy in collaboration with the project team.
• →Provides technical oversight for the design, implementation, and evaluation of project ensuring alignment with donor objectives.
• →Collaborates at multi-level with Ministry of Health, provincial health authorities, health zone teams and other stakeholders to distill lessons learned from project implementation and uses these insights to improve practices and inform future planning cycles.
• →Provides technical oversight on all periodic reporting to the donor.

Project Management (30%)

• →Manages all aspects of day-to-day project implementation according to the donor approved project workplan and implementation strategy including workplan activities, budget and finance oversight, monitoring, and evaluation.
• →Leads project team, ensuring effective, efficient, results-based and timely delivery of activity targets including development of high-quality progress, financial, and evaluation reports are developed in accordance with organization and donor guidelines.
• →Provides or arranges training for partners needing capacity building to ensure quality in activity implementation and timely reporting.
• →Ensures that the project conforms to both IMA and donor compliance, policy standards, and rules and regulations are always adhered to and met.
• →Oversee the timely identification and screening of project contractors and employees as well as the processing of contracts in coordination with the HR Business Partner.
• →Under the supervision of the Country Director, collaborate with Program Business Unit team members and other Organizational Business Units.
• →Under the supervision of the Country Director, revise project designs and work plans; make recommendations for timely and optimal course corrections.
• →Assist in coordination and response to internal and external audits in cooperation with Corus Financial and Administrative staff.

Project Quality (30%)

• →Oversees the design, monitoring, evaluation, and learning of the project in accordance with project M&E requirements
• →Ensures that project activities are implemented, and monitors the achievement of results, ensuring compliance with project indicators
• →Ensures that project activities and approaches adopt best practices in nutrition
• →Ensures the delivery of quality training, technical assistance, and administrative and financial support to all partner governments and agencies, including the selection and coordination of consultants

Representation (15%)

• →Acts as the primary project representative with donor, host government officials, and other implementing stakeholders.
• →Take responsibility for addressing all matters related to the project and ensure timely resolution and escalation of strategic, technical, operational, and compliance matters affecting project performance.
• →Strengthens linkages with existing partners and develops linkages with potential partner agencies.
• →Develops and manages relationships with the public and private sectors.
• →Oversees communication strategies for the project in compliance with donor's branding and marking requirements, as well as the IMA World Health's internal procedures

Human Resources Management (10%)

• →Co-manages the recruitment of a team of skilled, competent, qualified, and innovative project staff, in collaboration with regional and country project management
• →Ensures staff compliance with all administrative and operational procedures and policies, as well as applicable donor regulations and national laws
• →Leads and manages project team, including staff with administrative related duties, to ensure that they can successfully implement efficiently all project operations and achieve project objectives
• →Encourages a culture of learning, innovation, and creativity, and contributes to an environment conducive to professional development among project staff
• →Oversee timely outputs of direct reports
• →Conduct performance planning and performance evaluations with staff on a quarterly basis.
• →Work with staff to develop work plans and set objectives on a regular basis (one-on-one with direct report to be conducted on weekly or biweekly basis)

Provides direct supervision of the following staff, including:

• Nutrition Specialist
• Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist
• Logistics Manager for Medications and Nutritional Supplies
• Finance Specialist
• Specialist in Communication for Social and Behavioral Change
• Nutrition Supervisor
• Logistics Assistant
• Accountant
• Field Drivers

Education & Experience:

• Master's degree in public health, nutrition, medicine, project management or a related field. Minimum of 10 years professional experience including 5 years in the coordination and management of health and nutrition projects. land/or equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Proven experience in strategic and operational planning, coordinating interventions, managing resources, and monitoring performance.
• Well established familiarity with standard project and data management tools, as well as results-based management and monitoring and evaluation principles.
• Deep commitment to organization's core values and ability to model those values in relationships with colleagues and partners.
• Proven experience managing projects funded by institutional donors (e.g., World Bank, U.S. Department of State, FCDO, and or equivalent.
• Deep understanding of the local context and ability to navigate local government and community structures.
• Deep understanding of the DRC's health system and coordination mechanisms with Provincial Health Division (DPS), health zones management teams (ECZS), environmental and social sustainability (ESS), and community-based organizations.
• Proven track record in managing Integrated Strategic Plan for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent, and Nutrition Health (SRMNEA-NUT) interventions in a development context,
• Proven track record of developing and maintaining strong working relationships with host country counterparts and NGO/FBO/CBO actors.
• Experience working with US-based and international partners (NGO/FBO/CBOs, universities and other technical institutions).
• Experience working in humanitarian, refugee, or emergency settings preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong working knowledge of international donor funding mechanisms and guidelines
• Strong knowledge of international development, including understanding of protection principles, international frameworks, and case management guidelines
• Demonstrated ability to achieve results in a demanding and fast paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and tasks efficiently.
• Demonstrated skills in leadership, managing multidisciplinary teams and institutional coordination.
• Excellent time management skills and resourcefulness with strong attention to details and established deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, public speaking, and strategic planning skills required.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills to communicate effectively and credibly, both verbally and in report writing in French and English.
• Strong budgeting and budget monitoring skills include a high level of proficiency with MS Excel.
• Proficiency in Office 365 applications with Salesforce a plus.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated ability to lead the coordination of/collaborate on project implementation across multiple teams (between departments, between headquarters and country offices, etc.).

Physical and Mental Requirements:

• Ability to and reside travel in project sites located in remote health zones (HZs) - Ilebo, Luebo, Bulape, Mweka, Ndjoko Mpunda, Mutena, and Kakenge - in DRC.
• The physical requirements that may be needed to execute responsibilities may include bending, standing, and walking, etc.
• The mental requirements that are essential to satisfactorily executing the responsibilities outlined in this job description include, but are not limited to: learning new tasks, comprehending, and retaining information, completing tasks independently, effectively communicating verbally and in writing, demonstrating proficiency in using computer software to perform assigned tasks.