Project Manager - Aswat Faeela (Consultancy)

Main Opportunities/Challenges for this Consultancy

• Closely work in a highly performing team consisting of internal colleagues across British Council regionally, locally and in the UK 
• Coordinate with consortium partners’ project and finance teams on programmatic aspects and grants management 
• Ensure effective communications across stakeholders and key relationships, both within British Council regionally, locally and in the UK, and within consortium partners. This includes remote management. 
• Assist in the impact evaluation of the Aswat Faeela project within a multi-country remit; Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey  
• Manage all aspects of coordination and delivery, compliance, risk and finances for the Aswat Faeela project
• Comply with British Council and EC standard procedures to ensure contract delivery and eligibility.   
• Manage all aspects of coordination and delivery, compliance, risk and finances for the Aswat Faeela project and maintain an audit trail.

Main Accountabilities

Project Management 

• Coordinate with consortium partners and provide regular and clear communication, supporting the achievement of the project activities
• Ensure the tracking, monitoring and quality reporting of the project activities 
• Closely work with Team Leader on project work plans planning and implementation
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met  
• Participate in all meetings with a) consortium partners’ project team and b) BC Syria team 
• Ensure information and records management is done in compliance with British Council policies and procedures
• Ensure that logistical arrangements are in place for overall project activity, meetings and workshops
• Work with Team Leader on the closure phase of the project and relevant reporting and potentially a phase two planning targeted at various stakeholders. 

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)

• Support the project team in gathering data and results for reporting purposes
• Ensure that the projects M&E plan is properly coordinated and implemented accordingly 
• Support the impact evaluation of the project and closely work with Team Leader, British Council Technical Advisor, consortium partners’ project teams and consultants on achieving M&E standards. 

Finance and Grant Management

• Support consistent and effective management of all aspects of project finances, ensuring rigorous financial control in compliance with clear financial, administrative and audit procedures, as well as monitor project spend against the agreed budget
• Ensure consortium partners’ grants are properly evaluated contributing to a robust evidence base and undertake expenditure reconciliation on a quarterly basis 
• Work with consortium partners to ensure quality documentation is produced and disseminated according to necessary deadlines and standards of quality and completeness, as well as provide technical guidance on finance management and resolve problems on an ad hoc basis.
• Prepare and maintain financial plans and forecasts, highlighting problem areas and potential risks to the Team Leader; provide troubleshooting support and risk management 
• Contribute to the analysis of financial information and preparation of internal and client reports ensuring they are accurate, complete and timely.
• Ensure that financial functions within the BC Lebanon office and with BC Syria are carried out in accordance with British Council rules under the project.

Key Relationships

Internal

• Aswat Faeela Team Leader 
• Deputy Country Director 
• British Council Syria team 
• British Council local, regional and UK Education and Society teams (finance, project management, technical advisors, etc.) 

External

• Consortium partners 
• European Commission delegation 
• Jordan local partner 
• Suppliers and consultants

Applications 

The profile of the applicant(s) must meet the following requirements: 

• A minimum of 2 years of experience in development sector in an international or local organisation leading and managing projects, demonstrating good planning, financial management, communications, monitoring and evaluation and reporting.  (Essential)
• Sound financial administration and partners grant management experience and a track record of on-the-job experience in similar positions. (Essential)
• High command of English and Arabic (spoken and written) (Essential)
• Ability to work in a multi-partner/multi-country consortium project and multi-cultural environment  (Essential)
• Proven experience in youth development/capacity building projects  (Desirable)
• Proven experience in working on the Syria Response (in Syria and neighbouring host countries) (Desirable)
• A minimum of 2 years of working experience in development in regional programmes (Desirable)

Interested candidates must: 1) Send updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) to job.Vacancy@lb.britishcouncil.org by Friday 19 January 2018 which should clearly highlight past experiences in similar projects/assignments; 2) respond to the Tender Invitation document, as per the guidelines described in the Invitation To Tender document ITT that will be provided at a later stage, to shortlisted candidates.

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