We're hiring: Project Officer

Name of the position: Project Officer

Duration: 8 months

Location: Duhok (with frequent visits to Rwanga, Essyan and Domiz 2 camps )

Deadline for submission: 10th April 2021

How to apply: Send your CV and a cover letter to careers@thelotusflower.org by April 10th. 

Job Description:
This Project Officer (PO) position is the lead role in the implementation of a project called Peace Sisters. The PO will manage day to day activities of the project and will lead a project team. The PO will be responsible for managing project activities, project budget and also coordinate with external stakeholders for smooth implementation of the project. The PO will also represent the Lotus Flower in meetings with donors, government officials and other agencies.

Context:
The Lotus Flower is a non-governmental organisation that has successfully founded and now operates three centres for women and girls in displacement, beginning with the centre in Rwanga Community camp near Duhok, which primarily serves Yezidi women in that community. The centre opened its doors in 2016, and the aim has been to provide a safe, supportive, and healing environment to women and girls who have survived the atrocities of war and violence. Our three centres work to fill resource gaps by providing community-responsive programming which changes over time in response to feedback, but revolves around six pillars from the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals: Education, Livelihoods, Mental Health, Wellbeing, Human Rights, and Peacebuilding. To date, this has included much-needed livelihood training, language courses, computer training, mental health support, fitness and health training, and awareness sessions and advocacy on women’s rights and gender-based violence. We aim to provide the foundation for women to rebuild themselves, their families, and their futures.

Project Overview

The PO will lead the Peace Sisters project, which will start in partnership with the German Consulate in Erbil. The main aim of the project is to upskill and increase the capacity building of women and girls to be mediators and actively participate in the process of peacebuilding within their communities. Peace Sisters is also predominantly aimed at increasing women’s human rights and their role in peacebuilding and mediation. Our community-based activities will also target men and boys to promote gender perspective and equality, and to avoid potential sensitivity. We believe that increasing women’s rights and their role in peacekeeping processes brings positive impact to the lives not only of women and girls, but men and boys too. They will take on leadership roles and practice critical thinking, teamwork, communications and public speaking.

Overall job purpose

·       Responsible for the day-to-day management of medium to large field projects of all types.

·       To manage and develop teams you are responsible for.

·       To ensure professional standards of work are maintained and projects are completed to time and budget.

·       To complete analysis and reporting on projects undertaken in a timely manner and to the highest professional standard.

·       To help develop methods of project initiation, execution and delivery.

Duties and responsibilities:

Project Management:

• The Project Officer (PO) is responsible for implementing project activities in close coordination with project participants.

• Prepare monthly and weekly work plan.

• Manage project budget and inform the Lotus Flower’s executive team and Project Management team of any under or over-spending of the budget.

• Manage and supervise project activities through the project lifecycle.

• Develop understanding of key deliverables of project.

• Represent the organisation in monthly progress review meetings.

• Provide phasing and scheduling of the project.

• Participate in development of the project regarding programme activities.

• Participate in the development and issuance of project procedures.

• To coordinate and ensure timely completion of reports.

• To provide input to the Lotus Flower management and Project Management team regarding project performance and status.

• To help facilitate project-related meetings, including devising of agendas.

• To actively manage project reports to ensure reports are delivered within time.

• To document activities and report to communicate project findings and activities.

• To implement child safeguarding/protection policy and the organisation’s Code of Conduct.

• To operate within organisational policies and practices.

• To provide technical and management support to the project team.

• Develop monthly expense forecast and submit to Finance department for smooth implementation.

• Any other task assigned by the Lotus Flower management.
  
  

Work plan monitoring:

·       Maintain and regularly update the contract tracking tool for Amplify Change.

·       Communicate the upcoming tasks to team members on a weekly basis.

·       Track overdue activities and follow up with appropriate team members to monitor delays.

·       Anticipate upcoming work plan activities and ensure the core team is aware of these issues.

Qualifications & Preferred Skills

Skills:

·       Strong interpersonal and influencing skills.

·       Excellent organisational and an ability to work under pressure.

·       Excellent communication and presentation skills (written and spoken).

·       Proven ability to represent the organisation in dealings with external clients.

·       Strong team-working skills.

·       Minimum of three years of experience in developing, implementing and evaluating programmes.

·       Strong organisational skills and attention to details.

·       Experience of working in teams, as well as working independently with minimum supervision.

·       Fluent in local languages and written and spoken English (mandatory).

·       Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

Experience:

·       Three to five years’ experience in a similar position in a national or international organisation.

·       Knowledge of community mobilization.

·       Three or more years’ experience in international development or a related field.

·       Experience in programme and financial management.

·       Good team working and communications skills.

·       Ability to work to deadlines and excellent attention to detail.

Other/General:

·       Open and interested in disability issues.

·       Willingness to travel on a regular basis.  

·       Motivated, dynamic, able and willing to take initiatives, learn and to develop professionally.

·       A demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and humanitarian values.