Title: Project Manager – Youth

Location: Karachi, Pakistan

Department/Program: Programs, Pakistan

Term:

Level: Manager

FLSA Status (US positions only): 

Grade: 

Employment Type:  full time / local hire

THE “WHY” - Purpose of the Position                                                                                                                   

The Project Manager will be responsible for implementing Search’s project activitiesand methodologies in such a way that it creates lasting change towards peace, social cohesion, mutual understanding, and increases inter-communal and intra-communalrespect and peaceful coexistence among religious communities.The Project Manager will ensure the quality and relevance of existing project activities and build partnerships with relevant government agencies and local youth organizations to support the project’s objectives. The Project Manager will also be involved in supporting research and learning initiatives, evaluations, and project reporting and documentation of success stories that measure the change triggered by Search’s activities.

Scope of Position

Reports to:Executive Director
Direct Reports: : Youth Engagement Coordinator

Working relationships:

Budget Managed:

THE “WHAT” - Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Project Planning and Implementation

• Plan the project’s activities, building on Common Ground Approach, Community Dialogue Approach, Enduring Change Package and other methodologies and tools used in Search;
• Plan the work of the project team, including capacity building of the team, partners, and target participants;
• Develop and regularly update the project’s annual work-plan and develop monthly work-plans that derive from the annual workplans;
• Ensure activities are delivered on time and with high quality;
• Ensure the quality, effectiveness, and ultimately the impact of Search’s ongoing project activities;
• Analyze conflict, inclusion, and social cohesion dynamics in target communities and ensure activity design responds to and is informed by these;
• Ensure Search’s project activities are inclusive, and conflict and gender-sensitive;
• Participate in project launch, mid-term reviews, and close-out workshop;
• Take the lead in coordinating with finance teams to ensure BvA meetings are done;
• Ensure that costed workplans for the project are developed and regularly updated;
• Regularly monitor the quality, resonance, reach, the relevance of project activities by organizing reflection and learning meetings (in close collaboration with the DM&E team);
• Closely collaborate with the DM&E team to ensure a monitoring system and monitoring and evaluation plan and system for the project;
• Adapt activity design to digital and virtual methods to ensure project continuity in times of movement restrictions due to pandemics, tensions or other factors; and
• Support the strategy and mission of Search in the target country, the region, and globally.

Reporting and Learning

• Ensure activities are documented by relevant staff and build their capacity on report writing where needed;
• Produce activity and project reports that are drafted in a results-based manner, ensuring high quality, consistency and completeness;
• Keep abreast of Search-worldwide peacebuilding work, findings from the evaluation of other countries’ projects, including lessons learnt and best practices, and use the findings to enrich project activity design; and
• Participate in the design of new programs and projects to ensure that your learning from ongoing activities informs the design of new projects.

Team Management and Supervision

• Lead the hiring process for consultants and staff when needed, to ensure human resources meet the needs of the project;
• Supervise, guide, evaluate the team members (when hired), ensuring a positive team spirit;
• Set objectives and performance plans with your team and regularly evaluate staff performance in a collaborative and inclusive manner, providing regular and honest feedback;
• Provide technical leadership and oversight to project staff;
• Ensure the welfare of volunteers, champions, and other affiliates of the project is taken care of in line with agreements set with them;
• Lead by example in your team in terms of compliance with Search policies, that include but not limited to Code of Conduct, Partnership Policy, Child Protection Policy, Conflict of Interest Policy, among others;
• Ensure team issues and grievances are resolved in a collaborative manner; and
• Available to provide cover for other Project Managers or senior roles on an interim basis. 

Relationship with Stakeholders

• Maintain a network of participants, stakeholders, and influencers at the local and national level;
• Build partnerships and collaborative relationships with local youth organizations and religious leaders in the target areas;
• Engage relevant government stakeholders to increase their buy-in and support for the project;
• Develop and maintain proactive, positive, and professional relationships with participants and local stakeholders, religious leaders and institutions, government ministries, local authorities, and local communities;
• Build connections between local community peacebuilding activities to ensure project activities are locally driven.

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.

The “HOW” - Skills & Competencies

Education:

• Bachelor’ degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, Development, Political Science, International Affairs, Social Sciences or another relevant field (Master’s Degree preferred);
• Additional education or training in conflict management, inter-religious engagement, social cohesion, and youth engagement would be a strong asset.

Experience:

• At least 5 years’ experience in development, peacebuilding, or humanitarian work;At least 3 years’ experience should be at a coordinator or managerial level;
• Significant experience conducting project activities in the field of peacebuilding, social cohesion, youth empowerment, or religious engagement;
• Experience with the use of project management tools such as costed workplans, Gantt charts, logical frameworks matrices, work breakdown structure, critical path analysis among others;
• Experience in designing, planning, and facilitating community dialogues, intra- and inter-religious engagement, youth networks, youth-led initiatives, and media campaigns (in-person and online);
• Track record in delivering effective quality project activities;
• Experience working with religious communities and with youth;
• Experience working in Karachi or Lahore;
• Experience working in a non-profit or similar environment; and
• Experience of partnership building, with experience of influencing stakeholders and establishing and maintaining strong partnerships.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• High level of religious sensitivity and respect, and understanding of how to work with and across religious communities;
• Organizational skills and attention to detail;
• Excellent use of Google platforms and Microsoft Word and Excel, excellent writing and analytical skills;
• Well organized, dynamic, and creative;
• Excellent comprehension of the principles of conflict, conflict transformation, and the role of youth in peacebuilding;
• A team leader, with a strong capacity to motivate oneself and others and build a team spirit; 
• Ability to work under pressure and in challenging environments;
• Flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances;
• Willingness to travel regularly to Search’s field offices; and
• Proficiency in written and spoken English and Urdu.

Behavioral Competencies

• Working with People:  The ability to respect the views and contributions of other team members; shows empathy, listens, supports; consults others and shares information and expertise, builds team spirit and adapts to the team.
• Flexibility:  The ability to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities, to tolerate ambiguity, to adapt personal style to different people and situations.
• Drive for Results and Efficiency:  The ability to set quality standards, monitor and maintain quality of work, and set goals to achieve continuous improvement.
• Relationship Management:  The ability to manage interactions, to provide service and to support the organization while building an effective internal and external network.
• Consultation (for managers and up):  The ability to provide guidance to organizational stakeholders while applying creative problem-solving to address business needs.
• Leadership and Navigation:   The ability to manage and contribute to initiatives and processes within the organization while making progress toward change and continuous improvement.
• Communication:  The ability to effectively exchange information with others, to effectively deliver critical information, to gather information and communicate with others.
• Global and Cultural Effectiveness:   The ability to value and consider the perspectives and backgrounds of all parties and be able to work cross-culturally.
• Ethical Practice:   The ability to integrate Search vision, mission and core values, integrity and accountability throughout all organizational and business practices.
• Critical Evaluation (for managers and up):   The ability to interpret information to make business decisions and recommendations based on keen analysis, best practices and an understanding of preferred outcomes.
• Business Acumen:   The ability to understand and apply information to contribute to the organization's strategic plan.
• Developing others (for people manager): The ability to provide support to enhance performance and professional growth.

Commitment to Search Values:

Shared Humanity - Empathy - Impartiality -  Inclusivity -  Courage -  Hope - Humility - Audacity