United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Summary:
Under the guidance of the Associate Director of Programs & Operations, the Crisis Response Program Manager plays a pivotal role in steering a dynamic portfolio of humanitarian initiatives. Tasked with ensuring that each project meets its milestones efficiently and remains within budget, this position is crucial for maintaining stringent donor compliance and achieving impactful results. The Program Manager is instrumental in continuously supporting the project teams in refining project execution, both operationally and technically. By collaborating closely with Crisis Response’s Technical Advisors, they facilitate thorough technical reviews and uphold standards of quality and effectiveness in all project activities. This role is central to enhancing the overall performance and success of the organization’s humanitarian efforts. Prospective candidates should be a team player, flexible, and come to work (mostly) with a good sense of humor.
Accountabilities:
- Equip each project with essential processes and templates, and develop robust project management standards in collaboration with project backstops for effective implementation.
- Manage the complete development lifecycle of projects, ensuring smooth progression from initiation to completion.
- Provide clear guidance and oversight to project staff, clarifying project plans and priorities while fostering a collaborative team environment.
- Develop, refine, and implement best practices and tools for superior project execution and management.
- Assist project teams with essential functions including documentation, training, presentations, and the preparation of budget proposals for management and staff.
- Proactively identify and resolve project issues, implementing improvement strategies to keep projects on track and within budget constraints.
- Coach, mentor, and manage project team members to ensure quality, efficiency, and compliance with both project and organizational standards and policies.
- Build, develop, and nurture critical relationships with project staff and local partners that contribute to the project’s success.
- Oversee HQ-based Program Officers and other staff, ensuring alignment with project goals.
- Facilitate interactions with support services and propose creative solutions to operational challenges in complex environments.
Applied Knowledge & Skills:
- Donor Expertise: Possess an excellent understanding of key donors including USAID/BHA, FCDO, PRM, UN, and others, ensuring compliance and effective engagement.
- Project Backstopping: Demonstrated experience in backstopping projects alongside local partners, contributing to capacity building and sustainability.
- Humanitarian Operations: Operational familiarity with international humanitarian architecture and core coordination processes essential for managing large-scale emergencies.
- Ethical Standards: May be responsible for promoting Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) standards, as well as adherence to the Red Cross and NGO Code of Conduct.
- Language Requirement: Excellent verbal and written English skills required.
- Adaptability: Ability to remain flexible and effective within complex operating environments and under the rapid pace of humanitarian work.
- Challenging Environments: May travel in insecure locations characterized by minimal infrastructure or amenities.
- Team Dynamics: Proactive and collaborative team player with a good sense of humor, essential for maintaining morale and enhancing team cohesion.
Problem Solving & Impact:
- Decisions and actions have serious implications with delays in project schedules, operations and may affect overall business activities.
- Problems are complex and require analysis of situations and data with evaluation of various factors.
- Exercises judgment within broadly defined practices and policies to select methods and techniques to obtain results.
Supervision Given/Received:
- Supervisory Role: Will have supervisory responsibilities, directly supervising Program Officers/Assistants.
- Problem Escalation: Refers deviations, challenges, and unfamiliar situations encountered in assignments to a supervisor for resolution and guidance.
- Instruction-Based Assignment Handling: Receives clear instructions for undertaking new, complex, or unusual assignments, enhancing learning and performance.
- Quality Assurance: Regularly reviews work ensure technical accuracy and adherence to given instructions or established procedures, with the intensity of reviews increasing for more complex assignments.
- Reporting Structure: Typically reports to an Associate Director or Director, maintaining clear lines of communication and accountability.
- Proactive: Ability to see “around corners” and work independently. Individual should pride itself on being self-aware and know when to escalate issues.
Education:**
- Bachelor’s Degree or its International Equivalent in a relevant field.
- Master’s Degree recommended but not required.
- Project Management (PM) Certification preferred.
Experience:**
- Typically requires 8+ years of relevant experience with projects management principles and practices, 2+ years of line management experience required.
- Articulate, professional and able to communicate in a clear, positive manner with clients and staff.
- Prior work experience in an international non-governmental organization (INGO).
- Prior work experience working as a field-based staff is a plus.
Typical Physical Demands:
- Typical office environment.
- Ability to spend long hours looking at computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
- Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
- Ability to lift/move up to 5 lbs.
- Ability to deploy to areas with limited infrastructure and High/Exteme Risk operating environments.
Travel Requirements:
- Travel requirement –30%
Location: U.S.-based. Remote or Hybrid Work Schedule acceptable.
The expected US Based hiring salary range for this role is listed below. Candidate FHI 360 pay ranges represent national averages that vary by geographic location. When determining an offer amount, FHI 360 factors in multiple considerations, including but not limited to: relevant years of experience and education possessed by the applicant, internal equity, business sector, and budget.
Base salary is only one component of our offer. FHI 360 contributes 12% of monthly base pay to a money purchase pension plan account. Additionally, all US based staff working full-time, which is calculated at 40 hours/week, receive 18 days of paid vacation per year, 12 sick days per year, and 11 holidays per year. Paid time off is reduced pro rata for employees working less than a full-time schedule.
US Based Hiring Salary Range: $80,000 – $107,000
International hiring ranges will differ based on location.
This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.
FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.
Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programs, including sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment during the applicant’s tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks.
FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.
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