Project Manager (PM), MAP2 Project

Job Title:                                       Project Manager (PM), MAP2 Project  

Department:                               Program Department

Location:                                      Luang Prabang Province, Lao PDR

Position Reports to:                  Program Director (PD)

Position Type:                             Fixed-Term (1 year with potential extension), Full-time

CARE INTERNATIONAL IN LAO PDR

CARE International is a global NGO working to end poverty and achieve social-justice. We rebuild and improve the lives of the most vulnerable groups, especially women and girls who are often the most marginalized individuals in their communities and face unequal access to social and economic rights. In 2024, CARE worked in more than 100 countries around the world, supporting 200 million people from vulnerable communities to fight poverty and social injustice. To date, CARE supported over 52 million participants to promote lasting change in their lives, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

CARE International in Lao PDR began its operations in 1992 and has worked since then to improve the lives of vulnerable groups in both rural and urban areas, particularly the ethnic minority communities. CARE works in partnership with community members, the government, local civil society organisations, and the private sector. CARE currently implements projects in seven provinces: Vientiane Capital, Phongsaly, Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Salavan, Champasack and Sekong.

About the MekongElevate: Ethnic Minority Communities Driving Gender-Just and Socially-Just Climate Action in the Mekong Sub-region Project

Mekong Elevate is a multi-country initiative focused on strengthening the resilience of ethnic minority communities – particularly women, youth, and people with disabilities – across Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. The project promotes climate-smart agriculture (CSA), enhances social protection and safety nets, and amplifies marginalized voices in climate governance. CARE Australia leads the project in collaboration with local CARE offices, research institutions, and government and civil society partners.

The Project Manager will lead the implementation accountability, government relationships and program quality in close coordination of MekongElevate project in Luang Prabang and Phongsaly Province in Laos with closely collaboration of the MekongElevate Project Director in Vietnam.  The PM will provide management and overall quality assurance, support and supervision to a team that includes Project Officers, Finance and Admin Officer and relevant partners involving the project.

The major responsibilities for the position are:

• Provide technical and programmatic leadership and management to ensure quality implementation, monitoring and evaluation and further development of the provincial program.
• Oversee project planning, budgeting and management ensure achievement of project objectives, and effective reporting in accordance with donor requirements and CARE policies and procedures.
• Liaison with government counterparts and relevant partners

The PM will be responsible for approximately 2 Project Officers and one Finance and Admin Officer.  This position reports to the Program Director at CARE Laos Country Office and coordinate closely with MekongElevate Project Director and other relevant team members in the Mekong Region and Australia.

This position is based at the Luang Prabang Province office with extensively travel to project target villages, Mai District in Phongsaly.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

PROGRAM Strategy and DEVELOPMENT

• Be informed of the relevant Laos sector trends and practices both by Government and Non-Government agencies.
• Work with the Project team to prepare detailed work-plans, coordinating between projects, in association with other stakeholders, as required.
• When required, contribute to the design of new initiatives and innovation, contributing to the sustainability of the project
• Contribute to CARE Laos’ overall program strategy development and implementation

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• Lead the whole project implementation including the project budget management following the CARE and donor financial policies and requirement.
• Understand and ensure that projects are implemented according to donor’s requirements.
• Continually review project goals and outputs, ensure they are in alignment with donor contracts, government MoUs and CARE Laos’ overall strategy, and discuss adjustments with PD and donor as needed.
• Provide strong leadership and empower staff and partners to fulfil required tasks in project management.
• Effectively deal with problems and disputes and be proactive in management decisions to avert problems.
• Plan and facilitate external reviews of projects and implement recommendations.
• Ensure effective communication of technical reviews and learning with internal and external stakeholders.
• Build beneficial relationships with other agencies, to support project outcomes and provincial program development.
• Communicate project implementation issues with the PD in a timely manner.
• Other tasks as advised by the PD.

BUDGET/FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

• Lead in updating the budget costed of Workplan (CWP) quarterly and be accountable for its utiliszation.
• Enforce that financial policy and practice are adopted to ensure transparency and integrity.
• Ensure budget expenditure in line with approved budgets and CARE and donor financial policy and procedure.
• Review monthly financial expenditure reports with relevant Project Managers and initiate corrective action as required.
• Provide inputs for budget modifications to prepare requests for revisions to donors.
• Facilitate, with the relevant project Managers, the timely preparation of project expenditure and cash flow plans and procurement plans in line with project activity plans.
• Supervise the finance and admin officer with all requirements/tasks relevant to the project budget/finance management.
• Ensure that the administrative and logistical system and procedure across the program effectively meet the organizational requirement.
• Ensure that procurement processes are done timely and in line with CARE and donor procedures
• Contribute to the development and revision of policies as required.
• With the Finance team, facilitate financial reviews and audits as required.

MONITORING EVALUATION, LEARNING AND REPORTING

• Ensure overall monitoring, evaluation and learning outcomes of the project.
• Collaborate closely with MILKA Advisor in ensuring on-going monitoring and evaluation and learning of the project.
• Ensure effectively monitoring and evaluation of projects in line with project plans and CARE and donor requirements, ensuring beneficiary accountability.
• Ensure to submit the project work plans and reports including the donor reports on time following the advice from the PD.
• Ensure that the project has the M&E plan right from the beginning.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum University degree relevant to Climate Change, agriculture (knowledge of smart agriculture) (or equivalent professional experience), and understanding of the complexities of development programming in the Lao context.
• Minimum 8+ years relevant experience on program management in development particularly in the field of community climate change adaptation, smart agriculture techniques, gender empowerment and equality.
• Extensive program management skill including project cycle management, M&E, budget management.
• Demonstrated experience in capacity building, mentoring and training staff.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong relations with local and national government and other partners (e.g. civil society and the private sector).
• Willingness and ability to live and work in remote areas, with frequent travel to field sites.
• Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English and Lao.
• Background of DFAT funded program will be an advantage.
• Knowledge of a local ethnic language is an advantage.