Project Manager

POSITION SUMMARY

Guided by World Concern’s global strategic plan and country program priorities, the Country Program Office (CPO) Project Manager is responsible for the overall leadership and quality implementation of assigned projects in accordance with the MOU, approved donor proposal, World Concern policies, values, and standards. The Project Manager ensures that projects achieve their intended outcomes and development goals through effective planning, team leadership, financial management, MEAL, accountability, and donor reporting. The position also strengthens the capacity of project staff through coaching, mentoring, action learning, and reflection, while promoting quality, accountability, learning, and continuous improvement throughout project implementation.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

DUTIES

Project Implementation, Quality Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)

1. Lead and supervise the project team in the effective and efficient implementation of project activities to achieve the expected project outcomes, targets, and overall objectives, in accordance with World Concern policies, standards, and donor requirements.
2. Lead project planning and implementation in collaboration with the project team, ensuring that activities are appropriately planned, coordinated, and implemented within the approved timeframe, budget, and required quality standards.
3. Develop, review, and monitor project activity plans and workplans with the project team to ensure timely implementation and achievement of project targets and deliverables.
4. Ensure effective project MEAL systems are implemented, including timely collection, verification, compilation, analysis, and documentation of project data and results in accordance with the approved MEAL framework and Indicator Tracking Table (ITT).
5. Regularly review project performance against the Indicator Tracking Table (ITT) and other approved project indicators to identify progress, gaps, challenges, and areas requiring corrective action.
6. Promote the use of MEAL findings and project data within the project team and with target communities/villages to facilitate reflection, learning, accountability, adaptive management, and continuous improvement of project implementation.
7. Ensure project activities are implemented with appropriate quality and accountability, incorporating feedback from communities, project participants, partners, and other relevant stakeholders into project planning and implementation.
8. Work closely with the Program Development Coordinator and other technical staff to seek technical guidance and support in ensuring the quality, effectiveness, and successful achievement of project objectives, outcomes, and MEAL targets.
9. Regularly review project implementation, progress, and plans with the Program Development Coordinator, Finance Lead, and Country Lead to ensure alignment between programmatic, financial, operational, and organizational priorities.
10. Coordinate and lead regular project team meetings to plan upcoming activities, review implementation progress, monitor targets and deliverables, address challenges, document decisions, and agree on necessary follow-up actions.
11. Monitor project risks, challenges, and implementation gaps, working with the project team and relevant management staff to identify appropriate mitigation measures and ensure timely resolution of issues that may affect project quality or achievement of targets.
12. Ensure proper project documentation and reporting, including activity records, monitoring results, success stories, lessons learned, beneficiary/participant information, and other required project documents, are accurate, complete, and submitted within agreed timelines.
13. Support effective coordination and communication with relevant stakeholders, including community representatives, local authorities, partners, technical teams, donors, and World Concern management, as appropriate to the project.
14. Ensure lessons learned and good practices are documented and shared with relevant teams and incorporated into future project planning and implementation.
15. Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor and provide support to other program priorities when required.

Personnel Development & Management

1. Ensure compliance with World Concern staff policies, guidelines, and procedures, modeling expected standards of professional conduct and ensuring that staff understand and adhere to organizational requirements. Address performance or conduct concerns and provide appropriate accountability and follow-up when needed.
2. Provide effective leadership, supervision, coaching, and mentoring to project staff to strengthen their technical and professional competencies. Promote continuous learning through coaching, action learning, reflection, peer learning, and relevant training opportunities.
3. Build the capacity of the project team in good programming practices and approaches, including but not limited to participatory approaches, gender equality, inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized groups, community mobilization and engagement, sustainability, safeguarding, accountability, and quality project implementation.
4. Identify project staffing and capacity-building needs and work with the supervisor and HR/Admin team to support the recruitment, selection, orientation, and onboarding of qualified project personnel as required.
5. Manage and monitor staff performance through clear work objectives, regular supervision, constructive feedback, performance reviews, and individual development plans, ensuring that staff competencies and responsibilities are aligned with project needs.
6. Promote a positive, respectful, inclusive, and collaborative team environment where staff are encouraged to communicate openly, share ideas, learn from challenges, and take ownership of their responsibilities.
7. Identify staff performance gaps and development needs and provide appropriate support, coaching, mentoring, or training to strengthen individual and team performance.
8. Ensure effective delegation and distribution of responsibilities within the project team, providing appropriate guidance while encouraging staff ownership, initiative, and accountability for their assigned responsibilities.
9. Recognize and encourage staff contributions and good performance, while addressing challenges in a timely, fair, and constructive manner in accordance with WCL policies and procedures.
10. Ensure effective communication within the project team, keeping staff informed of relevant organizational policies, project priorities, decisions, changes, and expectations.
11. Support staff wellbeing and professional growth by maintaining regular communication with team members, identifying concerns that may affect performance, and referring matters to the appropriate supervisor or HR/Admin team when necessary.

Financial Management

1. Work closely with the project team and Finance Lead to develop and regularly update monthly cash flow projections and cash requirements, ensuring that project activities are adequately resourced and implemented according to approved plans and timelines.
2. Monitor and manage project budgets and expenditures in collaboration with the Finance Lead, regularly reviewing budget utilization and identifying potential variances, underspending, or overspending to support timely corrective action.
3. Regularly review project-related financial reports and expenditures with the Finance Lead to ensure that costs are accurate, appropriate, properly documented, and aligned with approved project budgets, activities, and donor requirements.
4. Coordinate with the Finance Lead to address and resolve budget, expenditure, and financial management issues, ensuring that appropriate actions are taken in a timely manner and potential financial risks are minimized.
5. Ensure project expenditures are in compliance with World Concern financial policies, procedures, approved budgets, and applicable donor requirements, and ensure that supporting documentation is complete and properly maintained.
6. Work with the project team to promote sound financial planning and budget accountability, ensuring that staff understand their responsibilities in relation to project budgets and expenditures.
7. Support budget revisions, reallocation requests, and financial projections as required, ensuring that proposed changes are properly justified, documented, and approved in accordance with World Concern and donor requirements.
8. Contribute to and support internal financial reviews, audits, and other compliance processes by providing relevant project documentation, explanations, and follow-up actions as required.
9. Monitor financial risks associated with project implementation and promptly communicate significant budget or expenditure concerns to the Program Development Coordinator, Finance Lead, and Country Lead for appropriate action.
10. Ensure that financial considerations are appropriately integrated into project planning and decision-making, balancing program quality, cost-effectiveness, and compliance with approved project budgets.

Networking and Government Relations

1. Represent and promote a positive reputation and professional image of World Concern in interactions with government authorities, I/NGOs, development partners, community stakeholders, and other relevant organizations.
2. Develop and maintain effective working relationships with relevant government agencies and I/NGO partners at provincial, district, and community levels to facilitate effective project coordination and implementation.
3. Participate in and ensure appropriate representation of World Concern in relevant sector coordination and cluster meetings, including meetings with I/NGOs, government agencies, and other development partners, as required.
4. Work closely with relevant government counterparts and authorities to ensure effective communication, coordination, and compliance with government requirements and procedures related to project implementation.
5. Maintain regular communication with government partners and relevant stakeholders and facilitate timely sharing of project plans, progress, challenges, and other information as appropriate.
6. Monitor and provide timely updates to the Country Lead, Program Development Coordinator, and relevant project staff on important government policies, regulations, decisions, coordination discussions, and developments that may affect project implementation.
7. Represent World Concern in meetings, consultations, workshops, and other coordination events at provincial, district, and community levels, as delegated by the Country Lead or supervisor.
8. Support constructive coordination and collaboration among World Concern, government agencies, I/NGOs, and community stakeholders, identifying opportunities for partnership, learning, and improved project outcomes.
9. Ensure that external communications and commitments made on behalf of World Concern are consistent with organizational policies, approved project objectives, and delegated authority.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree in development studies, Social Sciences, Community Development, Project Management, DRR/Management, or related field.

EXPERIENCE and SKILLS

Required Skills & Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant NGO/development experience, including community development, project implementation, training, and team management.
• Demonstrated experience in project design, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and report writing.
• Experience in project budget management, expenditure monitoring, and financial planning.
• Strong skills in team leadership, staff supervision, coaching, and capacity building.
• Good organizational, time management, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, with flexibility and willingness to learn.
• Demonstrated integrity, reliability, transparency, service-mindedness, and commitment to working with vulnerable and underserved communities.
• Understanding and experience in participatory and community-based approaches, with knowledge of DRR/community resilience, is considered an advantage.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Fluency in Lao and advanced-level English, both written and spoken.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to World Concern’s vision, mission, core identity, and values.

Preferred Education, Skills & Experience:

• Experience in PRA/community-based facilitation, planning, and analysis.
• Experience in Disaster Risk Reduction, disaster preparedness, climate resilience, or related programming.
• Master’s degree in a relevant field.