Project Manager - CCRP

The Project Manager will provide strategic leadership and technical oversight for a multi-year resilience programme, delivering sustainable economic and social outcomes through community-led, child-safe, and gender-equitable systems. The role is responsible for strengthening community structures, household capacities, governance mechanisms, and market linkages to reduce child labour, transform harmful social norms, and enhance resilience.

Responsibilities

• Analyse and validate the existing project design to ensure feasibility and readiness for implementation.
• Conduct pre-start activities and align with implementing partners.
• Develop comprehensive project plans (scope, objectives, timelines, KPIs, budgets).
• Design scale-up and expansion strategies aligned to programme goals.
• Engage stakeholders and partners to define goals and success criteria.
• Establish project governance structures, roles, and change control mechanisms.
• Lead end-to-end execution of project activities in line with plans by establishing clear team structures (RACCI), roles, and coordination mechanisms.
• Coach and support team members to strengthen delivery and capability.
• Serve as the primary point of contact, managing expectations and engagement.
• Provide regular updates, reports, and presentations to management and stakeholders.
• Develop, manage, and monitor project budget and resource utilisation.
• Ensure cost control, accurate financial reporting, and efficient resource allocation.
• Identify and mitigate risks through contingency planning.
• Ensure outputs meet quality standards through reviews, audits, and feedback mechanisms.
• Lead project evaluation, reporting, and donor compliance.
• Capture lessons learned, ensure knowledge management, and plan for sustainability.

Requirements

• A minimum of a bachelor's degree in social science, agriculture, education, international development, or related areas.
• A master’s degree or higher in this area, with proven professional qualifications in project management, will be an added advantage.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in managing development projects or in the NGO sector, with at least 5 years in the cocoa sector, child protection, community development, or rural livelihoods programmes.
• Understanding of the cocoa industry in relation to child labour and gender transformation.
• Knowledge of educational infrastructure projects in communities will be an advantage.
• Proven track record of managing large project budgets, cost estimation, financial tracking and cost benefit analysis.
• Expertise in identifying, analysing, and mitigating technical supply chain and regulatory risks in child labour management in the cocoa industry.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills to manage cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make decisions under pressure.
• Strategic thinking, proactive, solution-orientated approach with a focus on delivering value to communities and the organisation.

Skills

• Project Management
• Development Project Management
• Cocoa Sector Expertise
• Child Protection
• Community Development
• Rural Livelihoods Programmes
• Child Labour Management
• Gender Transformation
• Educational Infrastructure Projects
• Budget Management
• Cost Estimation
• Financial Tracking
• Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Supply Chain Risk Analysis
• Regulatory Risk Mitigation
• Strategic Leadership
• Stakeholder Management
• Cross-Functional Team Management