Vision Aid Overseas (VAO) is a UK-based charity, with a focus on fighting poverty by transforming access to eye care services in developing countries in Africa. The charity was established in 1985, and currently works in several countries across sub-Saharan Africa.  VAO is a registered charity under the Ethiopian Democratic Republic of Ethiopia agency for Civil Society Organisation Proclamation No. 113/2019 with Certificate No.3638.

Our work focuses on the development of services for Uncorrected Refractive Error (URE), primary eye health and School Eye Health.  VAO has been working in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, Regional Health bureaus, and professional associations to tackle vision impairment and blindness due to URE.  We develop programmes that integrate training, primary eye care, School Eye Health, and facility developments into national and regional eye care plans, seeking always to be responsive to local need.

Key Accountabilities

• The Project Manager (PM) will be responsible for overseeing the successful implementation and completion of a 9-month School Eye Health project in Oromia.
• He/she will manage the scope, schedule, finance, risk, quality, and resources of the project. In consultation with, and guidance from the Country Manager.
• Ensure that all children and persons with disability are protected and always safeguarded.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• The Project Manager shall be the project implementation lead and shall ensure effective planning, delivery of action plans and communication with project team and stakeholders.
• Develop project milestones and schedules in consultation and with the guidance of the country Programme Manager.
• Ensuring thorough identification, prevention, and management of potential risks and liabilities to the project, VAO and the funder (donor).
• Communicating with Country Manager and VAO’s technical team to keep the project aligned with their goals and international best practices and standards.
• Performing quality assurance and control on the project throughout development to maintain the standards expected, in consultation and with the guidance of the Country Manager.
• Ensure adaptability to readily adjust schedules and targets on the project in response to realities and emergencies that might occur.
• Motivating people involved in the project to complete tasks on time.
• Assign, prioritize, and supervise project tasks (task management), implement, and manage changes.
• Track project performance using appropriate KPIs, metrics, tools, and techniques.
• Submit deliverables and ensure they adhere to quality standards.
• Perform any other relevant, organisational, and project-related duties when needed.
• Formulate monthly, quarterly, and annual action plans for the approved projects with timelines. Report on progress to the Country Manager.
• Extend required support and undertake monitoring visits to the eye department in the project areas and communities.
• Work closely with government, eye care professionals, and community elders and other relevant stakeholders to deliver project results.
• Build the capacities of the community mobilizers and oversee their work pertaining to assigned project.
• Coordinate with the district eye hospital and ensure all referred patients from the project areas are provided with required eye care services.
• Ensure and insist on gender and inclusion in every stage of the project management cycle.
• Ensure child protection and safeguarding throughout the project cycle and report any child abuse cases to the relevant authorities in accordance with VAO Child Protection and Safeguarding policy.

Community engagement

• Liaise with other stakeholders or NGOs in the project area to encourage collaborative working.
• Provide a forum to gather feedback from the communities in line with VAO participatory approaches.
• Work with the VAO staff to develop and refine appropriate Social Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) materials.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Ensure the project complies with VAO’s Monitoring and Evaluation framework, theory of change, and specific donor requirements.
• Ensure timely and accurate data flow from schools and mobile eye health teams and to line manager/supervisor.
• Assist in data processing and analysis in line with VAO adaptive learning framework.
• Develop, along with the Country Manager, systems to harvest project outcomes.
• Gather case studies from students and schools in line with VAO communications strategy.
• Support baseline and end of project assessment processes.
• Help compile comprehensive project reports to key government stakeholders i.e., the Health and Education bureaus, donors, VAO staff and other stake holders.

Contract terms:Full time, fixed term contract for 9 months (with the potential for extension for a further 12 months – subject to funding)

Reports to:Country Manager

Leave:25 days annual leave plus public holidays (pro-rated)

Travel requirements:Regular travel to the Oromia Special Zone Surrounding Finfinne

Please note: This position is open to those with the legal right to live and work in Ethiopia.  The successful candidate must be able to obtain a Police Clearance Certificate. Qualified female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

The role of the Project Manager requires an energetic, highly motivated and a result orientated individual, with demonstrated experience within the NGO sector and community engagement sectors.

• Minimum undergraduate degree in Public Health or Social Work or any other relevant subject.
• Solid experience of working in the health sector and demonstrable expertise in project management may qualify candidates for the position despite not having the undergraduate degree.
• Three to five years of work experience in health or community development sector with main responsibility covering all areas of project management.
• Experience of working in eye health sector and School intervention role for Government or non-profit organization (NGO).
• Expertise and experience in developing project budgets, budget monitoring, and budget rephasing
• Proven skills in documentation, data management, and project report writing.
• Good IT skills including MS Office.
• A strong empathy with the cause of elimination of avoidable blindness
• Good verbal and written communication skills in English, Afaan Oromo, and Amharic
• Excellent management skills and interpersonal skills
• Self-motivated and a self-starter
• Willingness to spend substantial time with community-based health workers and target communities in remote locations.
• Appreciable understanding of the Gender dynamics of Ethiopia and experience in inclusion.