Education Project Manager neeeded at IRC INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE CAMEROON, NGO

Education Project Manager
Job Location: Maroua, Far North
Department: Technical Units
Requisition No: req59425
Work Pattern: In-person
Country: Cameroon
Employee Category: Fixed Term
Employment Type: Full Time
Open to Expatriates: No
Currency: CFA Franc BCEAO
Compensation Type: Monthly Application deadline: Tuesday, September 16th at 5 p.m. sharp.

Background / Overview of IRC

International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a non-political, non-profit, and non-religious humanitarian organization that provides assistance to refugees worldwide. IRC implements programs to promote durable solutions for internally displaced persons, refugees, and host communities through public health, sanitation, shelter, rehabilitation, and education projects. IRC has served refugees since 1933 and operates in 40 countries across Europe, Africa, and Asia, as well as through a resettlement support program in the United States. IRC is an organization committed to freedom, human dignity, and self-reliance. This commitment is reflected in well-planned resettlement assistance, global emergency relief, rehabilitation, and refugee advocacy.

IRC began operations in Cameroon in 2016 to address the growing concerns of people affected by Boko Haram-related violence in the Far North region of the country. Assistance to displaced populations extends throughout the Far North, including Diamaré, Mayo Sava, Mayo Tsanaga, and Logone & Chari through the field office in Maroua. IRC implements programs to increase access to water and improve hygiene practices in vulnerable displaced and host communities, cash transfer programs to enable economically disadvantaged families to meet basic needs, and improve food security. This includes both education and child protection services to address children’s learning and safety needs and priorities. The IRC also offers protection programs to address gender-based violence against women and girls and to support victims of human rights violations.

Position Overview / Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Education Technical Coordinator, the Education Project Manager will be responsible for the effective implementation, monitoring and reporting of education projects in Cameroon, ensuring compliance with donor requirements, technical standards and organizational policies.

The Project Manager will ensure the quality and accountability of interventions, fostering a collaborative and constructive work environment that encourages learning, innovation and problem-solving. He/She will develop and update all project management tools (expenditure plan, procurement plan, detailed implementation plan – DIP, monitoring-evaluation/accountability plan, risk register, etc.), while ensuring close collaboration with the technical coordinators (Education and Child Protection).

In accordance with IRC Strategy 100, the Education Project Manager will promote an integrated approach to programs, working closely with the national coordinators of other sectors (Economic Recovery and Development – ​​ERD, Environmental Health/EHA-WASH, Women Protection and Empowerment – ​​WPE, Protection and Rule of Law – PRoL).

Main responsibilities

1. Project planning

– Develop a project implementation strategy integrating technical, logistical and financial dimensions.
– Design in detail the different stages of execution, ensuring the prioritization of essential activities and the optimization of available resources.

– Coordinate joint planning with implementing partners and conduct quarterly reviews and joint missions.

2. Implementation & Quality Assurance

– Oversee the day-to-day implementation of the project, ensuring quality, compliance and adherence to technical and sectoral standards.
– Monitor progress against objectives, budgets and work plans, regularly updating monitoring tools.
– Conduct monthly budget and performance reviews with the Grants and Finance departments.
– Lead weekly coordination meetings with the project team and partners.
– Identify and mitigate risks related to implementation, team safety and beneficiary protection.
– Produce monthly activity reports and contribute to the drafting of reports for donors.

– Conduct regular field visits to monitor, coach and supervise teams.
– Ensure the collection, analysis and transmission of required qualitative and quantitative data in a timely manner, in collaboration with the MEAL team.
– Check and validate contractual deliverables from implementing partners before any payment.

4. Budget and financial management

– Update the expenditure plan twice a month based on purchasing and recruitment forecasts.
– Monitor budget execution to ensure rational, exhaustive consumption in accordance with donor procedures and IRC systems (BvA, Integra, Power BI).

– Submit monthly cash flow forecasts and ensure the proper management of funds transferred to partners.

5. Logistics, Procurement and Travel

– Support the development and monitoring of purchasing plans in collaboration with Logistics.
– Supervise the acquisition, delivery, storage and distribution of inputs required for activities.
– Ensure the proper management of project equipment and inventories.
– Plan team travel in accordance with current procedures.

6. Human Resources Management

– Conduct the recruitment and integration of project staff.
– Define roles, responsibilities and objectives, ensure regular monitoring and organize performance evaluations.
– Foster a positive and respectful work environment, manage conflicts constructively and ensure the well-being of teams.
– Build staff capacity through coaching and appropriate training.

7. Security Management

– Ensure that teams comply with the security procedures and instructions of the IRC and the Field Coordinator/Security Manager.
– Regularly analyze the security context of the intervention areas in conjunction with the Security team and coordinators.

Minimum Qualifications:
Required Qualifications

– University degree (at least Bachelor’s degree) in social sciences, education, community development or related field (Master’s degree preferred).
– At least 5 years of professional experience in the humanitarian or development sector, including 4 years in Education/Child Protection project management, preferably in an emergency context.
– Proven experience with donors such as ECHO, EU, etc.
– Strong skills in planning, budget tracking, and monitoring and evaluation.
– Excellent analytical, writing and problem-solving skills.
– Proficiency in IT tools (Microsoft 365, budget/project management systems).
– Previous experience in precarious security environments; knowledge of the Cameroonian context strongly preferred.

– Flexibility, teamwork, ability to work under pressure and adapt quickly.
– Fluency in French or English (oral and written) with an advanced level in the other language.

Standards of Professional Conduct: IRC workers must uphold the values ​​and principles set out in the IRC WAY – Standards of Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. 

Safeguarding: Strictly adhere to the IRC Child and Adult Safeguarding Policy and all other policies, including those relating to security and fraud prevention.

In accordance with safeguarding, the IRC operates policies on the protection of beneficiaries/clients from exploitation and abuse, child protection, Anti-harassment in the workplace, fiscal integrity and anti-retaliation.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The IRC is an equal opportunity employer. The IRC considers all applicants for employment on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Diversity, Inclusion, and Gender Equality: The IRC recognizes and honors the fundamental worth and dignity of all individuals. We are an equal opportunity employer and consider all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability. The IRC is also committed to closing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that create an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce, including parental leave, gender-sensitive safety protocols, and other supportive benefits.

Application Requirements

– A resume
– A cover letter

Application deadline: Tuesday, September 16th at 5 p.m. sharp.

HOW TO APPLY:
Applications should be submitted ONLY ON THE WEBSITE: https://careers.rescue.org/fr/fr/job/req59425/Education-Project-Manager