Project Manager- WASH Engineer -Climate Proof Water4Food Project

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

The Opportunity 

The Project Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, coordination, and successful delivery of the Climate Proof Water 4 Food Project, ensuring achievement of results in line with AfDB CAW requirements, Plan International quality standards, national policies, and consortium commitments. The role provides strategic, technical, financial, and partnership oversight across climate-resilient WASH, climate-smart agriculture, and gender-transformative programming and will lead the implementation of a USD 4.7 million integrated WASH, water resource management, and climate-smart agriculture project. The role is responsible for overall project planning, implementation, budget management, monitoring and evaluation, donor compliance, and reporting. The post holder will coordinate consortium partners, government stakeholders, and technical teams to ensure high-quality project delivery and achievement of project objectives.

Key Responsibilities

1. Project Management, Implementation & Reporting

• Lead the overall implementation of the Climate Proof Water4Food Project in compliance with AfDB requirements and approved project documents.
• Manage project planning, budgeting, procurement, monitoring, reporting, risk management, and team performance.
• Ensure achievement of project targets through effective MEAL systems, quality assurance, financial oversight, and adaptive management.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective project delivery and compliance.

2. Resource Mobilization

• Identify funding opportunities and contribute to proposal and concept note development.
• Conduct assessments, feasibility studies, and prepare technical documentation.
• Support grant management, donor compliance, and timely donor reporting.

3. Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning & Reporting

• Establish and oversee robust MEAL systems aligned with donor and organisational frameworks.
• Ensure data quality, evaluations, learning documentation, knowledge management, and timely reporting.
• Document and disseminate lessons learned, success stories, and best practices.

4. Programme Integration & Mainstreaming

• Integrate safeguarding, gender equality, disability inclusion, DRR, and child protection across project activities.
• Promote child-centred, inclusive, and community-driven approaches.
• Strengthen collaboration across programmes to maximise impact.

5. Partner Development & Strengthening

• Build the capacity of local partners in project planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
• Conduct partner assessments and due diligence processes.
• Ensure effective stakeholder engagement, partnership management, and accountability.

6. Networking & Representation

• Develop strategic partnerships with government, NGOs, CBOs, and sector stakeholders.
• Represent Plan International Ethiopia in relevant coordination forums and clusters.
• Promote learning, collaboration, advocacy, and resource mobilisation.

7. Staff Development & Management

• Provide leadership, coaching, mentoring, and performance management to project staff.
• Support staff capacity development and promote inclusive participation.
• Facilitate team reviews, learning sessions, and community engagement.

8. Problem Solving & Operational Support

• Address operational and programme challenges through strategic problem-solving and innovation.
• Support Programme Areas in achieving quality implementation and compliance.
• Promote harmonised and results-oriented practices across teams.

9. Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Maintain strong relationships with government, partners, and other stakeholders.
• Foster effective communication, coordination, and collaboration across Country Office and Programme Area teams.
• Promote knowledge sharing, organisational learning, and mutual accountability.

The Individual

• Master’s degree (MSc) in WASH-related disciplines, such as Water Supply and Environmental Engineering, Hydraulic or Irrigation Engineering, Civil Engineering, or Agro-engineering.
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience in leading integrated WASH and Food Security and Livelihood (FSL) programs, delivering high-quality, gender-transformative results, preferably in humanitarian or emergency settings.
• Progressive experience with international NGOs (INGOs), with increasing levels of responsibility in project management and leadership roles.
• Demonstrated experience in managing multidisciplinary teams, including technical and finance staff, fostering high levels of performance, motivation, and teamwork.
• Proven track record in managing large-scale, multi-million-dollar institutional grants from donors such as AfDB, World Bank, EU, or similar development partners.
• Strong experience in leading multi-sectoral and consortium-based projects, ensuring effective coordination and delivery of results.
• Solid understanding and practical application of project cycle management principles and tools.
• Proven experience in partnership management, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with diverse stakeholders, including government institutions, donors, and civil society organizations, including women-led organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional and geographically dispersed teams to achieve results under complex and dynamic operating environments.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, track performance, meet deadlines, and deliver high-quality outputs.
• Excellent proficiency in English (both written and spoken), with the ability to produce high-quality reports, donor communications, and technical documentation.
• Proficient in computer applications, including CAD, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and internet-based tools relevant to project management

Languages required:

• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing is essential
• In addition, Knowledge of Regional Languages is Mandatory

Safeguarding Children and Program Participants (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI)

• Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed per the appropriate procedures.
• Ensures that all staff in the unit/function/department are properly inducted on and understand their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in day-to-day work.
• Ensures that Plan Ethiopia contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.

Location: Gambella 

Type of Role: Fixed-term contract, with the possibility of extension based on  performance and project requirements.

Reports to: Program Area Manager

Closing Date: October 29, 2026

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.