Emergency Preparedness and Response Project Manager - CST Level 2
Organizational Context
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives in emergencies and building pathways to peace and prosperity. WFP utilizes food assistance to support people recovering from conflict, disasters, and extreme weather. We are committed to a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, operating with integrity, collaboration, commitment, humanity, and inclusion.
Job Purpose
The Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Project Manager will lead and oversee the implementation of WFP's EPR programme, reporting to the Strategic Outcome Manager. This role is crucial for strengthening national capacities in disaster management, coordination, and response readiness in Lao PDR. The Project Manager will manage project staff, ensure timely delivery of activities, and maintain compliance with budgets, quality standards, and reporting requirements. Key responsibilities include collaborating with government counterparts, particularly the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, and other humanitarian partners to enhance disaster management systems. The incumbent will also manage project planning, budget utilization, risk management, and monitoring, ensuring alignment with WFP policies and donor requirements. This position requires strong analytical and communication skills to provide insights and recommendations for decision-making, and to foster effective coordination across WFP units and with external stakeholders.
Responsibilities
The EPR Project Manager is responsible for the comprehensive management, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) programme. This role involves leading the project against approved designs and operational plans, ensuring timely delivery of outputs, achievement of targets, and adherence to budget, quality, and reporting requirements. The manager will oversee and supervise project staff and consultants, providing leadership and performance management. Key responsibilities include managing project workplans, ensuring alignment with objectives, donor requirements, and WFP policies. A significant part of the role involves collaborating closely with government counterparts, particularly the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, and other humanitarian and development partners to strengthen national and sub-national capacities for disaster management. This includes enhancing preparedness, coordination, and response readiness. The manager will oversee planning, budget utilization, risk management, and monitoring processes, ensuring effective oversight and progress tracking. Coordination across WFP functional units is crucial for timely delivery and integration of expertise. The role also entails identifying resource requirements, promoting alignment with broader WFP initiatives, monitoring performance against indicators, identifying challenges, and recommending corrective actions. Ensuring compliance with WFP rules, regulations, and donor requirements is paramount. The manager will also be responsible for preparing project reports, communications products, and undertaking field missions to support implementation and stakeholder engagement. The position requires a strong ability to build partnerships, manage diverse teams, and provide high-level briefs for decision-making.
Work Experience
Requires at least 8 years of professional experience, with a minimum of 5 years in progressively responsible project manager roles. Additionally, experience working with WFP, including knowledge of its internal processes, policies, and systems, is essential.
Skills
Project Management, Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR), Stakeholder Engagement, Partnership Building, Budget Management, Risk Management, Monitoring and Reporting, Team Leadership, Cross-functional Coordination, Disaster Management, Food and Cash-Based Assistance, Technical Assistance, Policy Compliance, Analytical Skills, Communication Skills, Interpersonal Skills, Resource Planning, Social Protection, Disaster Risk Financing, Information Sharing