Project Manager

Position: Project Manager

Project: AICS AID 012544/01/4 – AGRO-SMART

Duty Station: Amibara Woreda, Afar Region, Ethiopia

Contract duration: To be defined according to LVIA contractual arrangements and project duration

Expected starting date: As soon as possible

Gross monthly salary: Gross salary: Up to approximately ETB 210,000/month, depending on the candidate’s qualifications, skills and relevant experience.

Project Background

LVIA is implementing the AICS-funded project “AGRO-SMART – Agricultural Growth and Resource Optimization: Sustainable water and soil management for agricultural profitability and community resilience in Amibara”.

The 24-month initiative is implemented in Amibara Woreda, with specific interventions in Sidhafage, Halaydege and Kusra. The project aims to improve agricultural productivity, sustainable management of water and soil resources, and the profitability and resilience of local agricultural and agro-pastoral value chains.

The intervention combines improved irrigation and water-use efficiency, climate-resilient agricultural practices, soil and natural resource management, rehabilitation and improvement of selected water and productive infrastructures, strengthening of agricultural and agro-pastoral cooperatives, and institutional capacity development.

The project is implemented by LVIA in partnership with CIHEAM Bari and in close coordination with the Awash Basin Administration, relevant Afar Regional and Amibara Woreda authorities, Development Agents, cooperatives and local communities.

Main Purpose of the Position

The Project Manager is responsible for the overall planning, coordination and day-to-day management of the AGRO-SMART project in Amibara, ensuring timely and quality implementation of activities, achievement of expected results, sound management of project resources and compliance with LVIA and donor requirements.

The Project Manager will lead a multidisciplinary field team and ensure effective coordination between the project's technical, institutional, community and management components.

The position requires a solid understanding of rural development and sufficient technical knowledge to effectively supervise, and coordinate interventions related to irrigation, WASH and water infrastructure, agriculture, natural resource management and productive infrastructure.

The Project Manager is not expected to replace the project's specialized technical staff, but must be able to guide their work, identify implementation and quality issues, ensure coordination among technical components and take timely operational decisions.

Key Responsibilities

Project Management and Implementation

• Lead the overall planning and day-to-day implementation of the project in accordance with the approved project document, logical framework, work plan and budget.

• Prepare and regularly update detailed implementation plans and ensure that activities are delivered within agreed timelines.

• Prepare detailed activity and results reports in line with the project reporting schedule.

• Coordinate the work of the multidisciplinary project team and ensure effective integration of the agricultural, WASH, cooperative development, community and institutional components.

• Organize regular project team meetings, review progress and identify operational bottlenecks and corrective measures.

• Ensure efficient use of project resources in coordination with the project administration and LVIA Country Office.

• Monitor project expenditure against implementation progress and contribute to financial planning and forecasting.

• Ensure compliance with LVIA procedures and applicable donor requirements.

• Identify implementation risks and promptly propose practical mitigation measures.

Technical and Infrastructure Coordination

• Provide overall coordination and management oversight of the project's technical activities related to irrigation, water management, agriculture, soil and natural resource management and productive infrastructure.

• Coordinate the work of the Agronomist, WASH Technician, Cooperative Expert, Community Facilitators and other technical staff and consultants involved in project implementation.

• Ensure appropriate coordination between technical designs, field implementation, community participation and institutional requirements.

• Follow up the implementation and quality of rehabilitation, installation and small-scale infrastructure activities in collaboration with the responsible technical staff.

• Ensure that technical activities are implemented according to approved specifications, work plans, Bills of Quantities and applicable quality and safety standards, with technical verification undertaken by the relevant specialists.

• Facilitate coordination between LVIA technical staff and CIHEAM Bari experts for the implementation and field application of the WATDEV Toolbox.

• Ensure that technical innovations and project investments are translated into practical and sustainable solutions for farmers, cooperatives and local institutions.

Team Coordination

• Provide direct supervision, guidance and support to project staff based in Amibara.

• Define clear responsibilities and priorities for team members and follow up on their performance.

• Promote effective collaboration between field staff and LVIA's programme, MEAL, administration, logistics and technical support functions in Addis Ababa.

• Coordinate external experts, consultants and service providers involved in project activities, as required.

• Promote a problem-solving, accountable and collaborative working environment within the project team.

Institutional and Stakeholder Coordination

• Serve as the main operational focal point for project coordination with the Awash Basin Administration, Amibara Woreda authorities and relevant sector offices, including Agriculture, Livestock and Fishery), Water and Cooperatives.

• Maintain regular and constructive relations with regional and local government institutions, Development Agents, cooperative leaders, traditional authorities and community representatives.

• Facilitate project coordination mechanisms and technical working arrangements established with local stakeholders.

• Ensure that local authorities and communities are appropriately involved in planning, implementation, monitoring and handover of project interventions.

• Support the Country Representative and LVIA Country Office in institutional relations related to the project.

• Ensure that implementation takes into account local dynamics, resource-use arrangements and potential conflicts related to access to water, land and productive resources.

Cooperative and Community-Level Coordination

• Oversee the project's work with agricultural and agro-pastoral cooperatives, ensuring close coordination between technical support, organizational strengthening and productive activities.

• Ensure that cooperative development activities address governance, management, equitable access to water and productive resources, maintenance arrangements and market-oriented development.

• Promote meaningful participation of women and youth in project activities and local decision-making mechanisms.

• Ensure effective community mobilization and ownership of project interventions through the Community Facilitators and relevant local structures.

Monitoring, Reporting and Learning

• Ensure systematic monitoring of project implementation, outputs and results in coordination with LVIA's MEAL function.

• Ensure timely and accurate collection of field data and project means of verification.

• Ensure appropriate geo-referencing and mapping of project sites and interventions, in coordination with technical and MEAL staff.

• Follow up progress against the project's logical framework, indicators and targets and identify deviations requiring corrective action.

• Contribute to baseline, endline and other monitoring and evaluation exercises.

• Prepare high-quality internal and donor project reports and provide timely information to the LVIA Country Office.

• Document implementation challenges, lessons learned and good practices and contribute to project learning and capitalization.

• Ensure that project documentation and records are complete, accurate and properly maintained.

Job Requirements

• University degree in Rural Development, Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Water Resources, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management, Civil/Water Engineering or another relevant field.

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in development or humanitarian programmes, including significant experience in project coordination or management.

• Demonstrated experience in managing rural development projects involving at least some of the following sectors: agriculture, irrigation, WASH/water management, natural resource management, livelihoods or productive infrastructure.

• Demonstrated experience in planning and coordinating multidisciplinary field activities and teams.

• Experience working with government institutions, local authorities and rural communities.

• Good understanding of project cycle management, results-based management, monitoring and reporting.

• Ability to understand and follow technical activities, infrastructure works and technical documentation sufficiently to coordinate specialized staff and identify implementation issues.

• Experience in budget follow-up and coordination with project administration/finance teams.

• Strong organizational, problem-solving and decision-making skills.

• Ability and willingness to be based in Amibara and regularly travel to project sites in rural areas.

• Good written and spoken English.

Technical Competencies

The successful candidate should demonstrate practical understanding of several of the following areas:

• Rural and agricultural development

• Irrigation and water-use efficiency

• WASH and rural water systems

• Small-scale productive and water infrastructure

• Climate-resilient agriculture

• Soil and natural resource management

• Agricultural and agro-pastoral cooperative development

• Community-based management of productive resources

• Monitoring technical activities and infrastructure implementation

The Project Manager is not required to be a specialist in all these areas but must demonstrate the capacity to effectively coordinate technical specialists and integrate different technical components within a single project.Management and Relational Competencies

• Leadership and team coordination.

• Strong planning and organizational capacity.

• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple activities simultaneously.

• Practical problem-solving and ability to take timely operational decisions.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Ability to build constructive relationships with government institutions, communities and partners.

• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment.

• Capacity to operate in challenging and remote field contexts.

• Accountability, reliability and attention to quality.

Languages

Required: Good written and spoken English and Amharic.

Desirable: Knowledge of Afar language and/or other languages relevant to the project area.

How To Apply

Application Procedure

Interested candidates should submit:

• An updated CV.

• A brief cover letter highlighting relevant experience for the position.

• Contact details of professional references.

• Submit application letter with Curriculum Vitae (with at least 2 references) to: lvia.eth.recruitment.tender@gmail.com

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next steps of the selection process.

LVIA encourages applications from qualified candidates with relevant field experience and is committed to equal opportunities and a transparent recruitment process.

Application deadline: 7 September 2026

Expected starting date: Ideally by late October 2026, subject to the completion of the selection process and candidate availability.