Project Manager – Lay Volunteers International Association (LVIA)

The 24-month project focuses on improving agricultural productivity, sustainable water and soil management, climate-resilient agriculture, rural infrastructure, cooperative development, and community resilience.

The Project Manager will oversee the overall planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and resource management of the project while coordinating a multidisciplinary field team and working closely with government institutions, technical partners, cooperatives, and local communities.

Key Responsibilities

Project Management & Implementation

• Lead overall planning and day-to-day implementation of the AGRO-SMART project.
• Develop and regularly update detailed implementation plans.
• Ensure activities are completed on time and according to approved plans, budgets, and project objectives.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary project teams and integrate agriculture, WASH, cooperative, community, and institutional activities.
• Organize regular team meetings and address implementation challenges.
• Monitor project expenditure and support financial planning and forecasting.
• Ensure compliance with LVIA procedures and donor requirements.
• Identify project risks and implement appropriate mitigation measures.

Technical & Infrastructure Coordination

• Coordinate technical activities related to irrigation, water management, agriculture, soil and natural resource management, and productive infrastructure.
• Supervise and coordinate technical staff, consultants, and specialists.
• Follow up on rehabilitation, installation, and small-scale infrastructure activities.
• Ensure activities follow approved specifications, work plans, BOQs, quality requirements, and safety standards.
• Coordinate with CIHEAM Bari experts on the implementation of the WATDEV Toolbox.
• Promote sustainable and practical solutions for farmers, cooperatives, and local institutions.

Team Management

• Provide supervision, guidance, and support to project staff.
• Define staff responsibilities and priorities and monitor performance.
• Promote collaboration between field staff and LVIA programme, MEAL, administration, logistics, and technical teams.
• Coordinate external consultants and service providers.
• Foster an accountable, collaborative, and problem-solving work environment.

Stakeholder & Government Coordination

• Serve as the main operational focal point with the Awash Basin Administration, Amibara Woreda authorities, and relevant sector offices.
• Maintain relationships with regional and local government institutions, Development Agents, cooperatives, traditional authorities, and community representatives.
• Ensure meaningful participation of local authorities and communities throughout planning, implementation, monitoring, and handover.
• Consider local resource-use arrangements and potential conflicts involving water, land, and productive resources.

Cooperative & Community Development

• Oversee activities supporting agricultural and agro-pastoral cooperatives.
• Support cooperative governance, management, access to resources, maintenance arrangements, and market-oriented development.
• Promote participation of women and youth in project activities and decision-making.
• Ensure effective community mobilization and ownership of project interventions.

Monitoring, Reporting & Learning

• Ensure systematic monitoring of project outputs, results, indicators, and targets.
• Ensure timely collection of field data and project means of verification.
• Coordinate geo-referencing and mapping of project sites and interventions.
• Contribute to baseline, endline, and other M&E exercises.
• Prepare high-quality internal and donor reports.
• Document challenges, lessons learned, and good practices.
• Maintain complete and accurate project documentation and records.

Qualifications & Experience

🎓 Education: University degree in one of the following or a related field:

• Rural Development
• Agriculture
• Agricultural Engineering
• Water Resources
• Environmental Sciences
• Natural Resources Management
• Civil/Water Engineering

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

Required Experience

• Experience managing rural development projects involving agriculture, irrigation, WASH/water management, natural resource management, livelihoods, or productive infrastructure.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams and field activities.
• Experience working with government institutions, local authorities, and rural communities.
• Knowledge of project cycle management, results-based management, monitoring, and reporting.
• Experience with budget follow-up and coordination with finance/administration teams.
• Ability to understand technical activities, infrastructure works, and technical documentation.
• Willingness to be based in Amibara and regularly travel to rural project sites.
• Good written and spoken English.

Technical Competencies

Practical knowledge of several of the following areas is expected:

• 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 does not need to be a specialist in every area but must be able to effectively coordinate technical specialists and integrate different technical components.

Management & Relational Competencies

• Leadership and team coordination
• Strong planning and organizational skills
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• Ability to prioritize multiple activities
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Stakeholder and government relationship management
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary and multicultural environments
• Ability to operate in challenging and remote field locations
• Accountability, reliability, and attention to quality

Languages

Required:

• English – good written and spoken
• Amharic – good written and spoken

Desirable:

• Afar language
• Other languages relevant to the project area

Position Details

📍 Location: Amibara Woreda, Afar Region, Ethiopia
💼 Employment: Full-time
💰 Gross Salary: Up to approximately ETB 210,000/month, depending on qualifications, skills, and relevant experience
✈️ Work Environment: Field-based with regular travel to rural project sites
📅 Application Deadline:September 7, 2026
📆 Expected Start: Ideally by late October 2026, subject to the selection process and candidate availability

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit:

• Updated CV
• Brief cover letter highlighting relevant experience
• Contact details of professional references
• Application letter and CV with at least 2 references

📧 Email:lvia.eth.recruitment.tender@gmail.com

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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