Sint Maarten (The Netherlands): Project Manager School Meals

We help to strengthen resilience of vulnerable people exposed to hazards and crisis situations and we respond to disasters and conflicts to save lives and alleviate suffering. In the Netherlands with more than thirty thousand volunteers and internationally through technical assistance, supplies and money. Together we act before, during and after disasters to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people.

We do this without regards to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinion. Our seven principles guide our humanitarian work: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

The International Assistance department is responsible for all Netherlands Red Cross international support for victims of disasters and conflicts and for vulnerable people exposed to hazards.

The International Assistance department has opened a vacancy for a project delegate. To strengthen the Sint Maarten team, the department is looking for a project manager School Meal project.

Position title: Project Manager School Meals

Duty station: Sint Maarten

Time period: Until 31^st July

Starting Date: 15 March

Status: Single posting

Purpose of the position

The Project Manager School Meals is responsible for the implementation of the School Meal project on Sint Maarten.

Background

Following the devastating impacts of category 5 hurricane IRMA on the 6th of September 2017, NLRC started to organise relief efforts, focusing on food and water distribution, as well as other distribution of non-food items such as tarpaulins and jerrycans to support vulnerable people with basic needs.

NLRC is currently in the transition to early recovery and longer term programmes on Sint Maarten. The focus of the programming is based on three pillars: shelter and sheltering, economic security, and disaster risk reduction / disaster preparedness. According to the NLRC strategy, the recovery programme will focus on increasing the resilience of beneficiaries, and focus on building back better to avoid or reduce future disaster impacts. This approach takes into account the adaptation to climate change and climate variability. Increased resilience focuses on the building blocks of increased capacity to anticipate, adapt, respond and transform.

One of the projects already started in November 2017 aims to assist vulnerable families in their recovery through the provision of school meals to all public elementary schools on the island. This entails the provision of two meals per day, breakfast and lunch, for around 4000 pupils on the island. The government is cooperating in the implementation of the project and aims to find a suitable sustainable alternative to ensure parts of the project continue to be implemented in future school years.

Position in the organization

The project delegate reports to the Head of Mission in Sint Maarten

Summary statement and responsibilities

The Project Delegate is responsible for supervising and managing all project components. The project team consists of approx. 30 kitchen staff including an operational manager and the head chef, working in shifts from Mon-Fri to supply 3200-4000 children in public primary schools breakfast and lunch. The project will run until the end of May with additional funds from the Dutch ministry of the Interior – with possible extension until the end of the school year (early July). The length of the vacancy is already including this extension.

This position will also liaise with key stakeholders, both Red Cross and non-Red Cross partners including the Government of St Maarten, financial institutions, food suppliers and community leaders to coordinate and ensure successful project implementation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Day to day implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project

• Support and coordinate staff together with Operational Manager

• Ensure that objectives and work plan timetables are met

• Evaluate, develop and improve on every possible component of the project

• Liaise with NLRC HQ staff on project progress and get approval on project agreements, contracts, regulations, communication, financial regulations and technical support

• Liaise with nominated suppliers, government (weekly), public schools and other relevant stakeholder to ensure agreements are in place and are met, and procedures are followed

• Develop and coordinate exit strategy of NLRC (-> to government or other parties)

• Monitor closely budget spending of the project and liaise with NLRC identify risks, needs and or requirements related to financial management

• Produce a final project report (narrative and financial)

  Requirements/Qualifications

• Relevant Higher Educational Degree or University degree

• At least 5 years of relevant Project Coordination/Project Management experience in project design, monitoring and evaluation, participatory needs assessment and reporting

• 1-3 years relevant international working experience

• Experience in HR (management & evaluation of staff)

• Experience with hands-on projects

• Experience working for the Red Cross/Red Crescent is required, knowledge or experience in disaster relief, RC operating environment, recovery or development work is preferred

• Knowledge and/or experience in the hospitality / catering industry including logistical processes, hygiene regulations and shipping

  Key competencies

• Strong project management skills, incl. budget planning & management, time management and expenditures monitoring as well as reporting skills

• Highly developed analytical and communication (oral, written) skills and ability to assimilate and process information to a high level and for wide-ranging audiences, ranging from government parties to contractors to school boards

• Ability and proven experience in transferring knowledge and skills through formal and informal training/capacity building of staff

• Inter-personal skills and cultural sensitivity

• Knowledge of integrated programming and accountability systems

• Self-motivated, with good judgment and initiative, and the ability to work with and manage others

• Capacity to familiarize with and to own the project within a short timeframe

• Organizational sensitivity

• Strong decision making skills and leadership skills

• Self-supporting in computers (Windows, spreadsheets, word processing)

• Valid international driving license

• Fluent spoken and written English and Dutch

  We offer

• A full time appointment (based on 40-hour work week) for a maximum of 4.5 months, until the end of July.

• A flexible and human centred working environment in an international environment with a variety of international organizations.

• Well balanced employment conditions with space for initiative and development.

Please send your resume in English and letter of motivation with reference to Rob Vugs before 26 February 2018 through the following link: https://werkenbij.rodekruis.nl/en/Vacancy/Apply/95932

For more information about the position, you can contact Jesper Jansweijer, jjansweijer@redcross.nl. Due to the short timeframe of the vacancy, selection process will be ongoing throughout this period, and a candidate may be selected before the end-date of the vacancy.

An initial assessment of candidates short-listed is part of the selection procedure.

For more information of the work of the Netherlands Red Cross please go to www.rodekruis.nl and www.rodekruis.tv. NLRC on Facebook: Facebook.com/rodekruis and Twitter: Twitter.com/rodekruis

Acquisition for this vacancy will not be appreciated