Project manager – acals project

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified Project Manager.

About the job

The overall purpose of this position is to provide day-to-day management, coordination, and technical oversight of the Adaptation for Climate and Livelihood Systems (ACALS) project in Beledweyne. The Project Manager will ensure timely, high-quality, and compliant implementation of activities aimed at improving food security for 15,000 households and 15 large cooperatives through the distribution of labor-saving technologies (tillage tractors/threshers), climate-smart agriculture, market systems development, and disaster preparedness.

The incumbent will also focus on optimizing agricultural output through the management of mechanical fleets, regenerative farming systems, and the economic "graduation" of vulnerable households from subsistence to market-aligned enterprise.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

R1: Project Management, Development, Monitoring and Evaluation

• Ensure the project is implemented in line with approved proposals, work plans, budgets, and donor requirements.
• Ensure implementation planning is aligned with agricultural seasons, climate forecasts and local production calendars, with timely adaptation of activities where climate, access or market conditions change.
• Lead planning, implementation, and monitoring of ACALS activities including climate-resilient agriculture, coordination with UNOPS on water infrastructure utilization, post-harvest management (distribution of metal silos and hermetic bags), and livelihoods.
• Ensure that all project deliverables are completed within agreed timelines and budgets.
• Develop and regularly update detailed work plans and track progress against targets.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor implementation quality and provide technical guidance.
• Coordinate timely preparation, quality assurance and submission of WFP-required narrative, quantitative and financial reporting, ensuring consistency between programme results, expenditure and approved targets.
• Integrate conflict-sensitive, protection-informed, and gender-responsive approaches across all activities.
• Serve as the primary focal point for project implementation at field level, including engagement with donors such as World Food Programme where applicable.
• Lead periodic reflection and learning reviews with the project team and partners, using monitoring, field-level evidence and beneficiary feedback to adapt implementation and strengthen project performance.

R2: Technical Oversight & Capacity Development

• Provide technical oversight on the operation and maintenance (O&M) of shared equipment models, fodder conservation (feed block-making machines), and market systems development.
• Support implementation of Farmer Field Schools (FFS), post-harvest management practices, and agricultural input distribution.
• Lead the establishment of pay-per-use or shared-service models for tillage tractors and grain threshers to ensure long-term financial sustainability.
• Oversee the technical training of 15,000 households in regenerative practices and Farmer Field Schools (FFS) tailored to riverine and pastoral contexts.
• Facilitate the "Graduation Model" by transitioning Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) into formal Microfinance Institution (MFI) pathways.
• Conduct continuous conflict and protection risk analysis to navigate clan dynamics and prevent resource-based conflicts over new water and rangeland assets.

R3: Coordination & Partnership Technical Liaison

• Coordinate with UNOPS and relevant authorities on the handover, operationalization and appropriate utilization of rehabilitated water infrastructure, ensuring alignment with agricultural production and community needs.
• Maintain strong working relationships with local authorities, line ministries, and community leaders.
• Represent DRC in coordination platforms, including cluster meetings and local forums.

R4: Budget, Procurement and Compliance Oversight

• Oversee the approved project budget, ensuring effective budget monitoring, forecasting, expenditure tracking and timely corrective action in coordination with Finance.
• Prepare and update spending plans, and cash forecasts.
• Ensure efficient and transparent use of resources in compliance with donor regulations.

R5: Staff Management

• Lead, supervise, and motivate Project Officers and Assistants.
• Set clear performance objectives and conduct regular performance reviews.
• Foster a positive team environment and support staff development and wellbeing.

R6: Country-Level Economic Recovery Support

• Provide managerial support to the Economic Recovery team and other DRC programmes in Somalia to strengthen the quality, coherence and integration of economic recovery and livelihoods programming across locations.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have:

• Minimum Bachelor in Rural Development, International Development, Agriculture, Entrepreneurship, Business Administration, or other relevant fields.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in managing donor-funded humanitarian or development projects.
• Strong understanding of Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) and accountability frameworks.
• Proven experience in project cycle management (PCM), including planning, implementation, and reporting.
• Languages: Proficiency in written & spoken both English and Somali.

We offer

Contract length: 6 months with the possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance. Work location: Beledweyne. Start date: 20th October 2026.

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered. Closing date for applications: 30th September 2026.