Project Coordinator RSI Project

Location: Addis Ababa with frequent travel to Adama, Ethiopia

Deadline: Mar 29, 2026

Job Description

• Role Title: Project Coordinator RSI Project
• VSO Team: Global Implementation
• Responsible to: Project Implementation Lead
• Birches Grade: 7
• Responsible for: None
• VSO Pay Band: 3

Job/Role Purpose:

To manage project implementation with high-quality programming standards to achieve project objectives in alignment with VSO’s volunteering for development (VfD) approach. This role will coordinate with private sector actors (e.g., recyclers, SMEs), training institutions, NGOs, and community-based structures (Idirs) on Solid Waste Management (SWM), circular economy, livelihoods, or environmental projects, to green jobs, project management, budget planning, and end-to-end project oversight.

Task Responsibilities 

Project Planning & Coordination

• Support the development of detailed project plans, timelines, resource allocation, and budgets in line with donor and organizational requirements on Solid Waste Management (SWM), circular economy, livelihoods, or environmental projects.
• Develop project implementation plan from inception to closure and transition phase in collaboration with project partners and stakeholders. Revisit and update the plan in response to the changing context.
• Manage a day-to-day implementation of the project to deliver on scope, on budget and within specified timeframe including risks and incident management.
• Coordinate technical delivery and project quality in alignment with VSO’s unique Volunteering for Development approach that places primary actors at the centre of the development, ensuring their voice, participation, and empowerment in planning, implementation, monitoring evaluation learnings and decision-making process.
• Ensure compliance with VSO programme implementation standards, policies and procedures and donor requirements.
• Translate strategic and technical guidance from the SWM Expert or Program Manager into concrete operational actions at the sub-city and community level.
• Monitor progress against timelines, identify risks or delays, and implement corrective actions in a timely manner.

Technical Support & Compliance

• Oversee the promotion of circular economy principles, including waste avoidance, segregation at source (combustibles, recyclables, organics), and recovery operations.
• Support the classification and proper documentation of waste streams in line with Ethiopian EPA guidelines and the Hazardous Waste Management Proclamation.
• Ensure project activities comply with relevant Ethiopian regulations (e.g., Solid Waste Management Proclamation, pollution control regulations) and health & safety standards.
• Maintain accurate project documentation, databases, and records for regulatory compliance and auditing purposes.

Monitoring, Reporting, & Administration

• Conduct regular field monitoring visits to track activity quality and document lessons learned.
• Contribute to the preparation of high-quality narrative and periodic progress reports for donors, government bodies, and internal stakeholders.
• Support data collection for project indicators, baselines, evaluations, and ensure proper documentation (photos, attendance sheets, monitoring tools).

Collaboration responsibilities

• Seek guidance from Global Team on project implementation, global programme strategies, capacity development and collaboration on business pursuit, youth engagement, partnership, scale and reach quarterly reports, finance operations, people policies.

• Liaise with Adama City Administration, relevant sector bureaus, and local authorities (Woreda and Kebele level) to ensure alignment with city-wide solid waste management strategies.
• Support coordination with private sector actors (e.g., recyclers, SMEs), training institutions, NGOs, and community-based structures (Idirs).
• Facilitate community engagement sessions and public awareness campaigns to promote waste reduction, segregation at source, and compliance with the single-use plastic ban.

• Engage and closely collaborate with local community, lead the project kick-off meeting, manage a process to conduct context analysis, need assessment, risk assessment and MILE process.
• Build alliances and network with other agencies, implementing partners, technical partners, relevant technical working groups, civil society network, private sector and government agencies

• Represent the project at local technical and coordination meetings when delegated.

Competence required

• Knowledge/Qualifications:
• A formal qualification or equivalent experience in environmental science, Environmental Engineering, Project Management, Economics, Development Studies, or a related field or equivalent knowledge and experience.

Specific experience and Skills

Experience:

• Relevant experience in project coordination and field base project implementation
• Proven experience in Solid Waste Management (SWM), circular economy, livelihoods, or environmental projects in Ethiopia is essential.
• Experience coordinating multiple partners and stakeholders, including government entities, is required.
• Demonstrated familiarity with green jobs, project management, budget planning, and end-to-end project oversight.
• In-depth knowledge of Ethiopia’s waste management ecosystem, encompassing its systems, stakeholders, operational frameworks, and overall structural landscape.
• Proficient skills in policy & advocacy, community-led development, right-based approach with demonstrable participatory practices and sound knowledge in approach to addressing barriers through social inclusion & gender, resilience, and accountability.
• Proficient skills in developing partnership, networking, and collaboration with multi-stakeholders in the subject matter areas both at the national and local levels.
• Knowledge of Global Volunteer Standards with practical experience of working through volunteering will be an advantage.

Technical Skills:

• Solid understanding of waste management principles (segregation, recycling, composting) and the circular economy.
• Knowledge of Ethiopia’s environmental regulatory framework, including the recent single-use plastic ban and solid waste proclamations.
• Strong report writing and data management skills

Core Competencies:

• Coordination & Leadership: Strong team leadership, people management, and problem-solving skills.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Afan Oromo are mandatory.
• Stakeholder Management: Ability to build strong relationships with government bodies, community members, and private sector actors.

Safeguarding level: VSO has zero tolerance of abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people. We will expect all our employees/volunteers to commit to protecting children, young people and vulnerable adults from harm and abide by our safeguarding policy.

Level 2: This post will have direct access or contact with children either or will have responsibility for the day-to-day management of those with direct access to children. A criminal background check (Enhance DBS check for UK or equivalent Police check) will be obtained for post holder at this level prior to their start date.

Equal Opportunities

VSO promotes equal opportunities and values a diverse workforce

VSO reserves the right to close this job early if we receive a sufficient number of applications.

Disclaimer: VSO is committed to a fair, transparent and merit-based recruitment. VSO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Any such request in VSO’s name is fraudulent and should be disregarded. Please report suspicious requests to recruitment@vsoint.org

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