Project Manager – TRAIL

About the Project:

Under its TRAIL Bridge Program Helvetas aims continue it program implementation in rural access by strengthening an enabling environment to meet the full need for rural transport connectivity and in that process, provide transformative access to critical services in the coming three years in Amhara, Oromia, Sidama, south, Central and Tigray regions in Ethiopia as part of TRAIL Phase III and all 12 regions and 1 city administration as part of the Rural Connectivity for Improved Food Security Program ( RCFSP). The project plan is to attain its objective through capacity building of key actors and technical support in designing and testing the construction ecosystem by building Trail bridges and improving feeder trails, create long-term capacity for national scale in government roads authorities, private sector, and supply chain & capture impact through focused evaluation and disseminate learnings to build global awareness.

​There will be five regional teams i.e., one south team with a base in Hawassa, Oromia with a base in Addis Ababa and Amhara team with the base in Bahr Dar, Tigray team based in Mekelle and Afar, Somali, Dire Dawa, Harari team based in Addis Ababa. All teams are provided with guidance and strategic direction by the program team in Addis Ababa.​

Job Purposes:

The position holder provides leadership with regards to programmatic, operational, administrative, and financial implementation of the project in selected regions. S/he provides leadership to the PMU (project management unity). S/he would lead the preparation the Annual Plan of Operation and ensure its implementation and reporting along the principles of project cycle management, gender transformation and market system development. The position holder would facilitate and coordinate with stakeholders and partners (government, universities, privet actors and others) and advocate for upscaling strategies and approaches of the project.

In particular, S/He would work closely with the Regions, Universities and TVET, Privet construction consulting and designing firms and other stakeholder to building the enabling environment to meet the full need for rural transport connectivity and provide transformative access to critical services. The post holder has an overall responsibility to ensure the proper execution of the project and achieve concrete progress on the attainment of its goal and objectives, outcomes and outputs and assumes all responsibility for all programmatic progress and HR related matters of the project team as well as partnership issues, including providing technical and methodological support is provided to partners and continuous monitoring, learning and reporting takes place in the project.

Main Responsibilities:

Project Leadership and Management:

• Lead the project team for assigned regions in line with the Annual Plan of Operation (APO), Helvetas principles, and project cycle management standards.
• ​Prepare and oversee the consolidated APO for the assigned regions, ensuring timely implementation, adaptive management, and alignment with TRAIL and RCFSP objectives.
• ​Supervise, guide, coach, and support regional project staff to ensure effective and efficient project delivery.
• ​Build the technical and managerial capacity of the regional team, fostering a collaborative and high-performing work culture.
• ​Assume responsibility for all HR-related matters of the regional project team, including recruitment, work planning, performance management, and professional development.
• ​Ensure project implementation aligns with the approved Program Document and donor requirements.
• ​Keep the regional program team informed of project progress, challenges, and strategic developments.
• ​Collaborate and support other regional project teams to ensure coherence and synergy across regions.
• ​Provide coordination and technical support to the regional project team and relevant government departments at woreda and regional levels.
• ​Represent Helvetas Ethiopia in the operational implementation of the TRAIL and RCFSP projects in assigned regions.
• ​Report regularly to the Program Manager on project progress, challenges, and strategic issues.

Coordination and Technical Assistance to Partners:

• Strengthen partnerships with key government entities at woreda, zonal, and regional levels, including regional bureaus, universities, and TVETs.
• ​Ensure effective collaboration among project partners (governmental and non-governmental), aligned with the APO and strategic goals.
• ​Provide technical and methodological support to partners in designated fields, promoting local ownership and sustainability.
• ​Facilitate coordination and joint planning among stakeholders to enhance rural connectivity and access to essential services.
• ​Coordinate with regional road bureaus to implement tasks assigned to them, ensuring alignment with project cycle management principles and APO.

Budget and Financial Oversight:

• Prepare and manage the annual project budget for assigned regions in compliance with donor and organizational requirements.
• ​Monitor monthly budget utilization rates and recommend timely adjustments in consultation with the Program Manager.
• ​Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting to relevant internal and external stakeholders.
• ​Oversee contracting and partnership agreements, ensuring transparency and compliance.

Monitoring, Learning and Knowledge Management:

• Ensure robust monitoring, learning, reporting, and documentation systems are in place and function effectively in assigned regions.
• ​Document lessons learned and best practices, contributing to Helvetas’ thematic and policy work.
• ​Ensure project information is regularly updated and disseminated internally and externally.
• ​Contribute to the Rural Access and WASH Learning and Innovation working area, promoting evidence-based learning and adaptive programming.

Educational Qualification:

• Master’s degree in development, Project management, with specialization in Engineering and/or or any other discipline relevant to rural connectivity and access.

Professional Experience:

• At least 10 years’ relevant experience in development work in an NGO setting, at least 4 years of which is at a project manager level. Commitment to gender transformation and working experience in rural road sector.
• Prior experience as a project manager or leading large project teams is a necessary requirement.
• Fluent in spoken and written English is required; fluency in Tigrigna is preferable.
• Flexible, capable of working independently, high integrity, and hard-working.

Skills Required:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in standard office software packages and GIS.
• Demonstrated leadership ability to inspire and empower others.
• Demonstrated technical and managerial ability, sound judgment, ability to interact and work effectively with others at all levels.