Project Officer

• Employment Type: Full time, Six months Contract with Possibility of Extension
• Category: Program Management
• Salary: Negotiable

Organizational Profile

Lawyer for Human Rights (LHR) is a civil society organization established by like-minded lawyers in 2018 and re-registered in September 2019 before the FDRE Civil Societies Organizations Agency in accordance with Proclamation No. 1113/2019. It principally aims to increase the role and contribution of lawyers in the promotion and protection of human rights in Ethiopia. The objectives of the Organization includes increasing the participation and contribution of lawyers in the area of human rights through trainings and other capacity building activities, supporting lawyers across the country and helping them to exchange ideas, information and experience for better protection of human rights and prevalence of human rights; litigating strategic cases in courts and other relevant organs to ensure protection of human rights recognized under the FDRE Constitution and other laws; creating awareness for justice organs about international human rights instruments ratified by Ethiopia; providing free or low cost legal services for victims of human rights violation particularly disadvantaged communities; influencing the government to enact new laws or amend existing ones to give full protection for human rights; familiarizing the idea of human rights defenders among the lawyers etc.

To achieve its objectives, LHR has been engaging with national and international stakeholders in the past years including OHCHR East Africa Regional Office (EARO), National Endowment for Democracy (NED), Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA), USAID Justice Activity Project, Freedom House (FH), Civil Rights Defenders (CRD), French Development Agency (AFD), Project Expedite Justice (PEJ), and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS).

Job overview

LHR is looking for a Project Officer, who will be responsible for managing, implementing and following up the day-to-day management of the project and procedures, with a demonstrated knowledge of program/project policies, procedures, donor compliance and systems with excellent communication, analytical and organizational skills.

Job Description

The Project Officer will be responsible for the day-to-day coordination of LHR’s project and interventions. The ideal candidate must be able to work independently (autonomously with loose supervision) but equally a good team player, has strong administrative and project management skills, as well as the delivery of the project milestones in accordance with the deadlines. Knowledge of human rights and humanitarian law, transitional justice, and advocacy is also mandatory. The Project officer must have strong communication skills as well as professional interpersonal skills.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Program Director, the Project Officer will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Ensure the implementation and follow-up of the project activities as set out in the project document, work plans, and other related documents;
• Ensure operational management of the project stated above and delivery of results in accordance with the project documents and work plans;
• Prepare terms of reference for trainings, and workshop schedules and upon approval, facilitate the selection of consultants and organize workshops training, and roundtable discussions;
• Take part in regular meetings with the donor, prepare monthly and quarterly reports, upon approval communicate with the donor organization;
• ensure the proper communication of project results through LHR communication channels in collaboration with other staffs working on communications;
• Ensure compliance with respective donor’s project management policies and procedures;
• plan, organize and facilitate workshops, training, and prepare proceedings;
• Assist the Program Director in planning and coordination of projects and their activities;
• ensure project activity implementations are in line with the available budgetary resources and annual plan.
• Work to keep projects on schedule, within stated budgets, and functioning smoothly;
• Develop concept notes and project proposals in collaboration with other program staffs to ensure sustainability of the project activities;
• Contributing to LHR’s publications, briefing papers, training materials, legal opinions, etc.
• Performs other related duties as required by the Program Director and the Executive Director.

Disclaimer:

This job description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job. It is not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks and duties. The responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the jobholder may differ from those outlined in the job description and other duties, as assigned, may be part of the job.

Required Skills and Experience

• LL.B. Degree in Law or Masters in Law, specializations in human rights law or Transitional Justice is preferred;
• Proven experience in project management or project officer positions for a minimum of two (3) years in projects related to human rights and rule of law;
• Knowledge of civil society con text, human rights situation and transitional justice in Ethiopia;
• Experience in working with relevant projects from the governmental and non-governmental institutions;
• Experience in developing terms of reference, concept notes, project proposals, and reports;
• Able to use computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel);
• Fluency in Amharic & English is required (both spoken and written)