Exit Project Manager at CARE

This role is open to Existing CARE Employees ONLY. External candidates need not apply**
CARE’s work in Dadaab refugee camps has been highly visible in Kenya and well beyond Kenya’s borders and is known by many as one of CARE’s main footprints in Kenya and the region. CARE has started a six-month transition process in the Dadaab refugee camps in Kenya. By the end of May 2022, CARE will no longer provide mechanical support, fuel management and other logistical services to all agencies intervening in the camps.

The camps were established in 1991 to receive Somali refugees fleeing the civil war and have since become a permanent home to many. They have seen new arrivals throughout Somalia’s protracted and bloody conflict, drought and famine. For more than a decade Dadaab was the world’s largest refugee camp complex with the population reaching over 460,000 people at one point in 2011. The camps are now still hosting over 200,000 refugees. CARE has accompanied the refugees in Dadaab for 30 years, providing humanitarian relief and logistical services. The Government has recently passed a decree that gives the possibility to the Dadaab camp refugees to stay and work in Kenya and, over the last few years, has repeatedly announced that the camps would close. The last Government statement indicates that the camps would be closed by June 2022.

Responsibilities
Working with the CARE Kenya management team, develop the Closure Plan and gaining full engagement with the management team to ensure that all requirements and needs for Dadaab are fully incorporated into the Plan. This will include:

1. Staff consultation and individual employee discussion
2. Determination of approach to closure, including expected termination dates of all staff
3. Finalisation of redundancy payments (if any as will be advised by the local lawyer) and provision of employment support (Psychosocial support, outplacement services etc.)
4. Successful completion of all organisational closure requirements
5. Management of organisational risk and maintenance of the organisation’s reputation throughout the closure process
6. Once developed, follow the Closure Plan to lead and manage an effective project closure, ensuring that all legal and organisational requirements are adhered to and that the closure is achieved with minimal programme disruption.
7. Work with the Senior Management Team and Dadaab Managers to ensure they are fully appreciative of the impact of the closure activities on their day-to-day operations.
8. Establish good working relationships with local authorities to ensure that all Dadaab activities are developed and implemented in accordance with the legal requirements and consider courtesy expectations.
9. Pay particular attention to, and address, local sensitivities regarding closure and CARE’s withdrawal from a vulnerable area. Ensure that staff are protected at all times.
10. Provide regular updates and reports as required to keep relevant staff fully informed of the closure progress. Ensure good records and detailed notes of all activities are made and kept for referral and future reference.
11. Ensure risk assessment and risk management plans are kept up-to-date and reflect the closure process
12. Provide feedback to relevant Key stakeholders regarding lessons learned and ways of improving future closure activities.

Qualifications

1. Excellent analytical and critical thinking ability
2. Extensive experience with and proven ability to implement organisational change management initiatives
3. Proven project management and organisational skills
4. Excellent communication, facilitation and influencing skills with ability to work with staff at all levels. Capable of representing the Country Office with external partners and organisations.
5. Flexible and adaptable, capable of managing multiple priorities in a fast changing and demanding environment
6. Very strong initiative, self-awareness and self-motivation to deliver results and work well under pressure
7. Evidence of sound judgement and proven decision-making capability working with significant levels of autonomy. Able to bear and manage considerable responsibility without recourse to additional HR support
8. Understanding of and experience with the complexities of working in a multicultural environment
9. Professional qualifications in human resource management and/or substantial senior HR experience