Project Manager

Over the past few years, Afghanistan has witnessed a relative improvement in security and stability across much of the country. This has allowed humanitarian actors like INTERSOS to maintain uninterrupted access and expand services in areas that were previously hard to reach. Despite this progress, the humanitarian situation remains critical, with millions of Afghans continuing to face acute vulnerabilities due to prolonged economic hardship, natural disasters, and limited access to essential services.

In 2025, more than half of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance, with food insecurity, child malnutrition, and displacement remaining key concerns. Natural disasters, such as floods and recent earthquakes, have further compounded the needs of already struggling communities.

INTERSOS continues to operate through a community-based approach with field bases in Kabul, Kandahar, and Zabul, delivering primary healthcare, nutrition, and protection services with a focus on women, children, and persons with disabilities. The organization enjoys strong community acceptance and collaborates closely with relevant national authorities, including maintaining the full participation of female staff in all activities.

While the operational environment is largely stable and conducive, funding shortfalls and systemic barriers such as restrictions on financial flows and administrative bottlenecks continue to impact the scope and scale of humanitarian response. Sustained support is crucial to ensure the continuity of life-saving services and to address the urgent needs of Afghanistan’s most vulnerable populations.

The Project Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, coordination, quality assurance, and timely delivery of the shelter project targeting returnee households in Herat Province. The role ensures that shelter repair, upgrade, and transitional shelter activities are implemented in line with Emergency Shelter/NFI Cluster guidance, SPHERE standards, donor requirements, safeguarding policies, and cash programming compliance. The Project Manager oversees technical, operational, financial, protection, and accountability components of the project, ensuring safe, high-quality, and measurable shelter outcomes.

A. Project Leadership & Implementation Oversight

• Lead overall implementation of Shelter Packages A (Transitional Shelter), B (Major Repairs), and C (Minor Repairs).
• Ensure activities are delivered according to the approved workplan and timeline.
• Supervise Shelter Core Teams (Engineers & Foremen).
• Ensure milestone-based cash disbursement is linked to verified technical progress.
• Monitor project targets and ensure delivery within budget envelope.

B. Technical Quality & Standards Compliance

• Ensure alignment with:
  • ES/NFI Cluster guidance
  • Build Back Better (BBB) principles
  • Seismic risk mitigation standards
  • SPHERE standards
• Review and validate technical methodologies and tools.
• Ensure consistent technical supervision across districts.
• Escalate structural or safety concerns appropriately.

C. Cash-Based Programming Oversight

• Ensure labelled cash for shelter is implemented with strong accountability mechanisms.
• Oversee instalment-based cash distribution linked to construction milestones.
• Coordinate closely with Finance regarding Azizi Bank disbursement schedules.
• Monitor risks related to misuse, diversion, or market inflation.
• Ensure unconditional cash distribution aligns with food security objectives.

D. Protection, Inclusion & Safeguarding

• Ensure vulnerability-based targeting is applied transparently.
• Oversee inclusion of:
  • Female-headed households
  • Persons with disabilities
  • Highly vulnerable returnees
• Ensure tenure verification processes for Transitional Shelter recipients.
• Promote zero tolerance for fraud, corruption, and sexual exploitation.
• Ensure effective Feedback & Complaints Response Mechanism (FCRM).

E. Coordination & Representation

• Represent the project at:
  • Provincial Shelter Cluster meetings
  • CWG coordination platforms
  • District-level coordination meetings
• Liaise with:
  • Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation (DORR)
  • Ministry of Economy
  • Legal referral actors (e.g., NRC)
  • Consortium partners where relevant
• Ensure complementarity with other sector actors (WASH, MPCA, Protection).

F. Planning, Monitoring & Reporting

• Develop and manage a detailed project implementation plan.
• Oversee baseline, endline, PDM and market monitoring processes.
• Ensure timely monthly reporting (technical, financial, narrative).
• Contribute to mid-term review and final evaluation.
• Track KPIs and adjust implementation strategies where necessary.
• Document lessons learned and contribute to learning framework.

G. Budget & Resource Management

• In coordination with Programme manager -Monitor expenditure against activity implementation.
• Ensure cost efficiency and value for money.
• Coordinate procurement planning with logistics.
• Anticipate and mitigate financial risks.

H. Human Resource Management

• Supervise and mentor Shelter Engineers and team members.
• Ensure staff receive required technical and safeguarding training.
• Conduct performance reviews.
• Promote team accountability and ethical conduct.
• Ensure balanced workload distribution across districts.

3️⃣ Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Performance will be measured against:

• % of households assisted against set target
• % of shelter works completed within the planned timeframe.
• % of shelters meeting agreed technical standards.
• Zero major compliance breaches in cash programming.
• Timely submission of donor reports.
• Budget variance maintained within acceptable thresholds.
• Effective resolution rate of complaints via FCRM.
• Positive beneficiary satisfaction results from PDM.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or related field.
• Master’s degree in Project Management, Humanitarian Action, or related discipline desirable.

Experience

• Minimum 3-5 years of progressive experience in humanitarian programming.
• Proven experience managing:
  • Shelter projects
  • Cash-based interventions
  • Multidisciplinary field teams
• Experience in fragile or conflict-affected contexts or  Afghanistan.

Technical Competencies

• Strong understanding of:
  • ES/NFI Cluster standards
  • Owner-Driven Reconstruction
  • Build Back Better
  • Cash for Shelter modalities
• Budget management experience.
• Strong reporting and analytical skills.

Soft Skills

• Leadership and team management capacity.
• Strong coordination and negotiation skills.
• Risk management capability.
• High level of integrity and accountability.
• Ability to operate in complex regulatory environments.

Languages 

• English- Fluent
• Dari and Pashto- 

5️⃣ Reporting Lines

• Reports to: Programme Manager / Head of Programmes
• Supervises: Shelter Core Teams & project field staff
• Coordinates with:
  • Finance Manager
  • Logistics Manager
  • MEAL Manager
  • Protection Focal Point
  • ShelterBox Technical Lead

6️⃣ Duration & Level of Effort

• Full-time position.
• Contract duration aligned with project implementation 
• Frequent travel to field locations in Injil and Adraskan.
• Availability during cash distribution cycles required.

7️⃣ Core Competencies

• Strategic Leadership
• Technical Shelter Oversight
• Cash Programming Governance
• Protection Mainstreaming
• Budget Accountability
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Results Orientation
• Ethical Management

Respected Applicants, please visit the link below and fill in the required information.

https://forms.gle/x57RSvsmj14kyjvu9

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted with and called for a test/Interview.

Qualified People with Physical Disabilities and Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply