District Project Manager-Taplejung

Job Description

Action for Nepal 

AFN is a high performing, community-centric organization building healthy, educated communities in Nepal through effective projects, sound strategies, efficient processes and successful partnerships. AFN is committed to respecting, protecting and promoting internationally recognized human rights including civil and political, economic, social and cultural rights, with particular emphasis on gender equality, the protection of children, people with a disability and the rights of minorities and vulnerable and marginalized groups.

Position Overview:

The Project Manager will provide overall leadership, technical oversight, and strategic direction for AFN's integrated health portfolio in Taplejung district. This portfolio includes the RMNCAH Improvement Project in Maiwakhola and Aathrai Tribeni Rural Municipalities (RMs), the Taplejung Health Project, and the Healthy Schools and Safe Mountains Project in Phaktanglung and Shrijunga RMs.

S/he will be responsible for ensuring the efficient and effective implementation of all project activities in accordance with the approved project designs, work plans, budgets, and donor (AHF, DFAT, HTUK) timelines. The Project Manager will lead and supervise a multi-disciplinary project team, ensure high technical quality across all interventions, and strengthen coordination with local governments and key stakeholders. S/he will represent AFN at the district and municipal levels and ensure the successful achievement of project objectives aimed at improving equitable RMNCAH outcomes, strengthening health systems, promoting school health, and supporting high-altitude rescue capacity.

Duties and Responsibilities:

A. Project Planning and Implementation

• Lead the development of integrated annual and quarterly work plans and budgets for all projects in Taplejung, ensuring alignment with each project's approved design, log frames, Theory of Change, and budget.
• Oversee the implementation of project activities, ensuring they are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget, in compliance with AFN and donor policies.
• Provide strategic guidance to the project team to ensure high-quality, evidence-based, and context-appropriate delivery of health system strengthening, community engagement, and school health interventions.
• Ensure the integration of key cross-cutting themes across all activities, including Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH), and Child Safeguarding.

B. Technical Oversight and Quality Assurance

• Provide technical leadership on RMNCAH, public health, and health system strengthening interventions, including mental health, school health promotion, and high-altitude emergency supports interventions.
• Oversee the technical quality of capacity-building activities for health workers, FCHVs, HFOMCs, and schoolteachers.
• Ensure the effective operationalization of the Healthy Schools and Safe Mountains Project, including the support for trained teachers and school going adolescents and the operational management of high-altitude rescue centers in Phaktanglung and Shrijunga RMs.
• Work closely with Health Officers to strengthen health services and governance at the municipal and facility levels, focusing on service readiness, referral systems, and the use of data for decision-making.
• Ensure the establishment and functionality of coordination mechanisms, including Adolescent Health Coordination Committees (AHCCs) and Safeguarding Committees, at all relevant levels.

C. Stakeholder Engagement/management

• Serve as the primary AFN representative for the Taplejung portfolio, building and maintaining strong, collaborative relationships with Rural Municipalities (RMs), ward offices, health facilities, schools, and other government line agencies.
• Lead negotiations with RMs and formalize shared commitments and roles through Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to ensure strong local ownership, co-financing where possible, and alignment with municipal health and education priorities.
• Coordinate with the District Health Office, District Education Office, and other key stakeholders to ensure project alignment with national and local strategies.
• Foster coordination with the Himalayan Trust UK (HTUK) and other partners to ensure seamless implementation and reporting for the Healthy Schools and Safe Mountains Project.
• Engage with district and local level government officials, expand networks, and participate in meetings with government and non-government organizations relevant to the project’s scope.

D. Strategic Leadership, Team Management and Supervision

• Lead, manage, and mentor a team of project staff, including Health Officers, Social Mobilizers, a MEAL Associate, and a Finance Associate.
• Conduct regular performance reviews, provide constructive feedback, and identify capacity-building needs for the project team.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and inclusive work environment that upholds AFN's values and safeguarding policies.
• Ensure the project team is effectively coordinated and works collaboratively across the different project sites and interventions.

E. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)

• Oversee the implementation of the project's MEAL system, ensuring compliance with each donor's reporting requirements and the project's logical frameworks.
• Ensure timely and accurate data collection, analysis, and reporting against all indicators, with data disaggregated by sex, age, ethnicity, and disability status.
• Lead quarterly data review and reflection meetings with the project team and stakeholders to assess performance, identify challenges, and adapt strategies for continuous improvement.
• Ensure robust accountability mechanisms are in place and functional, including community feedback and incident reporting systems.
• Document and share lessons learned, best practices, and success stories with AFN, donors, and relevant stakeholders to promote organizational learning.

F. Safeguarding, Risk management and Inclusion

• Ensure all project activities comply with the organization’s safeguarding and inclusion policies, including Child Safeguarding, PSEAH, and GEDSI standards.
• Promote the participation of marginalized groups (e.g., girls, persons with disabilities, Dalits) in project activities. 
• Contribute to assessing, mitigating and reporting on risks, including risks of child abuse and exploitation and sexual abuse and exploitation, in the project area
• Support the development and implementation of effective incident reporting mechanisms both within the health centers and in the community.
• Ensure immediate reporting to AFN of any incident of abuse and exploitation.
• Follow directives of AFN for follow up required regarding incidents, including reporting to concerned authorities;
• Ensure safety of survivor, confidentiality and survivor centered approach. 
• Contribute to raise awareness and practice of GEDSI, Child Safeguarding and PSEAH with all health stakeholders.

G. Financial and Administrative Management

• Oversee the project budgets (multiple) with delegated authority, ensuring financial accountability, compliance with AFN and donor policies, and value for money.
• Review and authorize project expenditures, manage cash flow, and ensure expenditure reports are prepared in a timely manner.
• Oversee the management of project assets, particularly equipment for health facilities, schools, and high-altitude rescue centers, in accordance with procurement and disposal policies.
• Identify, assess, and manage project risks, maintaining and updating the project risk matrix, including CSG, PSEAH, environmental, and contextual risks.

H. Advocacy and Sustainability

• Advocate with local governments to integrate projects interventions into municipal plans and budgets.
• Support HFOMCs SMCs, AHCCs in developing and implementing local level action plans.
• Develop, communicate, and implement strategies and an exit plan to ensure the project’s sustainability beyond its implementation period.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Health Management, Nursing, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum of 4–5 years of progressively responsible professional experience after completion of a Master's degree in the implementation and management of public health programs
• Proven experience in leading and supervising a diverse team of professionals.
• Demonstrated experience in project planning, budgeting, monitoring, and reporting.
• In-depth knowledge of Nepal's health system, school health programs, and national RMNCAH program and policies is highly desirable.
• Experience working with I/NGOs and donor-funded projects is essential.
• Strong knowledge of: MSS, HMIS, LMIS/PAMS, RMNCAH and school health programming
• Experience in managing components related to disaster risk management, emergency response, or high-altitude rescue is a significant asset.

Required Skills

• Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and representation skills in both Nepali and English, with the ability to build strong relationships with government authorities and partners.
• Strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills to manage complex project challenges.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, ensure financial compliance, and deliver value for money.
• Excellent report writing and documentation skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office package (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Must be willing to travel extensively (at least 50%) to remote field locations within Taplejung district.
• A personal commitment to social equity, gender equality, disability inclusion, and child safeguarding

Inclusive Policy: AF Nepal encourages applications from women, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and marginalized communities.

Application Process: Interested candidates meeting the above requirements are encouraged to submit their CV and a cover letter explaining their suitability for the position to actionfnepal@gmail.com by 24 September 2026.

Action for Nepal is an equal opportunity employer. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessment.