PROJECT OFFICER

PROJECT OFFICER, Dhangadhi

Effective Date: May 15, 2024

ABOUT KARHANA SAMUHA

Karkhana Samuha is a Nepal focused non-profit organization that seeks to promote local innovations that can make a global impact. It empowers people, particularly with the skills and attitude to help them build their own future and the future of their community. To achieve this end, it uses design thinking and results-based management approaches to work on – Innovative and Inclusive Education, Lifelong Learning, Sustainability and Climate Action, and Digital Transformation.

Karhana Samuha’s Values

Karkhana Samuha is committed to ensuring that the innovations in education is made accessible to all, especially to people in the margins. 

Team Description

KS practices participatory decision making and co-designing by bringing together partners, collaborators and end users. KS uses Design Thinking (DT) and Human Centered Design (HCD) as its core project design and management methodology. These operational models are proven by academic literature and experience to lead to more innovative ideas and provide meaningful voice to the intended end-users.  To operationalize co-creation, KS works through participatory, collaborative and iterative methods to identify potential solutions. In strengthening this approach, KS also works on building communities of practice which are created deliberately with the goal of gaining, sharing and implementing knowledge to innovate locally and make a global impact. 

Adaptive Management

KS’s own design thinking approach TMPI, which stands for Think Make Play Improve, is an adaptive, non-linear, iterative, and learning oriented approach to management. Applying the TMPI philosophy, KS approaches its work as a series of cycles where planning occurs (Think), action is initiated (Make), activities are conducted in partnership with others, (Play) and a reflection phase where insights are generated/learnings are realized (Improve). After the Improve phase, the project begins another TMPI cycle starting at a Think phase. TMPI is thus a non-linear iterative approach to management that has built in opportunities to gather information about the environment at a given time i.e., is context aware, to reflect on one’s actions and generate insights about them i.e. enables learning, and to adjust one’s behaviors based on changes in the context and new insights i.e. is adaptive. 

Policy Coordination

KS and it’s leadership are deeply engaged with shaping and providing input into policy in the education and innovation spaces. Our team members have served as experts on several Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MoEST) constituted committees, including the Committee on Implementing STEAM Education as well as the SubCommission on Education, Pedagogy and Alternatives in response to COVID-19 where the whitepaper produced by a KS team member served as the basis of the national education policy response.. As a member of the Local Education Group (LEG) KS is actively involved in coordinating and representing the voice of Civil Society Organizations (CSO) in policy processes. Given it’s unique position as a bridge between peripheral but innovative and creative stakeholder and the education policy establishment, KS makes a special effort to represent alternative voices and ideas in the established policy processes. 

Role Profile

Position Purpose

The role of a Project Officer typically involves supporting the planning, implementation, and monitoring of specific projects within an organization. This position involves planning, coordinating, and overseeing project activities, managing relationships with participants and stakeholders, and ensuring that project goals and objectives are met. The Project Officer will also be responsible for monitoring and evaluation activities to track the progress of the project.

Accountabilities (Job Responsibilities)

A. Communication & Representation- 20%

• Manage and produce project content with other team members for the website and social media as needed
• Create connection and communication channels between local government in Hetauda, Gulmi, Kathmandu and Lalitpur, schools, students, project team and all stakeholders of the project
• Respond to any project inquiries for the project

B. Project Management- 30%

• Keep track of all the documentation including attendance, photos, videos and articles generated out of the project
• Ensure deliver of the learning kits to schools, teachers and students
• Organize weekly team meetings, and other events related to the project
• Organize monthly meetings with teaching community formed from the project
• Document weekly team meetings, team retreats and other events related to the project
• Create and manage project calendars and timelines and ensure adherence to the timeline

C. Project Implementation- 30%

• Ensure teachers, students and representatives from local government attend project workshops and events
• Ensure teachers have completed their deliverables as part of the teacher development
• Deliver in-person workshops as well as support facilitators to deliver workshops for teachers in the LGUs.
• Catalyze a community of practice of educators 
• Manage all the major and local level events related to the project

D. Reporting: 20%

• Prepare monthly reports on project progress, outcomes, and challenges for the internal team
• Prepare quarterly reports on project progress, outcomes and challenges to the donors
• Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders through written and verbal updates

Person Specifications

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Science and other relevant degrees. 
• 1-2 years of professional experience in related fields. 
• Experience in project management or a related role.

Desirable Qualifications

• Enthusiastic and committed to the organization's mission.
• Familiarity with the specific thematic area or focus of Karkhana Samuha's projects. 
• Flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic work environment

Skills

• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Data collection and basic analysis skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team.
• Familiarity with community engagement and participatory approaches.

Attitude / Behaviour 

• Cultural sensitivity and awareness.
• Results-oriented with a focus on achieving project goals.
• Strong problem-solving abilities.

Note: The project duration would be 6 months and the salary would be 40k-45k and the role would be based in Dhangadhi.

Email CV and cover letter to hr@karkhanasamuha.org.np