HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation is a development organization anchored in Switzerland. Our vision is a just world in which all men and women determine the course of their lives in dignity and security, sustainably using environmental resources. The promotion of good governance and gender equality, and social equity is an integral part of the overall organizational policy of HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation, through which we seek to ensure that our organizational culture and practice reflect our commitment to social change.

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Project Director to lead the SIMS Project under HELVETAS Bangladesh. Based in Dhaka, this role provides strategic leadership by ensuring effective project planning, implementation, and compliance in line with HELVETAS Bangladesh and donor standards. The Project Director will guide the overall project direction, manage annual plans and budgets, ensure donor and government compliance, maintain transparent financial and monitoring systems, and foster high team performance. The role also entails managing partnerships with key stakeholders, strengthening relevant networks, and ensuring strong internal and external coordination. Additionally, the position contributes to organizational learning by capturing best practices, promoting knowledge sharing, and providing technical guidance to partners and communities. The incumbent must demonstrate proven leadership in managing complex, multi-activity programmes and possess strong project management, safe migration, budgeting, advocacy, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Key Responsibilities:

The key responsibilities for this role may include the following but are not limited to:

• Ensure strategic orientation of the project team and partners towards the goals and objectives of the project.
• Ensure excellent teamwork, on job capacity building and collaboration among the staff following the HR guidelines and policies.
• Arrange periodic coordination meetings with partners, stakeholders and project teams for effective project implementation.
• Promote gender, socially inclusive and development effective principles and standards in the project.
• Connect with HSI Advisory services experts for strategic advice and support.
• Participate in regular field missions to the project areas to assure project progress towards activity objectives and goal

• Elaborate and oversee annual plans and budgets for the project as per the donor requirements and Helvetas guidelines
• Smooth and effective communication with the project team and local partners to ensure project implementation effectively and efficiently as per the workplan/ log frame
• Ensure transparent financial management and sound reporting following the financial procedures, compliance of HELVETAS and the donor;
• Ensure MRM system is in place, relevant data are collected efficiently and effectively in a timely manner for reporting and take corrective measures where necessary;
• Ensure that NGO-AB formalities are submitted timely and correctly.

• Ensure good relations with key stakeholders (Local organizations, local government, CSOs, private sector and communities etc);
• Guide the project team and local partners on processes and intervention approaches to strengthen them in their implementation, (as per capacity building plan);
• Connect and engage with networks, platforms and stakeholders that are relevant and important for the project implementation.
• Coordinate with media as needed for coverage of project learning in electronic media and print articles.
• Supervise Helvetas project staff, ensure compliance with HR policies and guidelines, including Code of Conduct.

• Support the project team in exchanging knowledge and learning and take lead for experience capitalization of project.
• Capture lesson learns and best practices from the project and document them and share them with others for learning purposes.
• Participate in review, monitoring and evaluation, and knowledge management processes of implemented activities/partnerships.
• Ensure the accountability, complain and feedback mechanism in the project to establish effective service towards the beneficiary.
• Develop a new concept paper and proposal to support the acquisition team.

Required Qualifications:

Experience:

• At least 8 years of experience in management or senior advisory roles with a proven track record of leading large-scale, complex projects, preferably within an INGO environment.
• Strong competencies in project management, budget management, people and partnership management, communication, advocacy, networking, and reporting.
• Experience in safe migration and development is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated attributes of self-direction, reliability, accountability, professionalism, fairness, objectivity, and strong coordination, delegation, communication, and mediation skills.
• Proven leadership and administrative capabilities in managing complex, multi-activity programmes and delivering results on time and within budget.

Education:

• Master’s degree in political science/ governance studies/ urban planning/law/international Relations from any reputed University.

Skills:

• Excellent advisory, managerial, leadership and partnership building skills; willingness to take initiative and adapt quickly to changing environment.
• Ability to effectively communicate the complex technical information both orally and in writing.
• Experience of working in fragile context.
• Fluent in English both written and spoken.
• Highly diplomatic with strong oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated skills in report writing, drafting knowledge document.
• Demonstrated competences of taking initiatives and managing tasks independently.
• Able to stay passionate in managing multi-tasks and stressful situations due to strict deadline.
• Strong IT proficiency with proven expertise in Excel, PowerPoint, SPSS, EPI Info, or other statistical analysis tools.

We offer you

A national employment contract up to 31 March 2028 with a monthly consolidated salary in the range of BDT 309,804 – 362,304/- CTC (may vary based on experience and current remuneration), along with other admissible benefits, such as Mobile Allowance, Provident Fund, Gratuity, Festival Bonus, Seniority Bonus, Medical Insurance with health and life coverage, Annual leave of 25 days, Sick leave of 15 days and excellent opportunities for professional development.

Application Process

Interested candidates are invited to submit their updated resume along with a motivational letter detailing their relevant experience and motivation for their role. Please apply online at https://career.helvetasbd.org/ by 26 November 2025. Hard copies or other forms of application will not be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further steps. We encourage early applications as interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.

Women are highly encouraged to apply.