Community Development Project Manager

Position Identification

Position Title: Community Development Project Manager

Organization: Islamic Relief South Africa

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Reports to: National Community Development Program Manager

Closing Date: 18 September 2026

Purpose of Position

To lead the identification, design, implementation, and monitoring of community development projects within IRSA’s Community Development Programme (CDP), ensuring alignment with IRSA’s programmatic strategy and theory of change. The Project Manager will implement project activities across multiple active CDP projects — including Emergency Response and Preparedness, Health Care, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, and Community Based interventions — driving coherence, accountability, and quality across the portfolio.

The Project Manager will also serve as the focal person for IRSA’s Impactful Initiatives Incubator, supporting the identification, development, piloting, coordination, and scaling of innovative community-based initiatives that have the potential to generate sustainable and measurable impact.

The role is responsible for the coordination and implementation of community development projects, ensuring quality delivery, compliance with donor and organisational requirements, and effective stakeholder engagement. The Community Development Project Manager works closely with community structures, implementing partners, and government stakeholders to facilitate project activities, monitor progress, manage project resources, and support reporting requirements. This role contributes to project design and improvement through lessons learned and beneficiary feedback, ensuring that interventions remain community-centered and impactful.

Key Roles, Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

Project Implementation and Coordination

Oversee the implementation of all CDP projects within the Region
Ensure projects are implemented according to approved proposals, timelines, budgets, donor requirements, and KPIs
Maintain regional implementation plans and tracking tools

Coordinate project activities with internal departments, partners and stakeholders
Monitor project progress and ensure timely execution of planned interventions
Ensure beneficiary selection processes are conducted fairly and in line with approved criteria and safeguarding standards with MEAL
Support the operationalisation and sustainability of Community Development initiatives within communities

Programme Oversight and KPI Management

Monitor Regional Programme performance against approved KPIs and operational targets
Maintain accurate regional project tracking systems and beneficiary databases with MEAL team
Ensure timely submission of regional reports, statistics, indicators, and implementation updates.
Track project outputs, outcomes, beneficiary reach, and impact indicators
Identify implementation gaps, delays, risks, and mitigation measures
Provide regular progress updates to the National Community Development Program Manager
Ensure corrective action plans are implemented where programme targets are not being met

Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships

Serve as the Regional focal person for Community Development projects
Build and maintain relationships with Government Departments, NGOs, community structures, schools, service providers, donors, and strategic partners
Support coordination meetings, project launches, monitoring visits, and stakeholder engagements
Facilitate collaboration with local structures to strengthen programme sustainability and community ownership
Representing Community Development projects in regional engagements where required

Compliance, Governance and Documentation

Ensure all projects comply with IRSA policies, donor requirements, safeguarding standards, and operational procedures
Maintain accurate and organised project documentation, beneficiary records, agreements, attendance registers, and monitoring files
Support procurement and finance processes in line with organisational controls and approval frameworks

Ensure all project assets and resources are properly monitored and accounted for
Escalate risks, compliance concerns, safeguarding matters, or operational challenges appropriately
Support audit preparation and donor verification processes where required

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)

Support baseline assessments, beneficiary profiling, monitoring activities, and endline evaluations

Conduct regular site visits and implementation monitoring across project locations
Collect beneficiary feedback, lessons learnt, case studies, and impact information
Support data collection and reporting requirements aligned to donor and organisational frameworks
Ensure accountability mechanisms and beneficiary feedback processes are functional within projects
Contribute towards programme improvement and learning through monitoring findings and recommendations

Team Coordination and Operational Support

Support project staff, volunteers, facilitators, and field teams within the Region
Assist with task delegation, implementation follow-ups, and operational coordination
Ensure effective communication and coordination Regionally
Support training, mentorship, and capacity strengthening of project teams where required
Promote professionalism, accountability, and adherence to Organisational Values within the programme team

Key Deliverables:

Regional Community Development projects implemented according to approved plans and KPIs
Accurate and updated beneficiary databases and implementation trackers maintained
Monthly, quarterly, and donor reports submitted within required timelines
Regional stakeholder engagements and partnerships effectively coordinated
Monitoring visits, beneficiary feedback, and impact assessments conducted regularly
Compliance with organisational, donor, safeguarding, and financial requirements maintained
Timely escalation and management of implementation risks and operational challenges
Strengthened visibility, sustainability, and impact of Community Development interventions within the Region

Competency

Strong project management and coordination skills
Excellent reporting, administration, and organisational abilities
Strong understanding of community development and humanitarian programming
Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities
Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills
Problem-solving and decision-making abilities
High level of professionalism, accountability, and integrity
Cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity
Commitment to humanitarian principles and IRSA’s mission and values

Qualifications and Experience

Diploma or Degree in Project Management, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Community Development
Minimum of 3 years’ experience in project coordination or programme implementation

Experience within NGO, humanitarian, or community development environments advantageous
Experience in beneficiary management, reporting, monitoring, and stakeholder coordination
Computer literacy, including Microsoft Office and reporting tools
Valid driver’s license

The application must be accompanied by the following:

A copy of the completed application form (available on the website),
1 page motivational letter, salary expectations and your CV along with a certified copy of your ID to recruitment@islamic-relief.org.za

Dearest applicant, kindly consider the following: If the requirements of the application as above, is not met, we will consider the application as incomplete and this will therefore not be accepted. Please consider your application as unsuccessful if you are not contacted within a month after the closing date. Over and above operational requirements Islamic Relief South

Africa will take into account the country’s and organizational employment equity imperatives.

Islamic Relief Cape Town: 396 Imam Haron Road, Lansdowne

Tel: 021 696 0145 / 0800 111