Project Lead

Position Summary

The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS), in collaboration with the World Bank (WB), is implementing the 30 -months Economic Acceleration and Resilience (EARN) project to engage NEET (not in education, employment, or training) youth, with a special focus on women, in rural and semi-urban areas of Bangladesh. The project aims to economically empower NEET youth through education, skills development, employment, and enterprise support. It provides women centric facilities, enhances employability by building employer linkages, and offers upskilling in Socio-Emotional Behavior (SEB) and Entrepreneur Development (ED). Additionally, incubation support for employment and entrepreneurship will be provided. To ensure the inclusion of women and underserved groups, the project will create an enabling environment through awareness raising, community engagement, family-based planning, and monitoring.

About the Role

The Project Lead / Team Leader is a senior leadership role responsible for the overall strategic direction, operational delivery, and stakeholder coordination of the EARN project. The postholder will ensure the project is implemented in accordance with the World Bank’s Investment Project Financing (IPF) requirements, MoYS priorities, and partner expectations.

Working under the guidance of the Project Director, the Project Lead will be the primary point of accountability for the effective planning, execution, monitoring, and evaluation of all project components. They will manage a multi-disciplinary team, maintain high-level stakeholder engagement, and ensure quality, compliance, and impact across all phases of the project.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Planning 

• Lead the development and execution of the overall programme strategy, ensuring alignment with MoYS and World Bank goals.
• Develop annual work plans, performance frameworks, and budgets, ensuring timely submission and approval. 
• Guide the inception phase, conducting baseline assessments and mobilizing resources for rapid roll-out. 
• Facilitate mid-term and end-line reviews, making strategic adjustments based on learnings and field realities. 
• Foster a culture of adaptive management and results-based delivery across the project team.

2. Stakeholder Liaison & Representation 

• Serve as the primary liaison between the project and external stakeholders including:
  • MoYS (central and local levels) 
  • World Bank teams 
  • Divisional and district administrations 
  • Consortium and joint-venture partners 
• Represent EARN at high-level forums, coordination platforms, donor meetings, and public engagements. 
• Ensure timely and transparent communication with all key actors, cultivating trust and accountability.

3. Programme Management & Governance 

• Oversee the day-to-day operational management of the project, ensuring effective coordination across thematic areas. 
• Lead the establishment and use of a robust Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework to track progress and demonstrate results. 
• Ensure compliance with World Bank IPF regulations, national procurement and financial policies, and internal governance standards. 
• Supervise the performance of Key and Non-Key Experts, technical advisors, and implementing partners.
• Coordinate the development and functioning of steering committees, advisory panels, and community forums where applicable.

4. Financial Oversight & Reporting 

• Provide leadership on financial management, including budget control, disbursement tracking, and financial forecasting. 
• Ensure all expenditures are compliant, auditable, and transparent, adhering to both national and donor standards. 
• Lead the preparation and timely submission of all financial and narrative reports (quarterly, biannual, and annual) to the World Bank and MoYS. 
• Oversee project audits, responding to findings and implementing recommended actions.

5. Quality Assurance & Risk Management 

• Implement a rigorous Quality Assurance system, including internal reviews, field visits, and spot-checks. 
• Proactively identify and assess operational, financial, or safeguarding risks, and take timely mitigation actions. 
• Develop and update risk registers, ensuring shared accountability across teams.
• Promote innovation and learning to improve programme design and delivery continuously.

6. Safeguarding Responsibilities 

• Act as a safeguarding champion, ensuring a zero-tolerance approach to exploitation, abuse, or misconduct. 
• Enforce the project’s safeguarding and Do No Harm policies, and ensure all staff and partners adhere to them. 
• Lead safeguarding trainings, incident response mechanisms, and coordinate investigations where necessary. 
• Create a safe and inclusive environment for women and underserved youth across all intervention sites.

Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s Degree in sociology, social work, business studies, anthropology, development studies, or other relevant disciplines.

Experience:

• At least 15 years of experience managing large-scale, donor-funded development programmes, preferably World Bank-funded or government-led initiatives.

Skills and other competencies

• Demonstrated expertise in youth development, skills training, livelihoods, or women’s economic empowerment. 
• Proven leadership in managing cross-functional teams, complex budgets, and multi-partner collaborations. 
• Deep understanding of Bangladesh’s socio-political context, especially challenges facing NEET youth and women. 
• Strong skills in strategic planning, M&E, compliance management, stakeholder coordination, and reporting. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English and Bangla.