Position: Project Manager RIVER+ Plastic Recycling
Location (base): Biocomp Office Lalitpur  
Reports to: CEO
Start Date: February 2024 
Program: RIVER+: Reduce and Intercept, Value add through Establishment of a Recycling plant for low-grade plastics and used beverage cartons in Nepal

Biocomp specifically encourages women to apply for this position

Biocomp https://www.biocompnepal.com/ is a social enterprise in Lalitpur working in waste management and recycling. Our mission is to introduce sustainable waste management solutions and create new innovative products from recyclables for the local market. Biocomp will divert 9000 tons of plastic from the streets, rivers and municipal waste stream annually. These plastic recycling activities will be branded under the name Reclaim Nepal https://www.reclaim-nepal.com/ 

RIVER+

The RIVER+ project is funded by the World Bank and Parley for the Oceans, as part of the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) https://www.please-project.org/ project. The aim of the PLEASE project is to catalyse actions that reduce the flow of plastic pollution into South Asian Seas. PLEASE is implemented by South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP). 

The RIVER+ project will reduce the plastic pollution in Nepal by establishing a complete value chain for the collection and recycling of Used Beverage Cartons UBCs, low-grade plastics, and Multi-Layer Plastics (MLP). The project adds value to waste to reduce plastics in the streets and rivers and to reduce the air pollution from burned plastics. Through this project Biocomp creates decent jobs for youth and women in waste management with active gender-responsive programming. The project will manufacture recycled plastic boards from the collected recyclables. The project will collect and process 10 tons of UBC and low- grade plastics per day at the end of the project and up to 25 tons per day, 9000 tons annually in year 3 (post project period). The project start date is February 1st 2024 and will be implemented in a 12 months period. Biocomp’s partners for this project are People in Need (PIN) and Clean Up Nepal. 

Scope of work

The ideal candidate has a technical background and experience in the industrial sector but also understands the specific needs of a social enterprise in terms of occupational health and safety, compliance with environmental standards, and the need for a gender sensitive work environment. Under the direct supervision of the CEO, the Project Manager (PM) works on all aspects of project cycle management (PCM) including identification of needs, decision to intervene, planning of the project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and ensuring that project feedback loops are in place and lead to adaptations to improve the project. 

The RIVER+ project is a unique collaboration between the private sector (Biocomp is a Pvt. Ltd. for profit social enterprise) and an INGO (PIN). Ideally, the candidate understands the culture in for profit companies and in not for profit organisations. Even though the initial focus of the work of the PM is the development of a large-scale manufacturing line (up to 9000 tons of plastic per year), there are many additional aspects to the work such as the coordination of training, stakeholder and partnership management, donor management, and overviewing marketing and communication. The PM will work in a team with the general manager, accountant, marketing manager, construction supervisors, mechanical engineer and a plastic recycling expert. The PM will coordinate the work with our partner organisation PIN and their implementation partner Clean up Nepal. Our partners will manage activities such as river cleanup campaigns, training of Informal Waste Workers and behaviour change campaigns with the objective to establish a sustainable collection value chain. 

Objective of this role

• The successful implementation of the RIVER+ project with support of the project team, partners and the CEO and to ensure its long term sustainability through profitability  

Project Planning and Execution:

• Develop detailed project plans outlining tasks, milestones, and timelines
• Monitor and control project timelines to ensure timely delivery
• Lead the project from requirements definition through deployment, identifying schedules, scopes, budget estimations, and implementation plans, including risk mitigation
• Coordinate with relevant stakeholders and manage partnerships
• Coordinate with and provides updated to the project steering committee
• Analyse project status and, when necessary, suggest revisions to the scope, schedule, or budget to ensure that project requirements can be met
• Identify potential risks and develop and implement risk mitigation plans
• Proactively address and resolve issues that may impact project delivery
• Establish and enforce quality standards for project deliverables
• Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders
• Provide regular project updates to the CEO, the project steering committee and other relevant parties

Budget Management:

• Coordinate internal and external resources to maintain a positive cashflow
• Prepare project budgets and cost estimates
• Monitor project expenses and ensure adherence to budget constraints
• Identify and address budget variations promptly

Team Leadership:

• Build and develop the project team to ensure maximum performance, by providing purpose, direction, and motivation
• Assign tasks and responsibilities to team members based on their strengths and expertise
• Conduct regular team meetings and provide guidance to ensure project objectives are met

Procurement and Vendor Management:

• Manage the procurement process for recyclables, machinery, construction and services in compliance with Biocomp’s procurement policies.
• Evaluate and select vendors and subcontractors
• Ensure timely delivery of materials and services to support project schedules

Health, Safety, and Environmental Compliance:

• Implement and enforce health, safety, and environmental standards
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and company policies
• Promote a culture of safety within the project team
• Ensure a safe and gender sensitive working environment

Project Documentation and Reporting:

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date project documentation and keep the project management dashboard updated
• Prepare reports, progress updates, and other project-related documentation as required
• Archive project documentation for future reference

Qualifications and Experience:

• Five or more years of project management experience and can prove the successful implementation of projects under her/his leadership (references required)
• Master’s degree in a related field (preferable technical background)
• Project management certification such as PMP or PRINCE 2
• Proficient in project management software and tools
• Strong understanding on the development of manufacturing lines 
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Experience in coaching project team members to strengthen their abilities and skill sets
• Experience in working in international teams 
• Strong attention to deadlines and budgetary guidelines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
• Excellent presentation skills