Under the supervision of the Head of the Territorial Attractiveness, Culture, Heritage and Sport Unit at Expertise France Headquarters, and in close functional coordination with the designated Project Officer, the Project Manager is responsible for the overall strategic, technical, operational and financial management of the THRIVE – Transforming Cultural Heritage and Creative Industries into Vectors of Economic and Social Cohesion programme in the Republic of Moldova.

As Project Manager, he/she ensures the successful implementation of the programme in accordance with the Contribution Agreement, the approved Description of the Action, the Annual Work Plans and Expertise France's internal procedures.

The Project Manager ensures effective articulation between the consortium, the Expertise France project team, Headquarters backstopping functions, the mutualised support office in Chișinău and the wider Team Europe ecosystem supporting the cultural sector in Moldova.

The Project Manager will be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Consortium coordination and programme management

• Ensure the overall coordination of the Action on behalf of Expertise France as Lead Implementing Partner.

• Serve as the primary interface with the European Union Delegation regarding programme implementation.

• Coordinate implementation planning with UNESCO and CPVA, ensuring consistency and complementarity across the three work packages.

• Organise, convene and chair operational coordination meetings of the consortium.

• Facilitate effective communication and information sharing between implementing partners.

• Monitor overall programme implementation, identify cross-cutting risks and propose mitigation measures.

• Coordinate the preparation of consolidated Annual Work Plans, narrative reports and contractual deliverables submitted to the European Union.

• Prepare and coordinate meetings of the Project Steering Committee and support the functioning of the programme governance mechanisms.

• Ensure overall coherence of programme implementation and compliance with the Contribution Agreement.

2. Technical and operational management of Expertise France-led activities

The Project Manager shall directly supervise the implementation of Expertise France's responsibilities under the programme, including:

• Supervision of the Heritage Technical Advisor, Operations Officer and Expertise France experts.

• Oversight of heritage studies, technical assistance assignments, rehabilitation projects and capacity-building activities.

• Validation of technical deliverables produced under Expertise France's responsibility.

• Ensure quality assurance and compliance of Expertise France interventions with programme objectives and international standards.

• Ensure effective coordination between the project team in Chișinău and Expertise France Headquarters, ensuring timely mobilisation of expertise, technical support and quality assurance.

• Mobilise Expertise France's network of public institutions, technical partners and experts in support of programme implementation.

• Ensure the procurement planning and contract implementation for service, supply and works contracts under Expertise France's responsibility, ensuring compliance with corporate procedures and timely delivery of programme activities, in collaboration with the mutualised support office.

• Ensure appropriate oversight of complex procurement and contract management processes, in close coordination with the mutualised support office and Headquarters.

• Ensure that procurement and contract implementation comply with the requirements applicable to a pillar-assessed organisation, including transparency, sound financial management, auditability and internal control.

3. Institutional coordination and partnerships

• Maintain regular dialogue with the Ministry of Culture and beneficiary institutions to support effective programme implementation.

• Ensure regular coordination with the European Union Delegation on programme implementation and contractual matters.

• Develop and maintain constructive working relationships with national stakeholders, implementing partners and relevant development actors.

• Contribute to coordination with Team Europe initiatives, EUNIC members and other international partners active in the culture and heritage sector, with a view to fostering complementarities and synergies.

• Identify opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing with French, European and international cultural institutions where relevant to programme objectives.

4. Management of the Expertise France Project Team

• Manage the Expertise France project team based in Chișinău.

• Provide day-to-day managerial and technical guidance to project staff.

• Coordinate the work of Expertise France experts and consultants.

• Ensure effective coordination with the Headquarters Project Officer, the technical backstopping team and corporate support functions (procurement, finance, legal, communication and MEAL).

• Ensure smooth information flow between Headquarters and the field team.

• Anticipate Headquarters support needs and contribute to strategic planning and resource mobilisation.

• Promote effective teamwork, knowledge sharing and continuous capacity development.

5. Operational, financial and administrative management

• Ensure the implementation of the overall programme budget and monitor financial execution across the consortium.

• Consolidate financial information received from implementing partners for contractual reporting purposes.

• Directly supervise the implementation of Expertise France's budget and contractual obligations.

• Coordinate closely with Expertise France's mutualised support office in Chișinău for administrative, financial, procurement, accounting and logistical matters.

• Ensure efficient planning and coordination of procurement, contracting and financial execution.

• Ensure compliance of Expertise France activities with internal financial, procurement and contractual procedures.

• Monitor risks related to procurement, contracting and works implementation, ensuring timely mitigation measures and coordination with Headquarters where appropriate.

• Contribute to audit preparation, internal control and risk management processes.

6. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)

• Coordinate implementation of the programme-wide MEAL framework.

• Ensure consolidation of monitoring information provided by consortium partners.

• Supervise monitoring of Expertise France-led activities.

• Ensure achievement of programme indicators and expected results.

• Promote adaptive management, knowledge management, capitalisation of lessons learned and dissemination of good practices.

7. Reporting

• Coordinate preparation of programme Annual Work Plans.

• Coordinate consolidated narrative and financial reporting submitted to the European Union.

• Consolidate contributions provided by UNESCO and CPVA.

• Ensure timely submission of contractual reports.

• Coordinate programme audits, monitoring missions and evaluations.

8. Visibility and communication

• Ensure the implementation of the programme Visibility Plan.

• Ensure compliance with EU visibility requirements.

• Coordinate communication activities with consortium partners.

• Promote programme achievements and dissemination of results.