Project Manager – Governance & Stability (Kenya/Somalia or UK) 176 views3 applications

About the role

We are looking for an experienced Project Manager to take on a core role on ASI Somalia’s security sector reform projects, including the day-to-day management of a technical advisory teams; risk management; budget management; reporting to the FCO; and engagement with FGS and International Community partners. This role includes exposure to multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural technical advisers, exposure to a well-established operational platform, and exposure across the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and International Community (IC) landscape in Somalia. The preference is for a Project Manager to be based in Nairobi, with frequent travel to Mogadishu (once every 4-6 weeks, or ad hoc depending on the location of meetings); however there could be flexibility for a UK-based Project Manager depending on the profile of the candidate.

For this role the Project Manager will be required to:

• Consistent engagement with technical Team Leadership, BEM Policy Officer and BHC Senior Programme Manager to monitor project’s performance; and responding to ad hoc FCO requirement,
• Consistent engagement with wider technical teams, Mogadishu-based Security, Operations and Finance teams, Nairobi-based Finance and Admin team,
• Ensure timely financial returns, including: accurate monthly billing listings and forecasts (ASI financial reporting); and monthly invoices, transaction listings, and Activity Based Budgets (FCO financial reporting),
• Managing consultant contracts and general team HR issues; as well as consultant recruitment, contracting and onboarding (if necessary),
• Coordinate and contribute to project Quarterly Reports, including Narrative and Quantitative components,
• Daily risk management from fiduciary, reputational, security and technical perspectives, including appropriate identification, mitigation and escalation of project risks to both ASI and FCO,
• Lead the development and approval of project extension budgets, including working closely with technical team to define Annual Workplans, areas to implement cost reduction, appropriate budgeting for ASI corporate staff, and completing FCO budget narrative templates,
• Ensure that the project team understand and comply with ASI corporate policies, including Duty of Care, Conflict of Interest, IT, etc,
• Proactively engage with International Community partners and donors to maintain relationships, share lessons, identify opportunities for collaboration, and identify opportunities for funding,
• Maintain and ensure buy-in from FGS key and peripheral counterparts, including respecting and adhering to FGS structures, hierarchies and channels of communication,
• Maintain and ensure understanding of and respect towards the sensitivities surrounding the projects, including direct links with UK funding, media inquiries and coverage, and concerns around the safety and security of staff,
• Ensure that the project complies with ASI Impact Framework, and maintain implementation of ASI Internal, and project External Audit recommendations; as well as facilitate FCO Spot Checks and implement recommendations,
• Responsible for managing project fraud and corruption risks, including oversight of appropriate due diligence and compliance of project subcontractors, and consistent engagement with ASI LEC Team throughout,
• Supporting development of ASI Somalia platform, including ensuring that cross-project costs are in line with project budget,
• Support the technical team in ensuring that deliverables are aligned to the Quarterly and Annual Workplans,
• Support and/or lead various thought leadership initiatives to increase the visibility and positioning of the projects within the FGS, HMG, and wider International Community.

About You

• Proven academic excellence, including a postgraduate degree in a relevant field,
• Hostile Environment Awareness Training (desirable),
• 3-5 years’ experience in managing the implementation of complex programmes in Fragile and Conflict Affected States,
• Proven experience in managing teams of senior-level advisers/consultants, including remote management,
• Proven experience in stakeholder management and engagement, including donor, government and International Community counterparts/partners,
• Background, experience or understanding of Security Sector Reform; Stabilisation and Stability; Counter Terrorism; Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism; or Governance (desirable),
• Experience of working in East Africa and/or Somalia (desirable),
• Experience of managing FCO-funded projects (desirable) Experience of managing high-risk and sensitive projects (desirable),
• Excellent organisational and planning skills
• Proven ability to work independently, with a clear understanding of risk escalation requirements
• Proven ability to propose creative solutions to challenges, and proven ability deliver results within a flexible and adaptive framework
• Proven capability in budget and financial management, VFM, and needs-based cost reduction
• Successful experience working within culturally and politically diverse teams and institutions, in a fluid and dynamic environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to engage diplomatically
• Ability to build effective, credible and productive working relationships with donors, advisers, and wider networks; including high degree of responsiveness
• Understanding the importance of, and need to, adhere to Duty of Care requirements, as well as understanding the broader implications of working in FCAS
• High degree of flexibility to adapt to client priorities and demands; however capability to push back on demands when informed by team/project expertise.