Project Manager - Africa team - Nairobi at Adam Smith International

Job description

About The Public Resources Management Africa Team

The Public Resource Management in Somalia (PREMIS) PFM Project is a £14m DFID/EU project running from 2017 to 2020.

PREMIS PFM works with government counterparts in Somalia, specifically the Ministries of Finance of the emerging Federal States in Somalia: Jubbaland; South West; Galmudug; and Hirshabelle. The project’s overall goal is to contribute to Public Resource Management in Somalia, particularly, to ensure the “Federal member states become functioning and viable administrative entities, as evidenced by meeting WB 'readiness criteria' for recurrent cost financing.

Job Description

• Lead the project implementioan and coordination process, its financial management, monitoring and evaluation, risk management, reporting, and learning.
• In collaboration with the TL, ensure optimum consultant inputs and the acheivement of the desired results.
• Provide the team with confidence that the ASI systems and processes will support them in delivering on their work, whether that be from a DoC, operational, or personal perspective.
• In colloboartion with the TL and Country TL, coordinate the formulation of work plans/delivery plans.
• Develop and agree reporting templates (financial and narrative) with DFID and submitting regular reports to DFID in collaboration with the TL and PD.
• Support the TL on project reporting and developing the forward work plan and the individual ToRs of team members.
• Brief DFID regularly on implementation progress including: formal reporting (draft reports such as Inception Report, Quarterly Reports and Annual Review) and provide updates outside of formal reporting on any major issues and bottlenecks.
• Compile and submit final reports with a strong focus on progress against logframe milestones and targets
• Accurate financial forecasting and communicating to DFID on any chagnes early.
• Ensure any incidents of fraud and corruption are raised with DFID in a timely manner
• Support the M&E Lead in the implementation of the M&E framework, and provide feedback to the Donor.
• Adapt flexible project managment while also capturing and sharing learning and changes, and following up on recommendation from project reviews/evaluations.

About The Role

The key roles and responsibilities are listed below:

• Provide PREMIS quarterly deliverables completed on time and within budget and ensure accuracy in expenses and fees submissions.
• Develop and maintain team culture within the PREMIS team that reflects ASI Values.
• Build strong relationships with FMS counterparts, DFID, EU and other key stakeholders.
• Provide support in the preparation of technical/financial proposals and Expressions of Interest for larger opportunities.
• Help to position ASI as a thought-leader on aid effectiveness, including writing technical papers and case studies, and presenting at conferences;
• Identify and monitor opportunities in line with Africa and PFM team strategies, including conducting scoping assignments.

What We Offer You

We offer you a dynamic and friendly team environment and the opportunity to work on a highly successful portfolio of programmes. We have a strong commitment to our people and strive to live by our principles:

Take responsibility (Accountability): Individually and collectively accountable for what we do.
Always find a way (Resourcefulness): We think innovatively to reach a solution.
Promote Quality (Excellence): We maintain and promote professional standards in everything we do.
Commit to the Outcome (Achievement): We take pride in delivering our best to achieve results.

We’ve built a culture to reflect our principles, full of likeminded professionals who are smart, passionate and great at what they do. We offer a highly competitive compensation package and excellent benefits. To encourage applicants from a wide range of backgrounds a number of flexible working arrangements are available, and the position is available on a full time or part time basis.

ASI is committed to continually improving the diversity of our workforce through the attraction, retention and development of a diverse range of talented people. We want people to be comfortable bringing their whole self to work and recognise that inclusion brings further opportunities for innovation and creativity.

Required Skills

About you

You are passionate about delivering results on projects for developing economies. You have interest and experience in working in developing and conflicts affected environments.

You have a ‘can do’ attitude and think of innovative ways to overcome problems on the ground. We are looking for a new team member who combines technical ability with proven experience. It’s this combination that ensures we deliver real societal impact and measurable results beyond those anticipated.

You should have demonstrated ability to build productive relationships with people from a wide range of professional and cultural backgrounds. You should relish working in a team, should be innovative, energetic, positive, and genuinely committed to achieving lasting change in your work.

For the advertised roles Adam Smith International seeks the following skills:

A post-graduate degree in Economics, Business Administration, Social Sciences or equivalent

Good understanding of our clients and the marketplace, including:

• Strategy
• Political trends
• Awareness of future business opportunities
• Understanding of the theory and current trends in Somalia.
• Excellent writing and communications skills; demonstrated training skills are an advantage;
• Excellent computer skills, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

Required Experience

• Relevant professional experience.
• Experience in fragile states.
• Experience in Sub-Saharan Africa/horn of Africa
• Experience of providing technical inputs across a range of different programmes, preferably covering both Economic Growth (e.g. private sector development or market systems development) and Government Reform (e.g. public financial management or justice and security).