Project Manager at International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

Job description

The Position: The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit a Project Manager responsible for the activities in various projects in order to ensure that the projects complete their deliverables within the stipulated timeline and budget.

ILRI works with partners worldwide to enhance the roles that livestock play in food security and poverty alleviation, principally in Africa and Asia. The outcomes of these research partnerships help people in developing countries keep their farm animals’ alive and productive, increase and sustain their livestock and farm productivity, find profitable markets for their animal products, and reduce the risk of livestock-related diseases. www.ilri.org

General: The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works to improve food and nutritional security and reduce poverty in developing countries through research for efficient, safe and sustainable use of livestock. It is the only one of 15 CGIAR research centers dedicated entirely to animal agriculture research for the developing world. Co-hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia, it has regional or country offices and projects in East, South and Southeast Asia as well as Central, East, Southern and West Africa. www.ilri.org.

Job Purpose: The position is required to ensure that the projects in the Animal and Human Health program in Ethiopia achieve their set deliverables within the stipulated outline and budgets by providing project management and coronation supports across the projects, including coordination of personnel, field research, logistics, project partners co-ordination, donor interaction, research deliverables, budget management and other key outputs.

Key Responsibilities

Depending on the size and complexity of the projects the Project Manager may be responsible for one large project or several smaller projects.

• Proposal Development
  • Assist in project specific opportunity pipeline to ensure timely delivery, compliance and adherence to the Program Management Framework (PMF) process
  • Align the project level strategy with the overall program strategy and highlight any variances to the Project Leader for realignment/adjustment.
• Project Planning
  • Lead, with the Project Leader, the development of the project workplan
  • Analyze the staffing needs for the project and participate in the workforce planning process.
  • Contribute to the development of a procurement plan and closely monitor and manage the procurement activities for the project
  • Ensure project documentation and the different project activities are up to date and make the necessary update in case of variances/ changes
  • Liaise with the Program Manager to review and update the projects exit strategy/sustainability plan by providing project specific inputs
  • Liaise with the Program Manager in budgeting, assessing alignment and establishing timelines for the project work plans
  • Ensure the communication outputs align with the program communication strategy and project communication plan.
• Project Execution
  • Effectively manage the project budget, ensuring proper expenditure, booking and appropriate burn rate and/or highlighting any variances, and providing suggestions for resolution.
  • Maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders and facilitate effective flow of information between all partners, team members and relevant stakeholders in project activities
  • Work closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialists to ensure project level monitoring, data analysis and reporting to support effective project management.
  • Coordinate the preparation of timely and quality reports to be submitted to ILRI, Partners, and Stakeholders.
  • Lead the project management team and build their capacity on ILRI Program Management Framework to enhance their performance
  • Act as the focal point for Program Management Framework at a project level and be responsible for maintenance of the same.
• Project Closing
  • Responsible for the implementation of closure activities for the project including the disposal of physical assets, research materials and staff separation/ reassignment, archiving of documentation, impact assessment in line with the PMF process.
  • Coordinate the preparation of timely and quality reports to be submitted to ILRI, Partners, and Stakeholders.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Program Management or related field
• Program Management certification – desirable
• At least 5 years’ project management experience
• Experience in development and implementation of project management systems and tools
• Excellent people management skills in a multicultural setting
• Experience in managing stakeholder relationships
• Excellent managerial and multitasking skills,
• Problem solving skills
• Technical reporting skills
• Track record of showing initiative and driving decision making at project level

This position is job level 3B Level 3, ILRI offers a competitive salary and benefits package which includes; pension, medical and other insurances for ILRI’s Nationally Recruited Staff.

Duration: 3 years with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and continued funding.