Head of Project Management Unit at International Potato Center

Duties and Responsibilities:

Leadership of Unit

• Develop the multi-year PMU strategy and associated implementation plan to execute a sustainable platform for project management which fosters collaboration, and communications across CIP system.
• Ensure processes, methodologies systems and performance metrics are in place to ensure effective project and portfolio management and implementation across the organization.
• Direct the activities of the Project Management Unit and determine how team resources should be allocated across projects.
• Provide strong and effective support to country, regional, and program management teams.
• Create training and capacity building process and training modules to promote project management best practices.
• Communicate with Senior Management on portfolio successes, issues and lessons learned from implementation and share these across CIP’s organization.
• Build a Community of Practice for Good Project Management across the organization involving Project Managers and operations and finance staff.

Project Management Implementation and Compliance

• Serve as primary Project Management support assisting Project Managers deliver successful project implementation and results.
• Work with Project Managers to ensure that sound project implementation plans and results frameworks are established, and activities and financial budgets are aligned.
• Guide efficient and effective project start-up and close-out mechanisms
• Quarterly tracking of individual projects and aggregated portfolio progress against planned results, budgets and forecasts while working with leadership and Project Managers to analyze variance and propose and take steps for programmatic course corrections as necessary
• Review Monthly Project Reports to ensure continuous financial oversight.
• Travel to project sites in the field as necessary to assist in project management.
• Develop and maintain professional working relationships with Donors and project partners

Partner Management

• Monitor pre award due diligence process and risk determination for partners
• Monitor the approval process for partner deliverables and invoices
• Establish a process to review quarterly Estimates to Complete with partners

Reporting and Monitoring

• Design and establish tools and systems to track project implementation progress against results planned
• Coordinate with Project Managers for the completion and submission of all required donor results/reports/deliverables.
• Coordinate with Project Managers to respond to donor requested updates and communications.
• Coordinate with Project Managers for timely reporting of project deliverables to Senior Management.

Resource Mobilization

• Contribute to CIP’s resource mobilization process in conjunction with Regional Directors, Program Managers, Country Managers, Project Managers and Proposal Development Teams.

Knowledge Management

• Coordinate with Communications on project success stories, website postings, Past Performance Reports, flyers and corporate capability statements.
• Coordinate with Project and Program Leaders to communicate relevant project information throughout the organization and with donors/partners

Staff Management, Professional Development and Team Building

• Promote accountability, growth and development of staff by conducting staff annual performance reviews with direct supervisees and ensuring that all staff members are effectively using the performance planning and management system.
• Contribute to integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
• Ensure the effective management and coordination of the Project Management team, which includes advising, guiding, mentoring, motivating and developing staff

Requirements
Who are we looking for?

• At least 8 years of relevant work experience in an international organization/ NGOs and having been exposed to various cultures.                                              
• Strong Project Management Experience
• Strong Monitoring and Evaluation Experience
• Proven experience implementing and monitoring strategies and establishing long term partnerships                                           
• Must be able to research information and analyze data to arrive at valid conclusions, make recommendations effectively, and execute plans of action within a team dynamic
• Detailed knowledge of current best practice according to the working unit
• Prior experience working in a multi-donor organization specifically with USAID, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (desirable)
• Experience living internationally (desirable)
• Fluent written and oral communication skills in English
• Advanced knowledge of Spanish, French or other languages is desirable

Skills:

• Strong and effective proven leadership
• Building and maintaining partnerships and relationships.
• Selecting, coaching and appraising staff.
• Influencing and resolving differences across boundaries
• Planning and managing staff and assets to achieve outstanding qualitative results.
• Creating and environment for leading & knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
• Able to thrive in ambiguous, fast evolving landscape.

Personal characteristics

• A passionate, energetic, and results-oriented Head of project Management Unit.
• Commitment to working in a multi-partner and multi-cultural environments

Education level

• Master’s degree in an associated field (Project Management, Monitoring and evaluation, International Development, Political Science, MBA or Business)