Project Manager, Transformation Team at Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa

We’re seeking a fixed-term Project Manager based in Nairobi (we will consider Johannesburg or Dakar for the right candidate) to support the Open Society’s Transformation Team for an 18 month assignment. Part of a tightly-knit Transformation Team, the role reports to the Executive Advisor and is helping to manage a number of transformation projects with a primary focus on the One Africa strategy roll-out and implementation of a One Africa structure agreement amongst African foundations.

Open Society Foundations is going through a transformation to change our structure and ways of working to increase our focus, integration and ability to work at scale. In Africa it has been agreed to bring together our various Africa-based offices under one strategy and structure, called One Africa. This will involve changes to our structure, systems, tools and ways of working with the goal of being better set up to use our combined strengths to become significantly more impactful in combating some of the greatest threats to open society in the Africa region.

This will entail new approaches to collaboration, decision-making and operationalisation of strategy and structure in Africa. As part of the wider Transformation Team, the Project Manager will also work on other transformation projects related to the design and implementation of new structures and ways of working across Open Society as required. The ideal candidate will have experience managing complex projects and matrix organizations’ restructuring processes.

Open Society Foundations works to build vibrant and inclusive democracies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people. We are active in more than 120 countries, making us the world’s largest private funder of independent groups working for justice, democratic governance, and human rights.

As a Project Manager with the Transformation Team, you will:

• Support the participatory conception, design, management and monitoring of the diverse components of the Africa Regional transformation as part of the OSF Global transformation;
• Conceive, design, and manage other complex projects across the network, and apply relevant project management tools to effectively monitor and update the Transformation Team’s time, process and budget;
• Manage the full life-cycle of transformation projects in the postholder’s remit, providing particular support to the African Senior Leadership Team (SLT) as they lead the change in the Africa region;
• Develop and maintain a detailed project schedule and work plan, and monitor all project-related activities;
• Work with the global and One Africa communications teams, the Transformation Team and the Executive Office teams to keep the network up-to-date on progress;
• Review consultant and project proposals, and manage vendors and contracts relevant to the aforesaid tasks in consultation with the Global Transformation Executive Adviser and the African Regional Office (AfRO)’s Management Team (MT)/ Africa SLT as required;
• Develop and conduct research on topics relevant to the Transformation Team and African SLT, and make informed recommendations, by identifying areas for improvement, collaboration and integration.

What We Are Looking For

• Five to seven years plus proven experience in project management within a global/matrixed organisation;
• Experience managing a major shift or restructuring in organisations is a plus;
• Experience leading project teams and independently seeing multiple complex projects through the full life cycle, from inception to completion, according to outlined scope, budget, and timeline;
• Research skills and ability to process and analyse large amounts of information;
• Ability to communicate effectively;
• Familiarity with project management software tools, methodologies, and best practices;
• Demonstrated resourcefulness and self-motivation, able to work independently and solve problems creatively;
• Commitment to continuous learning and growth in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism and social justice;
• Commitment to listening and working with humility; ways of working that are respectful to all people; and that support space and voice for all diverse perspectives in our workplace.

Desirable

• Familiarity with different regions of the African continent;
• French language skills.
   

What We Offer

• Ample opportunities to learn and grow, from annual professional development allowances to onsite trainings and brown bag lunches with visiting experts.
• Top-notch benefits and perks designed for your well-being and a healthy work-life balance. With some variability according to location, this includes generous time off, flexible work arrangements, employer-paid health insurance, generous retirement savings plan, progressive paid parental leave, reproductive and family planning support, sabbatical opportunities, and much more.
• A commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that enables everyone to bring their full self to work and make a positive impact on the world.

If this sounds like a position of interest to you, please submit your cover letter and CV; we look forward to learning more about you.