Assistant Project Manager at Adam Smith International

Job description

Are you a recent Master Graduate passionate about working in international development and interested in gaining a wealth of experience across several sectors?

If so, Adam Smith International Africa’s Professional Development Scheme is the perfect opportunity for you to develop your skillset, giving you access to our diverse global network.

About the Professional Development Scheme

Assistant Managers perform a key role in Adam Smith International’s consulting model and play a central part in managing projects, technical and financial performance. As a member of the Professional Development Scheme, you will perform project management activities, collaborating with, supporting and learning from more experienced Managers.

The Professional Development Scheme will support and prepare you on the following:

• Understanding local delivery contexts and political economies;
• Working on corporate projects and business services;
• Managing complex delivery tasks and project risks;
• Technical and financial proposals;
• Writing business improvement plans for some part of the business.

The Professional Development Scheme is an 18 months fixed term programme with a mid-point review. After successfully completing 18 months with the company, and depending on your performance, you will have the opportunity to progress into a Project Manager position. The scheme may also include the possibility of extensive travel across Africa during your last six months of the scheme.

About you

Our projects require the highest quality people. People empowered to overcome challenges with a ‘can do’ attitude tempered with insight and pragmatism. The successful candidates will not be evaluated just on their technical ability, but on their 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; ability to work effectively in politically sensitive and physically challenging environments - and ability to work well within a team environment. You should be innovative, energetic, positive, and genuinely committed to achieving lasting change in your work.

Adam Smith International seeks the following skills and experience:

• A post-graduate degree in relevant fields;
• Minimum working experience as an Assistant Project Manager of one year, and a maximum of three.
• Outstanding English communication skills, both written and oral (essential) and additional languages preferred;
• Excellent inter-personal skills and team-work;
• Demonstrated experience of using initiative, client-orientation, risk taking, and working in complex and pressured contexts;
• Excellent communication to high level stakeholders, inter-personal, and team-working skills;
• Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project and Visio.
• A demonstrable knowledge of and interest in the world of development;
• Good numerical ability with a focus on financial awareness and ability;
• Willingness to travel extensively across Africa;
• Enthusiasm and flexibility along with a willingness to travel at short notice and work in developing countries for a significant time.

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 values.

We’ve built a culture to reflect our principles, full of likeminded professionals who are smart, passionate and great at what they do. We have an office in Nairobi location.