Overview
Creative seeks a Senior Project Manager (SPM) for the Communities in Transition Division to support a USAID/OTI-funded countering violent extremism project in Nigeria. The SPM works under general supervision and performs increasingly complex work activities within the project area. Senior Project Managers assume responsibilities for management of projects typically of $10M+ in funding, depending upon variables such as the complexity, projected timeline of the projects, and geographic location of the work. The SPM is responsible for working to assure technical, financial, compliance and accountability for the performance of assigned projects and guides work plan implementation from concept to closure. The SPM coordinates efforts with and through multiple teams assuring HQ and field collaboration. The SPM supervises project management staff to ensure quality programming, project backstopping support and achievement of financial targets and contractual outcomes. The SPM helps to identify and resolve potential problems in project implementation. The SPM is a key contributor to proposal activities, travels internationally to perform many of the functions of the role and also participates in new business initiatives within the assigned portfolio or geography.
Responsibilities
- Tracks aspects of project performance; oversees project implementation of approved activities, monitoring of timelines, tracking budgets and disbursements, and supporting subcontract performance and financial management;
- Oversees assigned project management staff;
- Represents Creative and communicates regularly with client representatives as well as other partners;
- Resolves issues in project start-up and close-down; manages project backstopping, key field personnel support, consultant agreements; processing of project finance transactions, approval and handling of all travel and related logistics, and grant management implementation;
- Oversees the support of key field personnel including expatriates and TCNs, assuring that consultant agreements are implemented, as designed with proper coordination of travel and logistics and handling of payment requests;
- Ensures compliance of project-related documentation including work plans, staff records, communications, and transactions ensuring they are properly documented, including reviewing project-related invoices;
- Participates in pertinent new business development endeavors; contributes to proposal preparation in technical/geographic areas closely connected to projects in the portfolio, including participating and/or leading reconnaissance and fact-finding trips in preparation for bids;
- Elevates risks and opportunities to senior management;
- Reviews, and may prepare, project reports, and other material such as success stories, interventions and innovations;
- Participates in project learning and data driven adaptation; and
- Serves as a liaison with Creative’s support units, including HR, Finance & Contracts, Procurement, Field Operations, Communications, etc. Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in relevant field and ten (10) years of relevant experience or Master’s degree in relevant field and eight (8) years of relevant experience;
- Experience in a relevant technical area such as preventing/countering violent extremism (P/CVE), peacebuilding, stabilization, conflict mitigation, transition and/or democracy and governance programming;
- Experience in product budget oversight and monitoring; and supervising the work of junior staff members, consultants and vendors;
- Experience working with COPs and DCOPs on key project deliverables;
- Experience in working with field staff, providing technical and financial oversight on projects to include budget realignments, reviewing and approving project procurements, grants and purchase order agreements;
- Experience in quickly producing results on a range of assignments in diverse country and programmatic contexts and in developing/monitoring proposal and project budgets;
- Experience in project start-ups and close-downs;
- Skill and experience in U.S. government donor relations and client management as well as in presenting project accomplishments to various audiences;
- Knowledge of USAID Programs and Regulations and U.S. government donor regulations;
- Excellent oral and written communication skills to include, experience in making formal presentations to clients, peers and other groups, organizing and managing program/project knowledge and information into concise reports and presentations;
- Comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, MS project, etc.); and
- Previous USAID business development experience (i.e., leading or participating in capture, technical design, proposal writing, etc.).
Desired Skills & Qualifications:
- Professional proficiency in a language other than English, such as French (preferred), Spanish or Arabic;
- Previous experience supporting programming in conflict settings;
- Previous experience supporting USAID/OTI programs or other small grants projects in complex transition environments.
PI132331257
