Project Manager at VSO Nigeria

VSO is the world’s leading independent international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries. Our high-impact approach brings people together to share skills, build capabilities, promote international understanding and action to change lives and make the world a fairer place.


Following the success of our Making Markets Work for the Poor (MMW4P) project VSO has secured funding from a strategic donor to implement a 5 year global project Increasing Market Access for the Poor.

Job Title: Project Manager

Location: Abuja

Role overview
VSO is seeking a dynamic, experienced, and competent Project Manager to manage and co-ordinate project activities, monitor and report on progress against targets, ensure programme learning and responsiveness and liaise with stakeholders. The position manages the development, implementation and successful delivery of VSO’s high visibility IMA4P project embedded within country programmes; supports programme teams and partnerships to maximise VSO’s impact in reducing poverty through contributing towards systemic change in key markets.

Responsibilities

• Project delivery: manage fulfilment of objectives and implementation targets in IMA4P, ensuring activities relating to market development, monitoring, evaluation and learning occur as planned and deliverables are met
• Oversee VCD Advisor, programme staff and volunteers in project locations (remotely and face-to-face) to implement project activities
• Financial monitoring: work with UK and Country Finance Officers to monitor project expenditure against budgets and to identify and address variations with programme staff
• Coordinate steering group to review project and make key decisions on project activities
• Project reporting/Knowledge Management/Learning: liaise with PMELK role to ensure collates information to produce internal and external reports and to improve programme collaboration and learning.
• Communication: act as main point of contact for the project and manage communication of project activities and outcomes to internal & external stakeholders
• Business Case Proposal Development: Lead bid team on development of criteria for and and assessment of Business Cases for Investment from country offices

Key Performance Indicators

• Project delivery: project deliverables are met (or otherwise negotiated); activity monitoring tools (including risk register and PMPG) are regularly maintained
• Financial monitoring: budget monitoring tools are kept up-to-date; variations are identified and addressed or negotiated with donor.
• Quarterly steering groups take place with key decisions documented.
• Project reporting/Knowledge Management/Learning: reports delivered to donor, based on information received quarterly from Project countries; key deliverables in knowledge sharing strategy implemented; documented learning and recommendations disseminated.
• The following events take place, with learning documented and shared:
• Global Inception Workshop October 2014
• Regional Workshops (WAF, EAF, Asia)
• Final Learning Workshop 2019
• Communication: internal and external materials are available to communicate project information & successes

Business Case Proposal Development:
4 Business Cases are agreed and funded year 1, 3 further Business cases developed and put up for external funding year 2, 3 further Business cases developed and put up for external funding year 3.

Competencies (L is level)

• Working together L Strength
• Successfully leads teams and develops others’ team working skills
• Comms & influencing L Adds Value
• Proactively builds relationships and generates effective discussion and mutual support for plans and ideas
• Managing Knowledge L Adds Value
• Proactively seeks out new knowledge sources (people and data); uses and shares knowledge effectively
• Striving for excellence L Strength
• Leads initiatives to improve monitoring, evaluation and learning; is a role model for continuous learning and improvement.
• Managing Resources L Strength
• Leads others to pursue significant or innovative funding opportunities; finds creative ways to allocate funds and people on complex projects effectively
• Managing People L Adds Value
• Builds an effective team with clear objectives; allocates work appropriately; deals with poor performance and recognizes success
• Developing People L Adds Value
• Helps team members to create and implement development plans that meet their own and VSO’s needs.
• Leading for the Future L Strength
• Builds confidence and excitement in VSO’s work and vision, both internally and externally; leads innovative projects.
• Thinking Strategically L Strength
• Leads strategic projects, coaching others to consider global and long-term impact, and to consult within and beyond VSO.
• Delivering Results L Strength
• Effectively leads large teams or complex projects, generating a goal-oriented, problem-solving team mentality and ensuring timely, high quality results.

Skills Required

• Programme/project management: experience to include work planning, use of M&E/impact assessment and other tools to ensure effective implementation
• Knowledge of market approaches within international development context understanding of the importance of markets to disadvantaged people, and of pro-poor market development. Experience of supporting delivery of development projects working with overseas staff
• Programme funding/Financial: experience of working with donor-funded projects, compliance and reporting requirements. Experience of managing and monitoring significant budgets and interpreting complex financial information
• Information/knowledge management: Ability to facilitate knowledge exchange between different stakeholders and to establish systems for effective management & sharing of resources
• Communication skills: excellent written and verbal English communication skills. Ability to communicate sensitively and assertively with a wide range of stakeholders and across distances
• IT proficiency: confidence to use Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Salesforce and familiarity with international meeting options and communications technology
• Organisation, administration and time management skills: successfully manage and administer varied workload within deadlines needed
• Willingness to work some unsocial hours, including evenings and weekends. Also to travel internationally up to 10 weeks per year.

Application Closing Date
6th July, 2014

Interview/Assessment date(s)
Week Commencing 14th July 2014
Start Date
1st August 2014

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Click here to download the job description in PDF format