JOB CONTEXT & PURPOSE
Our Program Managers perform a key role in Adam Smith International’s consulting model and play a central part in managing implementation and delivery of major development programmes, supporting Government of Pakistan.
The job incumbent will work alongside and manage clients and senior technical team members, and will be responsible for the procurement, financial, human resourcing, and risk management aspects of the projects that they work on, with an understanding of both the detail and the big picture, and a keen interest in the technical areas in which they are working. This role will provide an opportunity to gain experience of relevant technical areas to the work of ASI Pakistan (e.g. economic growth, revenue, education, research, climate change, justice sector), and will relish working in a team truly committed to achieving lasting change through our work.
About you
You will be a growing project management professional with a track record in building effective relationships with stakeholders from a wide range of professional and cultural backgrounds, working effectively in politically sensitive environments. You will have the following key skills and experience:
- Project management experience in a high pressure professional environment
- Experience working with demanding clients, either within government of Pakistan, international donors, or equivalent
- Experience working with high level team members on regular basis, ideally in a management role and encouraging a collaborative working culture
- Understanding of how to financially forecast, and how to design and monitor budgets accurately for range of project scales
- Ability to timely & accurately report on programme progress & communicate effectively and clearly across range of stakeholders
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Internal:
- South Asia team management (particularly other Program Managers, Business Development Teams, Project Directors, and Head of Pakistan)
- ASI technical teams including Team leader, associates and partners/suppliers.
- ASI Pakistan HR, Operations and Security team
- ASI Finance & Project accountants team (Islamabad and London)
External:
- Programme clients (FCDO, Provincial/Federal government)
- Other donors, consultants, NGOs operating in Pakistan
- Other government representatives
KEY TASKS
- Support the senior program managers in ensuring ASI builds/maintains a strong relationship and is responsive to clients within FCDO (particularly programmatic staff) with regards to delivery of the programme.
- Contribute to local and global business development initiatives in terms of scoping for ongoing and anticipated bids / proposals and supporting for research efforts.
- Assist the program delivery teams in terms of understanding the emerging local socio-political developments, policy environment within the country and identify appropriate adaptation of ASI’s program plans to the broader context.
- Support the program delivery team in developing and updating key programme documents such as annual workplans and the programme logframe.
- Gather and develop inputs from delivery for periodic reports for clients like FCDO, ensuring they reflect client priorities, and accurately and comprehensively present company’s results.
- Monitor programme progress through the workplan, M&E and VfM frameworks, to support the programme to remain focused on results and identify underperforming activities for course corrections.
- Collaborate with the program and finance teams to manage program budgets delivering VfM for clients, achieves ASI’s commercial criteria, and meets both ASI and client requirements.
- Develop, update and implement business processes and management mechanisms in coordination with the Senior Managers to ensure that the programme team is working as efficiently as possible.
- Steward recruitment processes for advisors to ensure the business development and programme team is optimally structured and staffed with high quality advisers on time to deliver results at pace.
- Ensure that the programme’s identification, analysis and management of risks is proactive, comprehensive and controlled. The PM must actively manage risks; developing mitigation strategies with the programme team and ensure that these mitigation strategies are communicated to stakeholders and implemented.
- Ensure that programme advisers understand ASI’s Duty of Care policies and procedures, and comply with them by liaising with ASI Pakistan’s Security and Operations staff.
- Support development of quality programme communications, to aid internal and external impact storytelling.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
Key Accountabilities
- Donor client satisfaction (in the assigned workstreams and the project’s financial management)
- Timely, accurate and high-quality programme reporting
- Timely, accurate financial reporting
- Maintain a stable and competent project team
- Effective management and coordination with ASI Operations team across offices
Job requirements
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Desirable – Masters in a relevant subject
- Good undergraduate degree in a relevant subject
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
- Relevant project management experience is essential
- Previous work experience with donor clients would be an advantage
COMPETENCIES:
- Planning and delivering results
- Quality and accountability
- Continuous improvement
- Managing complexity
- Innovation and change management
- Communication and knowledge management
- Leadership and direction
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Personal impact and effectiveness
KNOWLEDGE:
- Understanding of how to access information; policies and procedures to accessing support services.
- Knowledge of our company vision, values and purpose, and how this relates to their team and individual role.
- The ability to describe effectively to clients what the company does, their team and their role.
- Some understanding of the countries and cultures they work in.
- An understanding of the client/s they work with, in terms of:
- Key contacts and responsibilities
- Specific requirements
- Payment and budgeting approach
- Geographical set up
- How to present information to clients as their level of responsibility.
- Knowledge of how to manage an accurate budget for a small project or contribute to a larger or more complex project.
- Understanding of Adam Smith International’s finances:
- RPS functions,
- billings listings,
- cash reconciliations,
- bank accounts,
- timely cash transfers
- Understanding of security issues (where needed).
- Understanding of health and safety issues from an individual and group perspective as it relates to their project/s.
- Ability to respond to basic health issues with appropriate precautions and advice.
- Knowledge of how to get things done in the countries they work in.
SKILLS:
- Report, policy and document writing skills
- Basic budget, finance and forecasting skills.
- Ability to build effective, credible client relationships and networks
ATTITUDE:
- High level of emotional intelligence in the following areas: self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, relationship management.
- Excellent relationship building skills.
- Proactive, self-starter, resourceful.
- Open-minded, flexible approach to problem-solving.
- Resilient to changing circumstances and challenges.
- Achievement oriented.
- Determination to complete work.
- Trustworthy, reliable, professional, contentious and accountable.
What We Offer You
As an employee-owned company, our people are at the heart of our strategy and our decisions. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, a dynamic and friendly team environment, the opportunity to support a highly successful portfolio of programmes, and support to develop your skills and progress in your career.
The diversity of our workforce makes ASI a great place to work, more creative and resourceful, and underpins strong partnerships. We keep a sharp focus on diversity and inclusion, including through our Equality Action Plan and our Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and through leadership from our Executive Team and oversight by our Board.
We recognise the importance of your life outside of work. We are proud to support flexible working arrangements, and commit to make a success of flexible working arrangements wherever possible. We’ve built a culture to reflect our values, full of likeminded professionals who are smart, passionate and great at what they do.
ASI is committed to continually improving the diversity of our workforce through the attraction, retention and development of a diverse range of talented people. We want people to be comfortable bringing their whole self to work and recognise that inclusion brings further opportunities for innovation and creativity.