To enable the success of the EU-Funded Zantchito- Skills for Jobs project Technical Assistance (TA) component through robust project management and day-to-day implementation that progresses project targets and maximises outcomes. The purpose requires a dynamic, effective individual with experience of successfully managing, co-ordinating and implementing a multimillion, multi-year £ project, demonstrating strategic delivery acumen and significant budget management capability, especially with donor funding.

Main accountabilities but not limited to the following:

Project leadership: Provide management, co-ordination and implementation of project activities throughout project life cycle, set up all systems, procedures, templates and processes to allow smooth project implementation and reporting right at the outset of the project, lead work planning, tracking deliverables, pre-empting, solving delivery challenges, demonstrate accountability for high quality outputs, deploy good practice, be an effective point of contact on project management issues.

Budget management. Oversee and ensure financial planning, accurate forecasting, management, monitoring and reporting in line with guidelines and standards, provide financial reports; safeguard financial controls, ensure procurement plans in place in line with project plans and promote value for money.

Stakeholder management. Develop stakeholder plan, establish, nurture and sustain productive, trusting relationships with key internal and external stakeholders that facilitate quality and timely delivery; build support for the project and enhance confidence in the project, the team as British Council as a whole.

Risk and issues management. Lead on project delivery risks and contribute to development of strategic risk strategies, fraud and other risks, proactively identifying challenges and issues, recommending remedial action as appropriate, and ensuring delivery operates within projects’ risk appetite.

Communications, M&E, and reporting. Leading on project management reporting, corporate reporting , and contributing as relevant to technical progress reports to be submitted to internal and external stakeholders,, co-ordinate reporting processes, manage information flows with SRO, oversee and ensure communications, M&E planning and implementation; lesson learning

Operational excellence. Ensure appropriate, well-functioning governance processes in place for management and oversight optimises project execution and performance; full compliance and efficiency in all areas of work including in business support functions such as assets and incident management.

Staff Management: Line-manage three staff, build a sense of direction, trust. Inclusion and accountability within the team for individual and collective performance.

All duties and responsibilities will be in line with our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion policy, corporate policies.

This Senior Project Manager role reports to the Project Director.

Role specific knowledge and experience:

Essential requirements:

• University degree
• At least 7 years of project manager experience, including at least 3 years on a complex medium-sized (<£2m) donor-funded project through project life cycle
• Experience of budget management and financial management oversight of multi-million project (< £2m)
• Leadership and line management experience
• Practical experience of managing operations.
• Experience of managing a donor client
• Experience of using technology in project delivery.

Desirable:

• Project Management qualification
• Strong experience of (i) education/skills international development sector

• Leadership of a 3–4 person team