Latest Job Vacancy at GRM International

Job Description - Project Manager (Operations)

Purpose of Position

For assigned projects, the Project Manager (Operations) serves as part of the corporate management team. This team is responsible under the leadership of Project Director and the management of the Director, Project Operations for the management and delivery of projects. The specific purpose of the position is to manage implementation of effective and efficient operational, financial and compliance activities to deliver projects in accordance with contractual obligations, company policies, Group Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Guidelines, and client rules and regulations. The position periodically contributes to the development of policies, processes and procedures that align with best practices in project management.

Primary responsibilities

Project Management (Operations)

Plan and manage the operational aspects of project start-up and closeout and ensure delivery of required inputs to these processes from corporate services, service providers and stakeholders;Serve as the primary liaison between corporate services and the project;Support corporate registration in-country and ensure all legal and financial requirements are met and maintained for the entity and project;Contribute to the preparation and maintenance of project specific components of the project operations manual;In collaboration with corporate services, provide training and guidance to project staff on and ensure compliance with company policies, SOPs and Guidelines and client rules and regulations (covering as required security, occupational health and safety, risk management, planning, human resource management, monitoring, reporting, finance, procurement, logistics, IT, communications, audit support and all other operational matters);Establish project offices and office infrastructure;Participate in the development and maintenance of project work plans;Support the development and presentation of internal and external reporting (for example: Monthly Management Reports (MMRs), quarterly Internal Project Reviews (IPRs), project risk assessments, annual reviews, and client deliverables) and ensure these outputs are fit for purpose;Ensure project issues and risks are logged, monitored, reported on, managed and mitigated, and escalate risks and issues to corporate/project leadership, as required;In collaboration with Internal Audit/Systems Review, conduct periodic compliance checks on processes and internal controls;Maintain and build upon a project and risk management portfolio.

Head Contract and Client Relationship Management

Support the monitoring and maintenance of compliance with head/prime contracts;Manage and support contract amendments as required;Liaise with and respond to requests from clients;Provide regular or ad hoc reports to the clients;Support project advocacy with internal and external stakeholders;

Financial Management

Ensure company policies, SOPs and Guidelines for financial management are implemented and are compliant with the client’s rules and regulations;Establish project levels of delegated authority in accordance with company policy and manage the process for higher-level approvals as required;In collaboration with Finance establish the project account codes, ensuring they are fit for purpose and meet client’s and project’s requirements for cost allocation, monitoring and evaluation, and value for money (VFM) reporting;In collaboration with Treasury, support the set-up of project bank accounts with appropriate company and project signatories;Ensure the project financial calendar is adhered to;Monitor expenditure against budgets and forecasts, including staff costs, operating expenses and procurements;Manage project financial / cash-flow planning, review and obtain approval for funding requests from the field, and review and obtain approval for monthly Funds Transfer Requests (FTRs);Review cashbooks / field vouchers and ensure supporting documentation is complete;Serve as a coordinator for service providers and obtain approval for work orders and invoices;Ensure the accuracy of client invoices (including monthly, milestone and performance based invoices) and where required prepare same;Monitor, reconcile and report expense advances monthly;Manage and obtain approval for contract action requests (for example travel, personnel additions/changes, partner, grant, budget realignment, etc.);Support the planning and coordination of inputs from the company’s Security, Risk and Internal Audit/System Review teams;Support the external audit process and ensure retention of project records is compliant with company policy;

Human Resource Management and Recruitment

Support project human resource planning and recruitment and contracting and coordinate inputs and support from the company’s HR and Recruitment teams;In collaboration with Security, ensure safety and security procedures, including Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements, are in place and adhered to;In collaboration with HR, ensure staff performance management systems are in place and adhered to;Maintain project data on relevant HR systems for short-term and long-term staff and consultants;Lead the mobilisation and demobilisation of all international staff (short-term and long-term) including contracting, travel management, payments and induction;

Procurement, Sub-Contractor and Grant Management

Serve as a main point of contact with service providers and address contractual matters as required;Support development of project subcontractor / grant management procedures compliant with the company’s SOPs and Guidelines and client’s rules and regulations;Facilitate field office leases;Monitor and ensure quality of field procurement; ensuring compliance with company anti-corruptions and due diligence processes;Coordinate the processing of service provider work orders and invoices;Monitor and report monthly on the status of partner budgets/invoicing and grants;Ensure asset management procedures are undertaken and conduct spot checks.

Business Development / Other

Participate in capture planning, providing inputs on operational requirements, including but not limited to the requirements for company registration and banking arrangements;Provide input and support business development of the company as requiredOther duties as assigned

Reporting requirements

The line manager for the role is the Director, Project Operations. For projects, the role has dual reporting requirements to the Director, Project Operations and the relevant Project Director. The reporting requirements include:

Attendance at all weekly and/or management team meetings,Provision of regular updates to the line manager,Monthly submission of operations financials and forecasts,Monthly updates on the status of personal Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and any other material matters and/or areas of concern,Provision of exception reports as required,Inputs to the Business Unit’s reports as required,Other reporting as requested by the line manager.

Relationships

· The role is part of the overall Project Management team,

· The role liaises with clients, technical area specialists, corporate services, professional service providers, and other stakeholders as required.

Authority levels

The role carries a degree of autonomy on operations management with appropriate consultation. The role is required to:

· analyse and make sound recommendations to the line manager,

· oversee and manage Operations Associates as assigned,

· contribute to process improvement through innovative and cost effective proposals/ideas/suggestions.

Minimum education and experience required

· A relevant Bachelor’s degree (with a Master’s degree preferred).

· A minimum of 5 years relevant work experience.

· A minimum of 3 years project management experience with DFID, DFAT, USAID or other donor client(s).

· Experience managing large and complex projects with a high risk profile.

· A minimum of 2 years of people management experience, including setting performance objectives, managing for results, giving and receiving feedback, performance evaluation and mentoring and coaching.

· A minimum of 2 years of work experience in a developing country or similar environment.

Key competencies and professional expertise required

· Formal Project Management training and expertise.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

· Financial acumen and the ability to interpret and analyze financial reports.

· Sound problem solving and decision making skills.

· Strong management skills with ability to train and develop staff.

· Willingness to travel and work abroad a minimum of eight weeks per year in developing countries and elsewhere.

· Ability to work with a low level of supervision and as a part of a team when required.