Project Manager in Apsley, United Kingdom

Project Manager

City/Country Location Details Apsley, UK; London, UK

Employment Status Full-Time Regular

Job Type Corporate

DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the USA, the UK, the EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine, and project operations worldwide. DAI tackles fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability: it works on the frontlines of global development, transforming ideas into action-action into impact. DAI is committed to shaping a more liveable world.

DAI’s Economic Growth and Climate and Environment teams are currently seeking a Project Manager. Thesuccessful candidate will be assigned the Head Office Project Manager role for a small number of live projects within our team’s technical portfolios of Economic Growth and Climate and Environment and manage the development and delivery of proposals to various clients. This is a managerial role which oversees the smooth delivery and function of projects and proposals and requires problem-solving abilities, helping our project and bid writing teams find solutions to challenges they encounter in delivering projects and proposals and ensuring quality technical inputs. This dual role helps contribute to the strategic development of DAI’s best practice tools and processes, enhancing our capability and our knowledge management. The role can be based in either our Apsley office or London office (there will be requirements to attend the Apsley office on a regular basis).

The Project Manager role is exciting and diverse. We are seeking candidates who excel at interpersonal relationships, commercial and budget management, solving problems and identifying solutions, and managing a complex portfolio of diverse, high impact projects. The role will require travel to conduct project support and for proposal development including short visits and post holders may be required to undertake longer visits with options for relocating depending on project and company needs.

Project Manager – Job Description

About DAI Global UK: DAIworksonthefrontlinesofglobaldevelopment.Transformingideasinto action—actionintoimpact.Wearecommittedtoshapingamoreliveableworld.Wetacklefundamentalsocialandeconomicdevelopmentproblemscausedby inefficientmarkets,ineffectivegovernance,andinstability.Weworkwithawide rangeofclients,includingnationalandlocalgovernments,bilateraland multilateraldonors,privatecorporations,andphilanthropies.

Job Purpose: The Project Manager (PM) plays a critical role in the team and will be assigned a portfolio of projects within the Economic Growth and Climate and Environment technical teams to manage and a number of proposals to contribute to and manage. Therefore, the role encompasses both delivery of projects and development of new business.

The Project Manager is a member of the Head Office Project Management Team reporting to the relevant Project Director (PD) or Bid Director (BD). The PM works closely with the PD/BD to retain an oversight of priorities and activities as needed and supports the PD/BD in their work. On projects, the PM provides advice and support to the PD for technical delivery, budget oversight, contracts, project performance and compliance and forecasts. The PM interacts with the Client, Team Leader, project team, partner organisations, and colleagues in different DAI teams, and therefore needs to be able to adapt and to communicate appropriately depending on audience, context and the stage of the project lifecycle.

On proposals, the PM supports the BD in the preparation of the bid effort, from prepositioning, recruitment of staff, technical research, design of the proposed strategy and methodology, preparation of compliance documents as well as preparation of the technical proposal. Using DAI’s proposal management methodology the successful applicant would be expected to manage a number of proposal development processes, support the identification and formation of consortium partnerships and support by leveraging lessons learned from their programme delivery experience to win new business.

Responsibilities

Project Delivery

· Project Management: Assigned project manager for a portfolio of projects working withinagreedprojectmanagementplanstoachievespecificgoals; supportidentificationandevaluationofrisks, issues,dependencies,andconstraintsassociatedwiththeprojectandthe designofmitigatingsolutions.

· Contract management and reporting: Support the delivery of projectoutcomesbycoordinatingactivitiesofsubcontractorsand suppliersandactingas aprimarypointofcontactforthemwithinallocated projects. Collate information and draftprojectreportsandpresentations,includingkeyinformation, commentary,andrecommendationstosupportthereviewprocessandenable stakeholderstoevaluateprogressand agreeonchanges.

· Resourc e and Budget Management : Managethedeploymentofprojectresources,proactivelymanagingproject costs,providingforecasts,andpresentingvarianceswithnarrativeatappropriate reviewpointstoensureeffectiveutilisation;

· Clien t Managemen t: Managerelationshipswithclientswhilealsohelpingseniorcolleaguesmanage importantclientandpartnerrelationships.

· Technical Delivery: As a member of a core Technical Team, contribute to technical learning, best practice and project assignments.

Business Development

· Proposal and Programme Planning: Under Bid Director supervision, manage the production of proposal andprogramme plans, ensuring that all activities are identified, are appropriately organised and resourced to deliver project objectives, and comply with the DAI business development framework. Independently manage the preparation of compliance documents, Expressions of Interest for submissions and low value proposals, delegating to more junior staff where appropriate. Participate in the handover of winning contracts to the project team.

· Recruitment: Analyse the requirements of and skills set for the suite of roles as identified during the bid process. Support in attracting and recruiting candidates to the project and identify areas where project roles can be filled by using Short Term Technical Assistance positions.

· Stakeholder Management: Work with all stakeholders in the bid development process to support the development of effective project working relationships and to identify and respond to stakeholder needs and concerns. Stakeholders may be internal (other DAI teams – commercial, delivery, technical) or external (partner organisations, individual experts, or the client themselves).

· Budgeting and costing: Working with Bid Director and commercial team to ensure the bid team has a full understanding of and compliance with client’s commercial protocols as set out in tender instructions as well as ensuring compliance with DAI’s internal processes for preparing commercial proposals. Ensure full understanding of commercial evaluation criteria across bid team, and how the criteria are weighted. Support the nominated Bid Director in commercial negotiations with partners.

Competencies

· Ensure s Accountability: Holdsselfandothersaccountabletomeetcommitments; takesonchallengesordifficulttasksandhasreputationfor deliveringoncommitments.

· Manage s Complexity: Makessenseofcomplex,highquantity,andsometimescontradictoryinformation toeffectivelysolveproblems;exploresissuestouncoverunderlyingissuesandrootcauses; able to consider consequencesandimplicationsofdifferentoptions.

· Direct s W ork: Providesdirectionandremovesobstaclestogetworkdone; confirmsaccountabilitieswithotherssothatworkcanbedoneeffectivelyand efficiently;informsstakeholderswhentherearedelaysorproblemsthatwill affectthem.

· Actio n Oriented: Takesonopportunitiesandtoughchallengeswithasenseofurgency,andenthusiasm; Consistentlyachievesresults,evenundertoughcircumstances.

· Financia l Acumen : Interpretsandapplieskeyfinancialindicatorstomakebetterbusinessdecisions; makesgenerallyappropriatedecisionsregardingexpenditures.Studiesfinancial andquantitativeinformation;usesdatatoimproveperformance.

· Plan s an d Aligns: Plansandprioritisesworktomeetcommitmentsalignedwithorganisational goals; alignsandcoordinatesbetweenownwork andothers’,provideswell-sequencedactivitiesandtimeframes.Foresees andresolvespotentialbottlenecksanddelays.

· Collaborates and communicates effectively: Buildspartnershipsandworkscollaborativelywithotherstomeetshared objectives. Developsanddeliversmulti-modecommunicationsthatconveyclear understandingsoftheneedsofdifferentaudiences.Keepsotherswellinformed;conveys informationclearly,concisely,andprofessionallywhenspeakingorwriting.

· Optimise s W or k Processes: focus oncontinuousimprovementand takesstepstomakemethodsproductiveand efficient.Promptlyandeffectivelyaddressesprocessbreakdowns. Worksindependentlyandprovidesguidance.

· Build Effective Teams: Builds strong and effective teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.

Skills and qualifications

Essential:

· Willingness to travel extensively

· Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent

· Proven experience supporting consulting services or international development projects

· Demonstrable understanding of and interest in international development and working in an international/multi-cultural environment

· Excellent communication skills both written and verbal

· Strong organisational skills, with a strength in managing multiple deadlines.

· Proactive, assertive and action-oriented

· Excellent interpersonal skills – able to establish and maintain positive working relationships both internally and externally

· Able to be flexible and versatile in a constantly evolving work environment whilst maintaining effectiveness

· Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines

· Numerate with a high level of attention to detail

· Advanced level of MS Office

Desirable:

· Technical knowledge, experience, or academic background in: green economic growth, sustainability, natural resources and the environment,

· Language skills – French, Spanish, Portuguese or other languages

Footers

The salary offered will be commensurate with relevant experience. DAI offers a generous benefits package and there are several day-to-day perks of working at DAI that help keep us happy and motivated! Please make sure to state your salary expectations at application stage.

There is no closing date for applications and interviews will be held progressively. We are recruiting for these vacancies on a rolling basis, meaning there is no fixed deadline and applications will be assessed as they are received, and the vacancies will remain open until they are filled.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in location the role is based within the UK without the need for sponsorship.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, age, religion, sex, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

This job description details the key elements of the role and is not an exhaustive list of duties. Job roles evolve over time and job-holders may be required to complete additional tasks in line with business needs.

You will be pleased to know that we strive to uphold the highest ethical standards and that we are working with our clients to reduce the opportunity for people who are known to have breached ethical standards to work in our field.  Any staff and/or consultant contract with DAI, therefore, will be subject to satisfactory reference checking and vetting.

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