Description
The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center is looking for a competent, self-motivated, and dynamic candidate to join as Head of Program Management.
the incumbent will be responsible for program management of the International Water Management Institute’s (IWMI’s) project activities throughout their life cycle ensuring delivery on the current project portfolio. Specific targets will include developing and implementing world-class project management processes that meet the needs of IWMI’s stakeholders and the CGIAR. The Head of Program Management Office (PMO) will supervise a team, and work with internal and external stakeholders including country office teams.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Portfolio Management:
- Provide project management leadership, and support to all research projects (IWMI project portfolio) throughout their life cycle, from project initiation to implementation and until closure.
- Facilitate the delivery of high-quality and timely implementation and monitoring of projects to donors and other relevant parties, including the CGIAR.
- Provide guidance and leadership to all Project Leaders (PLs) in their learning and practice of effective project management.
- Ensure an effective project life cycle process is in place, practiced and updated as needed.
- Implement new and continuously improve existing systems, standards and tools needed for an efficient project life cycle.
- Provide leadership to the PMO team, in setting high standards and services to the research teams, and guiding the team to become value adding members of the project life cycle
- Lead the efforts in continuous improvement of standards, processes and systems.
- Lead the efforts in creating Dashboards and reports for researchers, PL’s, Management and other relevant stakeholders with an objective of providing value adding information for decision making
- Contribute to the Corporate Services Division (CSD) reporting of project financials.
- Participate in the decision-making processes that support Management (Country Representatives – CR’s and Directors of research units) in their endeavors to establish short- and long-term priorities, and ensure team alignment, facilitating cross-functional Program Leadership Team meetings.
- In partnership with Research Group Leaders (RGLs), Project Leaders (PLs) and Country Representatives, periodically review work processes within projects to ensure integration and coordination between regional offices, and identify role redundancy, inefficiencies and unclear accountabilities, and address these issues with new work processes, design and role clarity.
- Participate in meetings of the Funding Opportunity Review Team, as required.
- Support the DDG to periodically develop and compile comprehensive reports, on the progress and plans of the research portfolio, for the Management Team and IWMI Board of Governors in coordination with the SPLs.
- Support the Deputy Director General in the establishment and delivery of Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Impact Assessment for all IWMI projects.
- Provide support and complete or coordinate special tasks and projects as required by the Director of Business Strategy and Delivery.
- Contribute to the non-technical aspects of proposal development and the processing of contracts. This includes ensuring projects are designed to be implemented as efficiently as possible, and that budgets capture all resource requirements and are presented in a manner complying with donor requirements.
- Guide and support alignment of IWMI Project Management Systems with CGIAR systems and represent IWMI on CGIAR working groups related to project management.
Project Implementation:
- Measure project performance using appropriate systems, tools and techniques, and provide regular, timely and accurate communication of project progress to all relevant stakeholders.
- While tracking the progress of projects, provide timely prompts for remedial action to ensure that projects are delivered on time, and within scope and budget. When necessary, report and escalate issues to the supervisor.
- Ensure CGIAR and IWMI project data are maintained as per policies and procedures of the Institute, and in line with existing and future information management systems.
- Guide and support the implementation of any new information system related to research management.
- Create and maintain comprehensive project information in an accessible form.
- Create systems and tools to monitor and manage time allocations and time booking.
- Contribute towards the implementation of IWMI’s quality management systems for research projects.
- Guide and support Projatct Leaders, Research Group Leaders and the Directors of research units to ensure effective and efficient project management.
Requirements
MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
- An advanced degree in management, business studies or other relevant discipline.
- Ten years of direct work experience in project/program management capacity, including all aspects of process development/improvement and execution.
- Previous experience in an international organization and awareness of work environment’s similar to that of IWMI.
- Experience in personnel management.
- A project management qualification, e.g., PRojects IN Controlled Environments (PRINCE2) or Project Management Professional (PMP) is desirable.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Excellent leadership and coordination skills
- Excellent English language skills, both written and verbal.
- Strong project management skills, and demonstrable experience in achieving results across large programs and project portfolios.
- Demonstrable skills in program management principles and their application.
- Experience in implementing and using innovative project management tools, systems, software, etc.
- Experience in implementing and using monitoring and evaluation tools, systems, software, etc.
- Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment.
- Capacity to build strong partnerships with research leadership and other units, especially colleagues located in regional offices.
- Remote management skills.
- A dynamic, entrepreneurial and creative approach to work.
- A highly systematic approach to work.
- Ability to respond to shifting priorities, demands and timelines through analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- A professional and positive approach.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Strong team ethos.
Benefits
What we are offering:
This is a nationally recruited position and only candidates who are eligible to work in Sri Lanka will be considered. IWMI offers a competitive salary and benefits package, inclusive of health insurance, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, and long-term disability coverage. The duration of the contract will initially be for a period of three years.
HOW TO APPLY: Apply for the position by following the application instructions at www.iwmi.org/jobs. We will be accepting applications through 24:00 (IST) February 9, 2023 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis). Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary working environment. We are consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.
