Job Description
JOB TITLE: Project Manager
LOCATION: Sub-Saharan Africa (work from home)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: July 2022 – September 2026
LEVEL OF EFFORT: up to 60 hours/month
REPORTS TO: Project Director
SUPERVISES: n/a
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The purpose of the Bicycles for Growth (BFG) project is to identify tools, approaches, partnerships, and incentives that may successfully improve sustainable access to and uptake of appropriate, affordable bicycles in sub-Saharan Africa thereby increasing mobility, particularly in rural areas, and aid in alleviating poverty. The project seeks to research, design, develop, test, pilot, generate new evidence and validate existing theories to support improving availability, reliability and affordability of fit-for-purpose bicycles that meet the needs and preferences of men, women, boys, and girls, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES
The Project Manager (PM) is responsible for supporting the Project Director (PD) in his/her duties of assuring that project goals, objectives, deliverables, targets and indicators are attained in a timely manner in accordance with the contract terms and is responsible for managing some project operations. The PM will facilitate communications between the project’s senior management team, technical team, country managers, local subcontractors, and local partners, and will assist the PD in reporting, scheduling, and activity oversight. This is a dynamic role responding to project management needs and specific directions from the PD.
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND TASKS
- Track project activities against work plans and activity action plans, including assessment planning, scoping, implementation, reporting and pilot activity development and management
- Monitor the timely completion of project deliverables and help PD ensure that project deliverables are presented to USAID in a professional manner.
- Maintain a detailed calendar of BFG activities, including travel, team member assignments, document due dates (including project deliverables in accordance with terms of the contract)
- Ensure regular communications between members of the BFG team, including regular and ad hoc meetings
- Organize and participate in weekly Management and Planning team meetings
- Serve as liaison with USAID/Washington on non-technical matters (e.g., submitting deliverables and milestone invoices)
- With the PD, initiate outreach with USAID Missions on upcoming plans per country (including compliance with all their requests). [The Country Assessment Lead then moves those relationships forward and maintains.]
- Lead recruitment and RFP processes for the Regional and Country Convening Partners and Country Advisory Committees
- Oversee and liaise with Regional and Country Convening Partners and with Country Advisory Committees to organize events, advocate, and to obtain their advice and input on BFG activities
- Supervise Country Managers, including goals, activity planning, activities, and performance, with input from the PD as needed
- Oversee Country Managers’ organization of events, workshops, meetings, etc.
- Assist in preparation of project deliverables, primarily in development of outlines and instructions for writers and reviewing and improving drafts
- Track subcontractors’ activities and deliverables
- Ensure that any grants awarded are consistent with the BFG Grants Manual
- As requested by the PD, represent BFG in meetings, public forums and to local counterparts, vendors, and other project partners and stakeholders
- Participate in development of BFG pilot activities, including activity selection and work planning
- With the PD, assist in the programming of short-term technical assistance (Country Managers and others), including preparing or reviewing individual SOWs, and ensuring that consultants complete assignments and satisfy requirements as specified in SOWs
- Record and maintain meeting minutes for all relevant meetings, including technical team meetings BFG management and planning meetings, and BFG all-staff meetings
- Lead the development of project Quarterly Progress Reports four times annually
MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred
- Strong organizational and administration skills
- Strong interest in working in international development
- Experience working with various cultures and attitudes
- Project management experience for USAID projects preferred
- Excellent communication and writing skills
- Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of the team
- Familiarity with USAID regulations
- Fluent English; additional language preferred.
APPLICATIONS
To be considered for any of the available positions, please send an email to VMalicevic@Jeaustin.com with subject line “Application – Title of position”. In your email, please include:
- Cover letter (one page) illustrating your motivation to apply and suitability for the specific position against the listed qualifications and work responsibilities.
- Detailed Curriculum Vitae (maximum 04 pages), including the name and email addresses of three senior referees who worked either as your professional or academic supervisors and are knowledgeable about your skills and professional abilities.
Only qualified applicants with relevant skills and experience will be contacted. Deadline for application is July 17, 2022.
About the Organization
J.E. Austin Associates, Inc. (JAA) was founded in 1986 for the purpose of assisting businesses, governments, non-profit organizations, educational and financial institutions, producer organizations, and other organizations around the world to improve productivity, to enhance competitiveness, to strengthen management and strategy implementation, and to facilitate economic development.
JAA stresses facilitation and building local capabilities. The company, therefore, emphasizes the “downloading” of tools, methodologies, and approaches to local partners and ensures that they have the best information, lessons, and skills available to identify and implement initiatives most likely to achieve sustainable results. JAA believes that economic growth, competitiveness, and other development challenges are best addressed by empowering local stakeholders to own the development process.
Since 1986, JAA has completed more than 680 projects in 120 countries. In any given year, JAA’s professional staffers work on projects in more than 30 countries worldwide
