Education reform Project Manager Freelance

Job Title: Project Manager

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Contract duration: 2 years

Reporting to: Programme Manager

DRS is looking, on behalf of our client, an INGO, for a Project Manager to manage the successful delivery of education reform projects, managing resources and ensuring that deliverables are completed to quality, cost, and time standards as specified in the contract, aiming to ensure customer satisfaction throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Accountabilities:

1. Support live opportunities work (as and when required)

• Provide project management structure and approach when putting together project plans/schedules and costings for proposals assigned by the Portfolio Development Manager
• Provide the Business Development (BD) and Portfolio Development Manager any insight into customers or regions (including lessons learned, potential risks, and mitigation strategies)
• Attend technical solution proposal kick-off meetings/workshops (as needed)
• Produce high-level project plans and send them to Technical teams for review and agreement
• Attend technical review meetings (as required through Core Process 4) to discuss feedback and make necessary amends to high-level project plans
• Agree on costing templates and approach with Portfolio Development Manager and Technical team colleagues
• Produce costings and run through them with the Technical teams for review (making necessary amends as needed)
• Run through proposed costings and project plans with Portfolio Development Manager for QA and sign-off
• Work with Supplier Manager to get and quality-assure quotes from suppliers (if technical, also involving technical teams)
• Assist Business Development in preparing the proposal/bid for internal approval
• Attend meetings to review feedback on resourcing and costings and make necessary amends to the costings (following scope changes/feedback)
• Following commercial sign-off of the price, prepare a table to meet client requirements for inclusion in the commercial proposal
• Support Business Development during negotiation phases of the Bid/Proposal (as required)
• Liaise closely with the BD team and Portfolio Development Manager to stay informed on the progress of proposals submitted (as required)
• Ensure that the necessary project information is completed and present in the Project Transition Checklist for all proposals submitted
• Start Delivery Project/Programme transition into Live Contracts Portfolio once the contract is won (handing over the project/programme fully after the project initiation)
• Handover Project Transition Checklist to Project/Programme Manager assigned to each project/programme
• Work closely with other Delivery colleagues as needed (for information sharing, best practice, etc., when working on proposals)

2. Manage contracts, scope and deliverables

• Monitor and actively manage project scope, containing scope creep and negotiating variations as required
• Manage the completion and effective handover of deliverables as defined in the contract
• Manage the issuing and control of contractual documentation (e.g., the contract, variations, completion certificates, or acts of rendered services) and ensure timely completion of any contract support activities

3. Plan the project and monitor and report delivery performance

• Contribute as needed to contract or bid development to advise on deliverability and high-level planning
• Produce robust, achievable plans for the projects and ensure the commitment of all engaged parties to achieve them
• Monitor progress against plan, take corrective action, and escalate to ensure plans are delivered
• Ensure timely, transparent reporting is provided to inform on all aspects of project performance and risks to meet the needs of the Project Steering Group, Client, and Senior Management Team
• Lead and chair project working groups and meetings

4. Establish effective project governance and project organization

• Set up and facilitate both internal governance (Project Steering Group) and external (with the client) to support effective decision-making and proper use of escalation routes
• This may include the organization of a Project Board with representation from the client and other stakeholders as needed
• Ensure clarity of project organization and roles

5. Operate robust project controls

• Ensure controls are operated in accordance with good project practice and project management methodology to ensure that delivery meets customer requirements
• Set and manage budgets (ensuring budgets are achieved), forecasts, control expenditure, contingencies, and timely processing of purchase orders and invoices
• Establish and operate controls for managing quality, working with technical SMEs to manage acceptance of all deliverables to ensure they achieve the specified standards
• Actively manage and report project risks throughout the project lifecycle. Promote focus of the project team to address these risks, ensuring mitigation and contingency arrangements are defined and provisioned for and escalating to the Programme Manager, Portfolio Manager, or Project Sponsor as required
• Actively manage project issues and corresponding resolution actions, escalating to the Programme Manager, Portfolio Manager, or Project Sponsor as required
• Ensure project documentation is organised and controlled, in line with standards
• Identify, record, and act on lessons learned throughout the project lifecycle
• Ensure any secondary benefits for Cambridge are understood and controlled to realization

6. Manage resources

• Work with the Supplier Manager to arrange the supply of resources for the project in line with project plans
• Manage procurement of external resources, including timely processing of procurement deliverables and approvals
• Work with technical SMEs to ensure all projects resources have clear terms of reference and are clear on the requirements and best delivery approach
• Actively monitor and manage the delivery performance of resources
• Coordinate and communicate with the project team/resources to ensure they are engaged and kept up to date on the changing needs and priorities of the project
• Positively and actively lead and motivate the project team

7. Manage communication and stakeholder engagement

• Plan and manage project communications both internally and externally (with clients) in line with an actively maintained communication plan
• Manage client interactions for the project, ensuring a positive experience for the client and collaborating closely with them on matters relating to delivery
• Work with the Project Sponsor, Portfolio Manager, and Programme Manager to actively manage engagement, influencing, and communication with internal and external stakeholders in order to enable the successful delivery of the project

8. Manage project closure

• Manage the project closure final handover to the client
• Complete a Post Implementation Review at the end of the project, liaising with the Operational Performance Analyst on lessons learned, and formally close the project

9. Functional development

• Contribute to the development of project management methodologies, standards, and tools
• Actively contribute to continuous improvement of the function in collaboration with other Project Managers

Decisions and Recommendations

Day-to-day management of projects, which includes:

• Planning and chairing of project-specific meetings and working groups
• Input to Project or Programme Steering Group
• Recording and implementing agreed decisions and actions
• Creation and management of key business and project documents, including project plans, business cases, project reports, issues and risks registers, sign-off and business handover documents
• Forward planning and managing budgeted expenditure and staff resourcing
• Appropriate communication with all key stakeholders

Recommends for approval:

• Overall project plan
• Project milestone completion
• Changes to project scope/cost/timing/quality
• Overall budget and large items of expenditure, in line with corporate financial regulations
• Resource requirements

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or related experience
• PRINCE2/ Agile practitioner (or equivalent relevant qualification or experience)

Experience

• At least 3 years of experience in project management
• Proven track record of managing complex, large, and/or international projects for demanding clients
• Good knowledge and experience in working with formal Project Management methodologies such as PRINCE2 and Agile
• Experience in the education, publishing, and assessment sectors
• Experience in medium or high-level management and ability to communicate effectively and persuasively with the highest level of management
• Experience working with digital workflows, web technologies, mobile platforms, and apps / digital platforms. Knowledge and understanding of digital learning and online education

Skills

• Well-developed project management and organization skills
• Proactive strategic thinker, able to challenge constructively
• Able to identify and manage risk proactively
• Strong presentation, communication, and negotiation skills
• Ability to find innovative ways of solving or pre-empting problems
• Ability to articulate a good understanding of the international education reform marketplace
• Knowledge and understanding of digital learning and online education

The updated CVs should be submitted to e.jivova@developmentaid.org under the title DRS 11694 (ref. number). Due to the high number of applications received, we can reply to shortlisted candidates only. Please note that the above requirements can be modified during the recruitment process according to the client’s procedures.

The updated CVs should be submitted to e.jivova@developmentaid.org under the title DRS 11694 (ref. number) or https://www.developmentaid.org/jobs/view/1594420/project-manager . Due to the high number of applications received via the DevelopmentAid website, we can reply to shortlisted candidates only. Please note that the above requirements can be modified during the recruitment process according to client’s procedures.

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