Project Manager, Transparency Now (Maternity cover), (m/f/d)

ABOUT THE ROLE  

The Transparency International Secretariat (TI-S) is currently seeking a Project Manager (m/f/d) to join our Projects Team to manage a recently started project in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. 

‘Transparency Now’ is a European Commission back-funded grant which started in April 2024 and is providing “Region-Wide Support to the EU Southern Neighbourhood to Improve Anti-Corruption Policy and Operational Outcomes”. TI-S is an implementing partner, sub-contracted by the United Nation Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI). 

The overall objective of this action is to facilitate improved prevention, reporting and repression of acts of corruption, as well as the seizure and confiscation of assets linked to such corruption, throughout the EU Southern Neighbourhood. TI’s involvement is co-ordinated out of the Berlin-based Secretariat (TI-S), with co-implementation from multiple TI chapters in the MENA region, including  Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia and Morocco, and our Brussels-based EU office. The Projects Team is responsible for the implementation of multiple project activities and facilitation of  the national and regional-level activities pertaining to corruption prevention. 

OVERVIEW OF KEY DIMENSIONS

Role Purpose:  The Project Manager (m/f/d) is responsible for ensuring smooth implementation of this project, coordinating the work flow, financial and administrative management of the projects and ensuring that agreed goals, best practice standards in project management and MEL, donor obligations and TI-S regulations are met relating to the project implementation by TI-S and partners.  

Team:  Projects Team  

Band:  Salary according to TI-S internal salary structure; for this position corresponding to band PF2 a salary starting EUR 42,000.00 gross per year depending on relevant experience. 

Starting Date:  September 2024

Contract Duration:  Currently we can offer an employment contract for 14 months

Working Hours:  Full time [100%; 40 hours per week]  

Location: Transparency International Secretariat (TI-S), Berlin/Germany 

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES OF THE ROLE 

Based in the Projects Team, The Project Manager (m/f/d) will: 

• Coordinate day-to-day project implementation of the projects in line with the EC (DG NEAR) and UNICRI contractual requirements, logic model and work plan, including work package planning, budget management, monitoring, and reporting, ensuring that all phases are consistent with the design and delivery schedule and internal processes and procedures, and striving for high-quality outputs and the greatest possible impact of project activities
• Coordinate the preparation of all project management tools and processes (project calendar, workflows, team collaboration plans, stakeholder, and risk management, reporting documentation and MEL) together with relevant colleagues in other TI-S teams and support  partners in their use and upgrade of these tools
• Work in close collaboration and ensure ongoing communication with the National Chapters and other local civil society project partners to support successful implementation of the project(s), particularly in efforts to monitor and evaluate project impact, plan advocacy interventions and communication/outreach activities, manage any key reputational and security risks, and share knowledge and experience across activities
• Create and maintain sub-award agreements, amendments, budgets, and terms of reference for project partners
• Deliver progress updates and risk management/escalation options to the internal TI-S board overseeing the successful implementation of the project
• Coordinate the organisation of institutional meetings and events as per the project calendar (workshops, forums, trainings) and ensure the timely and cost-effective execution of project activities and the organisation of related events, including national and regional forums and workshops, coordinating with teams and partners to produce agendas, select speakers and trainers, etc.
• Collaborate and communicate regularly with the TI-S Finance team to build accurate financial forecasts, including reviewing financial reports and identifying in advance areas of over- or under-spending, checking the quality and compliance of supporting documentation and flagging any urgent budgetary issues
• Create and maintain relevant work packages for members of other TI-S contributing teams (Policy and Advocacy, Research, Global Movement, Communications) and ensure work deliverables of teams and partners meet quality standards and proactively seek input from relevant internal experts as needed
• Coordinate backstopping, technical, substantial and administrative advice and support throughout the project, including identifying and recruiting consultants as needed for specific technical support activities
• Ensure that marking and visibility requirements set by the donor are followed and that they are aligned with TI’s own brand management whenever necessary (public events, publications, etc.), including project partners
• Together with the thematic and regional specialists in the Policy and Advocacy, Research and Knowledge, Global Movement and Communications Teams, collaborate on capacity building, network management and regional advocacy efforts related directly or indirectly to the project, procuring and task-managing consultants as needed to complete project deliverables and MEL activities, and contributing to wider impact planning, reporting and co-ordination under the relevant strategic objective(s)
• Coordinate donor(s) engagement and relationship management in relation to the project, including with delegations in the countries of implementation as required
• Task management, co-ordination and mentoring of the Project Associate when applicable
• Represent the project(s)/organisation at relevant forums and consortium meetings as needed
• Contribute to the overall functioning of the Projects Team by providing proactive and ad hoc support where necessary and contributing to team strengthening initiatives

CANDIDATE PROFILE 

In order to succeed in this role, candidates will need to meet the following: 

• University degree in business administration, management, finance, social science, public administration, economics, or another relevant field.
• 5+ years of project management or support experience, preferably with an International NGO or International Organisation, with demonstrated in-depth knowledge of project management best practices and including complex multi-country or multi-partner contexts; experience in project start-up with implementing partners is an advantage.
• Knowledge of, or considerable interest in, the work of TI and the field of anti-corruption, illicit financial flows, asset recovery, policy development and dirty money. Knowledge of legal frameworks on transnational financial crimes is a plus.
• Experience in managing and reporting on complex donor-funded projects in the civil society field, commitment to ensuring compliance with European Commission grant management rules and regulations.
• Experience in project management of donor-funded projects in the MENA region .
• Demonstrable experience of supporting civil society partners and delivering sensitive communications, risk management approaches and capacity support solutions in restrictive civic space and fragile contexts.
• Strong skills in monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) and incorporating inclusive results-based management approaches in a donor-funded project context, supporting cross-team, -country or –partner learning.
• Demonstrable risk management experience to ensure successful delivery of project scope, quality and impact, including sound judgement and solutions-oriented mindset; experience with supporting security risk management is an advantage.
• Experience of gender mainstreaming and incorporating inclusive approaches in project management.
• Solid understanding of budget/financial management processes (working in collaboration with Project Accountants).
• Strong commitment and orientation to compliance management essential, particularly with regards to financial reporting and procurement.
• Excellent organisational skills, structured approach to task management and ability to effectively manage complex projects in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills and ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and build collaborative relationships for informal influencing for project success.
• Excellent oral and written communication in English; demonstrable working knowledge (written/spoken) of standard Arabic, working knowledge of French is an advantage.
• Strong facilitation skills for both online and in-person multi-stakeholder meetings, workshops, and knowledge exchanges.
• Results-driven and resilient self-starter, with demonstrated ability to develop creative solutions to complex problems; flexibility to accommodate unforeseen challenges or requests at short notice.
• Commitment to the values and principles of Transparency International.
• Willingness and ability to regularly travel to Belgium (Brussels) and the MENA region (particularly Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Morrocco, and potentially Egypt and Iraq).

WHAT WE OFFER