Project Manager

This position will be located in either Johannesburg (South Africa), Kigali (Rwanda) or Dire Dawa (Ethiopia) – Please note that only candidates located in one of these three cities will be considered.

About

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an award-winning independent think tank working to accelerate solutions for a stable climate, sustainable resource management, and fair economies. Our work inspires better decisions and sparks meaningful action to help people and the planet thrive. We shine a light on what can be achieved when governments, businesses, non-profits, and communities come together. IISD’s staff of more than 270 experts come from across the globe and from many disciplines. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in more than 100 countries.

Position Background

The Scaling Urban NbS for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SUNCASA) project aims to engage local partners and communities in designing and implementing nature-based solutions (NbS) to support climate adaptation and biodiversity protection in urban communities and watersheds in sub-Saharan Africa. The project also aims to enhance gender-responsive and inclusive governance of NbS in these communities.

The Project Manager will manage administrative and budget aspects of the SUNCASA project for the Core Projects Program at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). They will coordinate and support SUNCASA and its associated projects from the proposal stage through implementation and donor reporting. The Project Manager will report to the SUNCASA Senior Project Manager.

Responsibilities:

Planning and monitoring:

• Plan and monitor timelines, milestones, delivery deadlines, and outputs using project management tools.
• Collaborate with team members to optimize systems.
• Develop, refine, and track project budgeting with the support of the project management and accounting teams.

Project support:

• Support the identification and development of key program-wide best practices, tools, and processes.
• Develop strategic systems to improve effective planning, scheduling, and communication among and across projects.
• Foster robust project file management, documentation, and reporting procedures to support project teams.
• Promote continuous team-based learning opportunities to improve project management capacity, efficiency, and synergy.

Project implementation and donor reporting:

• Support projects from the proposal stage: work with project leads to issue budgets, translate them into the funder format, and provide any financial/corporate information requested.
• Liaise with funders to receive grant agreements and process them once received.
• Liaise with the program’s financial analyst to collect authorized signatures.
• Assist in project implementation, including developing and adjusting work plans and budgets, communicating with partners, contracting, evaluating, and reporting.
• Coordinate event planning, logistics, and team travel arrangements.
• Handle, allocate, and approve project expenses to the appropriate budget following IISD’s policies.
• Compile financial records and prepare funder reports of various project activities under supervision.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Minimum 4+ years of experience working as a project manager/project support officer.

• High level of proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other project management tools.

• Bachelor’s or higher degree, preferably with a focus in economics, mathematics, sustainable development, or accounting.

• Experience working in fast-paced, multi-project environments.

• Experience in not-for-profit, government, or other development sector is preferable.

• Strong organizational and planning skills, including an ability to manage multiple tasks ranging in demand while working under tight deadlines.

• Strong attention to detail and technicalities.

• Excellent organizational and technical abilities.

• Relevant Project Management training and/or certification is an asset.

• Fluency in English is a requirement

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work interactively with stakeholders from different contexts, countries, and backgrounds.

Reporting Relationship

The Project Manager reports to the SUNCASA Senior Project Manager or their designate.

Position Details

Location:  Remote, Johannesburg (South Africa), Kigali (Rwanda) or Dire Dawa (Ethiopia) – Please note that only candidates located in one of these three cities will be considered.

Candidates must hold an appropriate work authorization for locations where they expect to be based, without any sponsorship from IISD.

Salary: Salary commensurate with experience and location

Type of employment: Full-time

Application deadline: April 30, 2024

Start Date: immediate opportunity

Application Procedure

Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR. Please include the following:

• A CV (no longer than two pages)
• A cover letter (one page)
• IISD Voluntary Self-Identification Questionnaire
• All submissions must be in English.

Only those candidates we wish to interview will be contacted. Resumes will be kept on file for one year.

Selected candidates will be asked to submit a written test and be interviewed by IISD.

IISD is committed to fostering a more equitable and sustainable world and welcomes candidates who uphold our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, to correct the conditions of social injustice and disadvantage in employment around the world, we encourage candidates from historically marginalized groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and those who identify themselves as 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply for this position. Preference will be given to the equity-deserving groups during the hiring process. We offer reasonable accommodations in our recruitment process and seek applicants’ advice on how best to accommodate their needs. Please self-identify and answer our employment equity questionnaire on our applicant tracking system when you apply.

IISD does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, caste, ethnicity, religion, colour, disability, marital status, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

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Keywords

Project ManagerSustainable DevelopmentProject ManagementBudgetingReportingCommunicationPlanningCoordinationLeadership