Senior Project Manager

Senior Project Manager (Operations) – Washington, DC or Remote USA

Role

Senior Project Manager (Operations)

Location

Washington, DC or remote (U.S. based)

Who we are

At ELEVATE, we offer a unique and impactful career journey designed to empower our teams to influence change. Join our team for a truly international experience.  With 24+ offices globally (and still growing), you will have exposure to real issues that span the globe. Fasten your seatbelt for an energetic and dynamic experience where you will partner with world class leaders on solving some of the most pressing issues of our time in new and innovative ways to achieve our goals together.

ELEVATE is an industry leader in sustainability and supply chain services globally, with more than 17 years’ expertise in designing, building and managing data-driven, sustainability linked programs that drive positive impact. ELEVATE’s business-minded perspective and relentless focus on transparency, innovation, sustainability and measurable impact delivers lasting positive change for companies, brands and retailers, suppliers, factories and workers.

Having built an extensive global portfolio of clients, including corporates with international supply chains, suppliers, investors and banks, industry coalitions, NGOs and governments, and an operating footprint across 100 countries, ELEVATE currently conducts over 20,000 assessments and audits per year, to the highest standards of quality and integrity. ELEVATE is part of LRQA, a leading global assurance provider, bringing together decades of expertise in brand assurance, certification, cybersecurity, inspection and training, to help its clients negotiate a rapidly changing risk landscape. Operating in more than 160 countries and recognized by over 30 accreditation bodies worldwide, LRQA covers almost every sector, and prides itself on the highest standards of quality and innovation as it helps clients to manage risk across the entire supply chain, drive operational improvements and build credibility with stakeholders

The Global Trace Protocol Project

ELEVATE directs the Global Trace Protocol project (GTP), funded by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) through a four-year cooperative agreement (1.5 years completed), which aims to increase the downstream tracing of goods at risk of being made with child labor, forced labor and other exploitive practices, to help eliminate such practices in global supply chains. The project’s initial focus is on Pakistan’s cotton sector and the DRC’s cobalt sector, leading to a publicly available “commodity-agnostic” traceability tool with supporting information on due diligence and related efforts. See USDOL Global Trace Protocol and the Global Trace Protocol project.

The Project is led by a Project Director based in Washington, DC, with a Technical Lead in the US, and a Project Manager in Pakistan and supported by ELEVATE staff in its Hong Kong office, including the Financial Planning & Analysis Manager.  The Project has the following implementing Partners: Diginex, RCS Global, the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), and the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery (GFEMS).

Job Overview at a glance

We are looking for a highly motivated, organized and proactive professional to support our work to effectively manage, implement and report on our US Department of Labor funded project aimed at reducing child and forced labor in global supply chains through traceability.

Position Summary 
The Project Manager (Operations) (PMO), under supervision of the Project Director (PD) and in collaboration with other staff and partners, will manage the Project’s programmatic and administrative functions including: helping to ensure that the Project and implementing partners are efficiently and effectively implementing outputs and activities in compliance with the USDOL/U.S. Government (USG) and ELEVATE’s operational and reporting requirements.

Work Planning and Reporting

• Support the design, revision and implementation of workplans and activities, consistent with USG results-based management principles.
• Help ensure successful timely delivery of project outputs and activities.
• Ensure timely periodic technical and financial reporting and documentation, including internal and USDOL-related reporting, as well as ad hoc reporting.
• Support Project budget development, coordination, and review process with the GTP Director and ELEVATE staff and Partners.
• Help ensure Partner’s accurate and timely reporting to the Project and ELEVATE’s financial office as needed, and timely submission of Partner invoices, in coordination with the PD and ELEVATE’s Financial Planning & Analysis Manager.

Operations and Administration

• Ensure Project compliance with ELEVATE and USDOL/USG operational policies and regulations.

• Work with ELEVATE operations and finance teams to ensure process and systems are compliant with USDOL/USG and other relevant grant making body requirements

• In coordination with project leadership, provide support for routine and ad-hoc meetings, including agenda planning and development, and follow-up on key action items, etc.

• Facilitate Project staffs’ timely and accurate completion of travel documentation and expense reports/reimbursements.

• Manage Project’s contracts.

Communications & Collaboration

• Direct planning and execution of Project, Expert Panel and coordinating Partner meetings and activities.
• Ensure accurate timely responses to USDOL/USG, Partner and stakeholder inquiries.
• Support and help refine Project’s communication with stakeholders, in coordination with the responsible Partner and ELEVATE staff.
• Support and, at times, lead Project participation in programmatic and partner coordination meetings.
• Liaise with external stakeholders as needed, including brands, academia, governments, labor rights activists and others.
• Support internal and external communications efforts including development or review of success stories, articles, blog posts, or other external communications products.
• Represent the project in coordination meetings.

The Right Candidate will possess

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated direct experience with USG funding agencies (e.g., USDOL, USAID, US Department of State) regarding technical and financial program management and reporting requirements related to grants and/or cooperative agreements, including applicable regulations.

• Experience reporting to and interacting with donor(s) on grants and/or cooperative agreements.

• Extensive experience with communications, project management and financial software, such as Microsoft Office SharePoint, Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, ,

• Financial management experience, including budgeting, tracking,reporting and accounting, and procurement.

• Excellent organizational skills, including task and time management.

• Impeccable business ethics, including the protection of confidential information.

• Excellent writing skills.

• Fluency in written and oral English required.

• Bachelor’s degree in related field.

• Minimum offive years of relevant work experience working in complex, high-speed, and/or challenging field operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate level degree in international development, economics, finance, business, law or other field related to job functions.
• Experience with international labor rights and labor rights related labor programming.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge in overseeing program close-outs.
• Experience working in complex political transitions and conflict environments.
• More than fiveyears of relevant work experience working in complex, high-speed, and/or challenging field operations.
• French language skills (for DRC) a plus but not required.

Term of Performance

The position is for one-year, with the possibility of extension based on performance and Project Requirements.

Compensation

ELEVATE offers a competitive salary and compensation package based on experience and qualifications.

Equal Opportunity Employer

ELEVATE is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by local law. Personal data provided by applicants will be treated as confidential information and will be used exclusively for employment purposes only. Only short-listed candidates will be notified. Applicants who are not invited for an interview may consider their applications filed for future reference.

To learn more about career opportunities at ELEVATE, please visit our Careers Page here: https://www.elevatelimited.com/careers/