Country: Lebanon
Closing date: 22 Nov 2015
Aktis is growing rapidly and is currently seeking to engage a new mid-level Project Managers (PQE minimum 3 years) for work in Beirut, Lebanon.
Reporting to:Regional Manager, Lebanon
Contract type: Permanent position
Time commitment: Full time, with start as soon as possible
Location(s) & Travel: 1. Beirut base with Middle East regional travel.Travel will also be required to London and potentially to other global locations, including in Fragile and Conflict Affected States (FCAS).
Focus of work: The roles combine Project Management, some technical delivery of evaluation/ stabilisation projects; and business development.
Language requirement: Essential: English (full fluent professional proficiency)Advantage: Arabic Remuneration package: A competitive remuneration package will be offered to the successful applicants, commensurate with experience and capability for the relevant position.
Nationality/visa requirements: European passport or existing visa to work in UK ideal but not essential
Application must have be able to travel freely in UK, Middle East, North and East Africa.
The organisation
Aktis Strategy is an organisation led by some of the world’s foremost consultant practitioners in problem-solving for fragile and conflict-affected countries. With knowledge and expertise across the spectrum of security sector reform and transitions, political governance and justice/rule of law, Aktis specialises in devising, managing and evaluating complex programmes to address challenging political and institutional problems. From organisational change projects with the security forces in fragile states, complex governance reform and transition programmes, to advanced analytical programmes, Aktis personnel have demonstrated their excellence at delivering innovative management consultancy support in some of the most challenging situations. Recent field operations have been conducted in Afghanistan, Colombia, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria, Somalia and Tunisia. More information is available at the Aktis website, www.aktisstrategy.com.
Introduction to the role
Aktis is recruiting a Project Manager (PQE+3) to support our growing project portfolio in Lebanon and the Middle East (MIEA) region.
The position will be focused on
- Delivering Aktis’ programme of work in the Middle East, with a particular focus on work in Lebanon and Syria (from Beirut). Engagement with other Aktis projects to be delivered in and from Iraq, Jordan, the Kurdish Autonomous Region and the Palestinian Territories may also form part of the role and travel throughout the Middle East and to the UK will be required from time to time.
The successful applicant will take up a trusted position in the company with the opportunity to help shape the future direction of the Aktis business in the Middle East region.
Summary of responsibilities
The roles will involve work in the following four areas, with the balance in line with company priorities:
(1) Project management: trusted and capable managers with experience leading teams to deliver effective client outcomes, with strong interpersonal, stakeholder facilitation, budgeting, scheduling and communication skills.
(2) Business development: demonstrated independent and proactive ability to collect market information, position for up-stream business opportunities, engage with potential customers to understand their needs, prepare concept notes for new ideas and lead teams to deliver medium-large size tenders (approx. £150,000 - £3m project size).
(3) Technical advisory: some expertise and experience in any of the following types of technical projects would be ideal, but is not strictly mandated for the roles: monitoring and evaluation (M&E), institutional change management, security sector reform (SSR), public administration reform or government strategy & policy.
(4) Product development: some expertise and interest would be ideal, but is not required, in the theory behind international development, institutional change and security sector reform, to work with Aktis’ current teams involved in the conceptualisation of models and technology-based software tools for the delivery of better project outcomes for funding clients and end-user beneficiaries.
The successful applicant will be expected to be able to:
· Lead project management of medium-large sized (£150,000 - £3m) multi-year international development, security sector reform, stabilisation, civil society engagement, governance and/or monitoring and evaluation (M&E) projects.
· Lead on the preparation and management of project-related budgets, financial plans, scheduling and resource plans, team input schedules and team member terms of reference and contracts.
· As a project manager, proactively problem-solve and adapt team management and project planning to deal with challenges as they arise.
· Take an oversight and compliance assurance role with regard to risk, safety and security coordination and field team monitoring within the Middle East region.
· Proactively take a lead role in progressing strategic pursuit and opportunity leads for new projects, working with teams to prepare and implement customer engagement plans, actively collect market information, lead tendering processes and bid teams and contribute generally to new business development activities.
· Actively build and maintain broad client, consultant, potential partner, competitor and host government networks in London and the Middle East region.
· Take a lead role on the planning, preparation, delivery and quality assuring of written submissions and deliverables in English.
Location
· Beirut, Lebanon, with travel throughout the Middle East region and to the UK
Requirements
1.Minimum Master’s degreein International Development, Humanities, Politics, Law, Business Management, Commerce, Medicine, Science, Engineering or Project Management gained from a reputable, quality university.
o Advantage to have experience or qualification in “agile” project management methodologies or similar.
2.Minimum of three years’ post-qualification experience (PQE) for the PM role, in a management consulting, project management or related sector, with demonstrated capability delivering work.
3.English (essential that applicant has fully fluent written and spoken proficiency)
o Advantage to have Arabic (full conversational fluency).
4.Willingness and ability to travel freely in UK, and throughout relevant region(s). Advantage to have an existing or past base in
How to apply:
Send your CV and cover letter to recruitment@aktisstrategy.com