Deputy Team Leader / Senior Programme Manager – Revenue Mobilization Investment and Trade Programme

About ASI
ASI is a global advisory company that works locally to transform lives by making economies stronger, societies more stable, and governments more effective. ​

We work on behalf of governments, foundations and companies that share our ambition to take on the big challenges facing the world. We believe we can achieve more in partnership with others than if we act alone. We partner with local governments, businesses and civil society organisations to create and deliver custom-made solutions, even in some of the most complex, challenging and fragile environments in the world. ​

As an employee-owned company that works in countries at all stages of development, we have a triple bottom line of financial, social and environmental accountability. ASI has undergone rigorous independent verification to become a B Corp – certifying that it demonstrates a balance of profit and purpose by meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and legal accountability.​

​About ASI Pakistan

ASI has been operating in Pakistan since 2006. It is one of our largest operations globally, with some 150 staff and consultants. Our Pakistan team is currently implementing the UK government’s highest profile programme of support to the federal government of Pakistan, focussed on macroeconomic reform. Alongside this we are delivering a major sustainable economic development programme in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a politically sensitive programme which aims to improve UK-Pakistan collaboration on serious and organised crime, and a feasibility study of flood management options for greater Lahore, funded by the Australian government. ​

As well as its project teams, ASI Pakistan has a substantive operational platform, including a Head of Operations and Finance, full time security manager, and a cadre of non-project finance and HR staff. In addition, ASI has established a shared services Finance function based in Islamabad, which supports our projects worldwide. ​

The Revenue Mobilisation Investment and Trade (REMIT) programme supports the mobilisation of tax revenue; addresses institutional blockers of investment; facilitates trade and competitiveness; and works to improve the quality of macroeconomic policy making. It provides critical support to key federal ministries, which will be ever more important under the new government, particularly as we enter critical months in the implementation of Pakistan’s IMF programme​.

The Opportunity

Where would you like to take us?​

We have a large and high-quality team of over 65 people on the REMIT project. We work with international and Pakistani partners to deliver the country’s most important objectives. As a professional services company our asset is our people. We prioritise maintaining a high quality, well supported and motivated team. The DTL/SPM is responsible for overseeing the evolution of this team, attracting new talent, driving collaboration, and ensuring that we operate efficiently.​

We are committed to delivering the country’s economic reform agenda at a critical time. Our work includes building and strengthening relationships and learning with our key stakeholders, including the GoPK, and UK Aid. We aim to expand our work and drive impact in key technical areas, including Revenue mobilization, macroeconomic policy, climate finance, Investment and trade, that brings inclusive and sustainable growth.​

​This vacancy comes at a key time for our work in Pakistan: ​

• A transition in government means that the new incumbents are keen to see quick results – this represents an important opportunity for REMIT and provides a foundation for creating transformative social impact.​
• Pakistan is extremely vulnerable to climate change and severely economically hamstrung – we are supporting the GoPK in establishing a climate finance unit- the first of its kind. ​
• We are supporting the stakeholders at the highest levels of government in the federal government, in helping realise the PM’s economic reform agenda. This includes support to creating an investment facilitation unit, delivery of revenue mobilization targets and macroeconomic reform. ​
• We are working with the best international partners to create investment frameworks for Pakistan, that present the opportunity to unlock foreign and domestic investment​.

Role Responsibilities:

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND DELIVERY​

• Support the PD/TL in managing the programme, including overall strategic direction and programme guidance on all aspects of the programme​.
• Ensure that activities are implemented to a high quality within expected timeframes and expected results.​
• Act as the primary point of contact with the clients and government counterparts, including representing the programme at meetings with representatives of donors, national and sub-national governments.​
• Holds the accountability and responsibility for the technical delivery of the programme along with the PD/TL​.
• Supports the TL in setting and executing the strategic direction, maximising impact and value for money, ensuring overall alignment of the workplan with strategic priorities​.
• Supports the development of the programme Theory of Change and the design of interventions, contributing knowledge of international best practice grounded in the local context​.
• Oversees and manages a real-time M&E process that drives continuous learning, and captures planned and emergent outcomes.
• Ensures timely and quality delivery of all contractual deliverables and annual workplans.​
• Co-leads regular Strategic Reviews, as agreed with the client​.
• Ensures that all interventions and workstreams have a clear sustainability strategy and exit plan from the start of the programme​.

CLIENT RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT ​

• Acts as principal liaison with the client– ensuring the client is appraised of project progress, issues and risks are identified early enough and escalated.​
• PEOPLE​
• Supports the PD/TL in leading and managing the team to ensure clear roles and responsibilities, understanding of the workplan, objectives, priorities and deliverables.​
• Supports the PD/TL in managing and maintaining team performance, ensuring that appropriate HR practises, including performance management system, are in place and being followed.​
• Fosters a positive and encouraging team atmosphere, supporting team members to develop and excel in their positions.​
• Manages subcontractors’/partners’ performance, to ensure quality and timeliness of delivery and results at project level​.

LEADERSHIP WITHIN ASI PLATFORM​

• Supports leadership of the ASI Pakistan office, acting as a key strategic partner for the Head of Office​.
• Supports key internal leadership decisions, and provide escalation point on risk management, people development, operations management and duty of care​.
• Supports oversight of the ASI Pakistan team, setting overall culture and leadership​.
• Supports external engagement utilising / developing your network to gather quick and reliable information to support opportunity identification, project development, and personnel identification.
• Contributes to wider ASI global corporate initiatives, especially sharing learning from ASI’s work in Pakistan that can be utilized more widely.​

FINANCE & OPERATIONS OVERSIGHT​

1. Reviews budget implications of technical decisions with PD and management team​.
2. Works with programme management team to ensure effective management of the project budget, ensuring efficient use of resources, and managing expenditure in line with the agreed budget​.
3. Ensures accurate and timely budget forecasting of all planned activities for timely reporting to the client Legal, Ethics and Compliance and Risk Management​.
4. Leads regular discussions to identify and assess risks/issues, to assign risk ownership and to follow up on implementation of mitigating actions (at least monthly)​.
5. Ensures the client is informed of strategic risks and mitigation plan is in place​.
6. Oversees and ensures programme practices are in compliance with ASI and client contractual rules and regulations, and that all programme staff comply with UK and local laws and regulations, client, and company policies​.

Key Relationships

INTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS: ​

• Reports to: REMIT’S Project Director​
• Line management responsibility for: Programme Managers responsible for REMIT, Technical team members on REMIT​.
• Maintains close relationships with: ​
• The project team, including REMIT PD, other project managers, Team Leader and other REMIT team members​.
• ASI’s Head of Pakistan​.
• ASI’s Finance Director on all matters relating to finance and compliance.
• Head of Global Operations and Security​.
• Director of Legal, Ethics and Compliance.

EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS: ​

• REMIT’s Client and concerned donor partners, including FCDO and World Bank​.
• Representatives of federal and provincial governments in Pakistan.
• Key civil servants in Pakistani government institutions in which REMIT is active​.
• Delivery/consortium partners.
• Technical advisers working in areas of REMIT​.
• Other programmes in the economic development space​.

Job requirements

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IN THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE​

EXPERIENCE ​

• A successful track record in managing the delivery of high quality of multi-million-pound projects with more than one client to achieve impact.
• Proven experience of growing a portfolio of work, including securing large contracts and management of a business unit to significant growth in turnover.
• Proven ability to generate and execute new projects.
• Strong reputation in Governance and/or Public Finance Management, evidenced by a strong network of clients, partners, influencers and associates.
• Proven track record in developing successful teams.
• Experience of having resided and operating professionally in fragile or complex environments.
• Experience of having worked in international settings.
• Experience of having managed a business unit in the services industry with its own profit & loss reporting, business planning, people management and associate’s accountability.

QUALIFICATIONS ​

• A postgraduate degree in Governance, PFM, Economics, Political Science, International Development or another relevant field from a world class university.

ATTITUDE​

• A passion for international development and achieving social impact, with a positivity that enthuses and motivates others.
• Interest and experience in work in developing and conflict-affected areas.
• Proactive, enthusiastic, flexible, self starting, resourceful.
• A determination to be the best.
• High level of emotional intelligence.
• Open-minded, flexible approach to problem solving.
• Resilient to and patient in the face of changing circumstances and challenges.
• Determination to complete work to an extremely high quality.
• Trustworthy, reliable, professional, conscientious and accountable.

SKILLS ​

• Excellent leadership and people management skills.
• The ability to build effective, credible client relationships and networks.
• Advanced project management and directorship skills.
• Advanced presentation skills.
• Excellent relations-building skills.
• Complex proposal writing skills.
• Advanced commercial and budget management understanding.