Project Manager

Job Title: Project Manager
Location: Ahmedabad, hybrid working position
Contract duration: 12 months fixed-term full Time Consulting Contract with the possibility of an extension
Supervisor: India Country Manager
Special conditions: The position may require working outside regular working hours
Open to: Candidates based in Ahmedabad, India

DRS is looking for a Project Manager on behalf of a system-wide network NGO to lead and manage the successful design, delivery, evaluation, and reporting of the project’s outcomes. The Project Manager will also be responsible for supervising the Project Coordinator and project team to meet the above focus areas.
The Project Manager will support in managing India projects, which are

• Facilitating the adoption of the Energy Conservation & Sustainable Building Code, Phase 4
• Implementation of Healthy Building guidelines in the revised National Building Code, Phase 2.

As a team member, the Project Manager will support the following projects:

• Embodied carbon-related Uber of Charter, Phase 0 and 1
• CELLULAR: A Light House model for affordable zero-carbon living in India

We are looking for a consultant with strong knowledge and experience in the supply chain of India’s building and construction sector. The consultant will primarily support the Landscape analysis of the supply chain in the building and construction sector, mapping potential players across the diverse sector, stakeholder engagement, and consultations. Phase 0 of the project is spread out over 6 months, and Phase 1 will follow until Dec 2024 and is supported by the Crux Alliance.

Project Background

1. ENS Phase 4

The project is an ECSB code implementation program administered by the organization and supported by India-based Local Expert Partners. Its mission is to facilitate Eco Niwas Samhita (to be called ECSB) implementation in the state of Gujarat.
Gujarat and also extend the implementation in other states of India. The project uses the existing ENS platform and will support government organizations for further implementation. The project is organized into three main areas of focus:

• Integrate the ENS platform into Gujarat’s building approval system.
• Integrate the ECSB code into building bye-laws of Gujarat.
• Training of professionals (Create a pool of experts that will support the tool implementation)

2. Healthy Building Phase 2
The Healthy Buildings Phase-II project is administered by the organization and supported by Ashok B Lall Architects (ABLA). Its mission is to facilitate the implementation of healthy building design norms in revising the National Building Code (NBC, expected to be revised in 2024-25) at the central level (responsible agency – The Bureau of Indian Standards – BIS). The project uses the existing white paper for healthy, affordable homes developed by ABLA and will support central government organizations for integration in the revision cycle of the National Building Code.
The project is organized into three main areas of focus:

• Review the existing relevant Indian Standards (IS) developed by the BIS.
• Design Charrette for developers (Government Building and Private Building) to integrate Healthy building design intervention in their upcoming affordable housing sector project.
• Coordinate with central and state-level government authorities to integrate healthy building design norms in revising the National Building Code.

3. Uber of Charter, Phase 0 and 1
The building and Construction sector contributes to 40% of the global emissions, and 70% of the nation’s building footprint is yet to be built.
A charter approach to new coordinated action has been shown to work elsewhere. This is a kind of emergency coalition in which commercial players who may not usually interact will work together to decarbonize rapidly. The organization and its partners will support decarbonization efforts in the charters with promotions, technical information, strategic support, grantmaking, design charrettes, and facilitation.

4. CELLUAR, Phase 2
The project is a Clean Energy Living Lab – Urban Low Carbon Affordable Residences (CELLULAR) program administered by the organization and supported by the Regulatory Assistance Program (RAP). Its mission is to help governments and the private sector work together to decarbonize the building sector and achieve sustainable development goals by radically improving building performance.
The project is organized into 4 main areas of focus:

• Governments at all levels committed to the programme.
• Community outreach to several representative willing cohorts.
• Engaged researchers provide trial proposals and can execute.
• Outreach for funding of trials finds indicative or actual interest.

The Project Manager’s Scope of Works will include:
1. Assume operational management of the project according to the strategic and programmatic objectives of the organization in India.
2. Lead the design stage of the projects, using the organization’s design templates and following standardized processes to ensure all team members and defined partners are involved. Confirm activity planning, project work plans, M&E, and budget, and submit these for clearance.
3. Ensure harmonization of project design and timely delivery.
4. Prepare Terms of Reference (ToR) for all project personnel and consultants to be recruited to assist in the implementation of the project, as and when required.
5. Supervise and manage the project team members (if applicable) and experts working on the project, ensuring they deliver their outputs and outcomes on schedule, on budget, and with good quality.
6. Build partnerships and manage good relationships with clients, partners, and other key stakeholders, including donors and other international agencies.
7. Facilitate stakeholders’ discussions and deliver training and workshops.
8. Assume direct responsibility for managing the project operations, ensuring that:

• Projects, plans, and operations are executed smoothly and are aligned with the organization’s and stakeholder’s priorities and policies.
• Alignment is sought with the Donor’s expected high standard of technical quality and compliance with donor requirements as shared by GMG and the Country Manager.
• Project funds are properly disbursed, and supporting documents are kept in the shared drive.

9. Support the documentation of monitoring evaluation and learning activities of the assigned projects:

• To design the monitoring and evaluation report with indicators, targets, and timelines.
• To fill in the monitoring and evaluation periodic report with the latest data.
• To collect and tabulate results from the event feedback forms.
• Collect and document lessons learned from the project team.

10. Produce reports regularly, including oversee, review, and approve monthly update reports.
11. Communicate and coordinate with the Global ED/CEO, Portfolio Managers, Head of Finance and Admin, India’s Advisers, and other team members in resolving pending questions and issues.
12. Maintain a database of contacts for the projects.
13. Update information in the shared folders in Google Drive regularly.
14. Assist in programmatic planning, country strategy, grant proposal writing, and design of grant programs and in the design of new projects.
15. Ensure that the projects are being managed and tracked using the organization’s project management system, ClickUp – the workplan status and monitoring and evaluation indicators are kept up to date to provide accurate reporting data.
16. Support knowledge building and knowledge sharing.
17. Any other duties as may be assigned.

Qualifications

Educational Background:

o Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Business Administration, Engineering, and Architecture. A Master’s degree will be an added advantage.

Project Management Expertise:

o 7 years of overall experience.

o Proven experience managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders, preferably in the sustainable building, energy conservation, or environmental sector.

o Familiarity with project management tools and software, especially ClickUp or Monday.com, is desirable.

o Demonstrated ability in project planning, execution, monitoring, and evaluation.

Technical Knowledge:

o Strong understanding of building energy performance, sustainable built environments, and carbon mitigation strategies.

o Familiarity with Energy Conservation and sustainable building codes, the National Building Code, and related policies in India.

o Knowledge of the building and construction sector’s supply chain in India.

Leadership and Team Management:

o Experience supervising and leading diverse teams, including project coordinators and external consultants.

o Strong ability to provide direction, set clear objectives, and ensure timely and quality delivery of projects.

Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Building:

o Proven experience in building and maintaining relationships with government agencies, local authorities, industry partners, donors, and international agencies.

o Strong facilitation skills to lead stakeholder discussions, training sessions, and workshops.

Communication Skills:

o Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

o Ability to produce comprehensive reports and present complex information in a clear and concise manner.

o Proficiency in using Google Drive and other collaborative tools.

Budget and Financial Management:

o Experience in managing project budgets, ensuring proper disbursement of funds, and maintaining financial documentation.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

o Strong analytical skills and experience designing monitoring and evaluation frameworks, collecting and analyzing data, and documenting lessons learned.

Adaptability and Problem-solving:

o Ability to adapt to changing circumstances, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and solve problems efficiently.

Strategic Planning and Design:

o Experience in programmatic planning, country strategy development, and grant proposal writing.

Cultural Sensitivity:

o Understanding and sensitivity towards the cultural and local nuances of India, especially in the context of building policies and sustainable development.

Language Skills:

o Proficiency in English is a must. Knowledge of local Indian languages (Hindi and Gujarati) would be an advantage.

Geographical Familiarity:

o Knowledge of the local, state, and Central ministry dynamics of Housing, Power, and Climate Change in India, especially in Gujarat.

Ethical Considerations:

o Commitment to uphold and promote the values and mission of the organization. Adherence to ethical considerations and transparency in all dealings.

HOW TO APPLY

Please provide an application including the following:

1. CV;
2. Cover Letter;
3. Your daily rate in US Dollars.