Project Manager | Podgorica, Montenegro | 2022

Chemonics seeks a Project Manager for the UK Government-funded Western Balkans Rule of Law Initiative (WBROLI). The WBROLI Transparency and Accountability Project Manager will report to the Team Leader and will coordinate the transparency and accountability programming in Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Serbia. This position will be based in Montenegro and will cover the WBROLI transparency and accountability workstream in the region. We are looking for individuals who are passionate about improving transparency & accountability and generating long-term change.

This $7 million, 3-year program’s primary objective is to reduce the threat and impact of SOC, including illicit financial flows and corruption, in the Western Balkans and impacting the UK. It will do this in two ways firstly, by delivering criminal justice programming in Kosovo and Montenegro working mostly with justice service providers and secondly, by delivering transparency & accountability programming in Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Serbia working with government, key judicial institutions, HMG stakeholders, and civil society.

Programming will include technical assistance as well as support through a flexible activity fund. WBROLI will also explore the scope for regional convening and sharing lessons learned. WBROLI conducted a brief scoping phase from January to April 2022 and then transitioned into delivery in May 2022.

Project Managers must have the right to work in the country for which they are applying. Some regional travel across the Western Balkans may be required. Project Manager will report to the Team Leader.

Responsibilities:

• Support the design of and manage a portfolio of transparency and accountability interventions, mostly consisting of grants, tailored to combat SOC
• Lead the activity fund development and implementation process with an adaptive, flexible approach, which prioritizes key learnings and responsiveness to changing context
• Support project leadership team in the design and development of workstream-level strategies, workplan and budget that reflect program and embassy priorities and local needs
• Submission of timely qualitative and quantitative country and/or workstream-level reports in support of wider program monitoring, evaluation and research aims, including financial reporting
• Work with the fellow Project Managers and Operations & Finance Team on calls for proposals, the management grants and communication with and management of grantees
• Coordinate inputs from short-term technical advisors, including logistics support as needed
• Maintain regular communications with British Embassies and with the program’s regional office to highlight key challenges and issues and ensure compliance and procedural accuracy in procurement and other activities
• Work closely with other WBROLI SOC Project Managers to ensure cross-learning and collaboration and sharing of good practice
• Maintain detailed and timely data records for accurate analysis
• Maintain strong and positive working relationships with clients and partners including embassy program teams, local governments, program partners, grantees, and consultants
• Maintain strong and positive working relationships with the rest of the program team
• Regular engagement with stakeholders and beneficiaries (to include ministries, key justice sector actors, media, and civil society organizations)

Qualifications:

• Extensive experience in program design, coordination, and management as well as grant management and working with grantees, in particular budget development, management, and financial reporting
• Deep understanding of transparency and accountability and of the role it plays in combatting SOC
• Proven experience in successful stakeholder management across a range of disciplines including civil society, media, and justice service providers
• Proven experience in developing qualitative and quantitative reports for monitoring and evaluation purposes
• Ability to work effectively, independently, and in a team environment with a broad range of local and international personnel and partners
• Strong interpersonal, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Exceptional command of the English language, including oral and written communication skills and report writing for donors
• Equipped to navigate complex and high-pressure operating environments, working to tight timelines
• Well versed in the use of Microsoft Office (including Excel and Word)
• Experience developing and managing programs and/or portfolios on transparency & accountability
• Experience developing and managing grants programs and working with grantees
• Experience delivering programming to combat Serious Organized Crime
• Experience in program management and technical delivery for donor-funded programs, in particular compliance and both technical and financial reporting
• Relevant regional experience across the Western Balkans
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
• In-depth knowledge of the country’s political environment