Download Position Summary: Project Manager/ Senior

July 2015
Position Summary:
Project Manager/ Senior Manager
(x3)
Aktis is growing rapidly and is currently seeking to engage three new mid-level
Project Managers (PQE minimum 3 years) or proven Senior Project Managers
(PQE minimum 5 years). Two project managers to take up trusted delivery roles
for projects in the Middle East and one to engage in growing the Aktis project
portfolio in North Africa and East Africa (shifting to project management in one
of these areas in 3-6 months).
Reporting to:
Contract type:
Time commitment:
Location(s) & Travel:
Regional Manager or Director
Permanent position
Full time, with start as soon as possible
1. Gaziantep base with Middle East regional
travel
2. Beirut base with Middle East regional travel
3. Tunis base with travel in North Africa and split
role (initially 3-6 months) with East Africa
Travel will also be required to London and potentially
other global locations, including extensively in Fragile
and Conflict Affected States (FCAS). A base in London
with 60-70% travel may also be feasible for any of
the above roles.
Focus of work:
Language requirement:
Roles (1) and (2) have a focus on Project
Management, with some technical delivery of
evaluation/ stabilisation projects. Role (3) focused on
business development initially, converting into Project
Management in future.
MUST HAVE: English (full fluent professional
proficiency)
Preferred: Arabic (minimum fluent conversational
proficiency) and/or French (advanced conversational
proficiency – not yet fluent acceptable)
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 if the applicant has a suitable
passport to travel freely in UK, Middle East, North
and East Africa.
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Recruitment process:
Initial skype or face to face interview screening,
followed by scenario-based interview with senior
Aktis staff and collection of references.
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 roles (x3)
Aktis is recruiting three Project Managers (PQE+3) / Senior Project Managers
(PQE+5) (grade will depend on skills and experience) to support our growing
project portfolio around the world.
Two positions will be focused on delivering Aktis’ currently contracted
programme of work in the Middle East, with a particular focus on work in
Lebanon and Syria (from Beirut) and in Syria (from Gaziantep, Turkey). Other
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.
One position will be focused on building on Aktis’ existing project platform in
North and East Africa, by engaging in active business development, and
leading market positioning and tender processes over 3-6 months, shifting into
a project management role if desired once new projects have been secured in
one or both of those regions. The incumbent could continue to split time
between the regions or choose to focus on one region specifically. Work will be
largely in Tunisia, for Libya (from Tunisia), as well as in and for Kenya, Somalia
and Somaliland (with time in Tunis, Nairobi, Hargeisa and Mogadishu). Some
travel to other locations in North and East Africa, and travel to the UK will also
be required from time to time.
The successful applicant will take up a trusted manager position in the company
with the opportunity to help shape the future direction of the Aktis business in
the relevant region to which they are appointed, and generally. Senior
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applicants may also be invited to join the Aktis Senior Management Team
responsible for business operations.
Summary of responsibilities
The three roles may each involve work in the following four areas. The ideal
balance of capabilities and experience between these four areas will differ for
each role. Roles (1) and (2) in the Middle East will prioritise area 1 (project
management). Role (3) will, at least initially for 3-6 months, prioritise capability
in area 2 (business development).
(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 mediumlarge 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) Products 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 enduser beneficiaries.
Taking note of the differing focus for roles (1) and (2) from role (3) initially, the
successful applicants will be expected to be able to:

Lead project management of medium-large sized (£150,000 - £3m) multiyear 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.
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
Take an oversight and compliance assurance role with regard to risk, safety
and security coordination and field team monitoring within the Levant
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 Levant region.

Take a lead role on the planning, preparation, delivery and quality assuring
of written submissions and deliverables in English.
Location
Role (1) would ideally be based in Gaziantep, Turkey for 60-70% of the time, or
full time. Additional travel to Istanbul and throughout the Middle East region
and to the UK would be expected on a semi-regular basis1.
Role (2) would ideally be based in Beirut, Lebanon full time with travel
throughout the Middle East region and to the UK expected on a semi-regular
basis1.
Role (3) would be based in any of Tunis, Nairobi or London with regular travel
throughout East Africa 30-40% of the time and to Tunisia and the
Sahel/Maghreb region 30-40% of the time with routine travel between North
and East Africa and to the UK on a regular monthly basis.
Requirements/ advantages:
1. Minimum Master’s degree in 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 or five years’ PQE for the SM role, in a management consulting,
project management or related sector, with demonstrated capability
delivering work.
For example, monthly to Istanbul, every two months to UK, occasionally to Lebanon,
Jordan, Kurdish Autonomous Region amongst other possible locations.
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3. English (essential that applicant has fully fluent written and spoken
proficiency), Arabic (full conversational fluency) and/or French
(conversational proficiency).
4. Willingness and ability to travel freely in UK, and throughout relevant
region(s).
o
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Advantage to have an existing or past base in relevant region(s).