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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. Page 1 July 2015 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 Page 2 July 2015 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. Page 3 July 2015 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. 1 Page 4 July 2015 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 Page 5 Advantage to have an existing or past base in relevant region(s).