The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center is seeking a competent and & multi skilled candidate to join its headquarters in Battaramulla, Sri Lanka, as a Portfolio Manager.
The Project Management Office (PMO) serves as the interface for researchers and Project Leaders, assisting them in successfully implementing projects. The Portfolio Manager collaborates with Project Leaders to facilitate the delivery of a project portfolio in a region. In close collaboration with Project Leaders, the Portfolio Manager ensures efficient and on-time initiation, planning, implementation, monitoring, and closing of projects.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
while the Project Leader is accountable for the implementation of the research projects and its deliveries, the Portfolio Manager will collaborate with Project Leaders and be responsible for monitoring, supporting, and liaising with units to ensure timely delivery of projects in line with donor requirements.
Specific duties of this position include: (to be adapted to the specific duties and challenges and complexity of the project(s), countries, etc.)
Support to Project Leaders,
The Portfolio Manager will work on a portfolio of IWMI projects executed in a particular region, which could include one or many country offices. Collaborate and problem-solve with the relevant Project Leaders to successfully deliver all the projects in the designated region. Facilitate and coordinate the delivery (in collaboration with the project leader and team) of key project management documents, including work plan, budget, and a project which includes human resource and procurement requirements, communication requirements, a monitoring and evaluation plan, financial and technical reporting plan, partner contracts, project deliverables, and an end-of-project transition plan. Facilitate the process of creating and maintaining Data Management Plans, Smartsheet files, and Risk registers together with the Project leaders. Support the Project Leader in managing the project in line with IWMI\u2019s project management standards and processes, ensuring compliance with project terms and conditions of contracts and internal administrative rules. Coordinate the timely submission of high-quality documents (e.g., work plan, financial and technical reports) to the donor in collaboration with the Project Leader. Monitor and regularly update Project Leaders on progress against the project budget and work plan, and review and update where applicable. Support Project Leaders in coordinating regular project team meetings, including annual planning and reflection meetings. Revisit the work plan annually and ensure the budget is updated to reflect the same (in the last quarter of the year). Provide central administrative support to Project Leaders throughout the project lifecycle, including initiating the project, continuous review and reporting, the delivery of outputs, and project closure. Respond to Project Leaders and other staff queries on work plan modifications, completion of deliverables, budgets, and resource allocation. Review and provide comments on draft Partnership Agreements, MoUs, and Service Agreements to ensure compliance with IWMI policies. Undertake missions to country offices to deliver project management training and capacity development activities.Strengthening Project Management Systems,
Ensure that the Project Management Office team is informed of deviations from planned project activities and issues arising in project implementation and management. Alert the appropriate staff when a project is at risk or deviating from the work plan and provide recommendations for corrective action where applicable. Escalate issues as necessary and follow through until they are resolved. Collect and maintain project-specific data, metrics, and information available in the Project Management System (part of ERP) and other reporting templates so that the information is current, accurate, and available on demand to project leaders, team members, PMO, and decision-makers. This should include, but not be limited to, general portfolio information, resource allocations, expenditures, and the progress of research activities. Coordinate with other research support sections such as Finance, HR, Legal, and CKM (Communications & Knowledge Management) to expedite the resolution of project-related matters and any issues. Reduce the administrative burden on project leaders and researchers where possible through improving processes, providing access to program-relevant information, and coordinating project administration activities with the administrative staff of research themes, regional offices, and other divisions. Plan and execute capacity-building and training of relevant regional offices involving all country office roles in relation to the areas of Project Management. i.e., strengthening the project management capacity of in-country IWMI teams. Support PMO in conducting strategic program-wise portfolio reviews. Perform other duties as directed by the supervisor.Requirements
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:
Essential,
Desirable,
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or a similar qualification is desirable.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:
Essential,
Knowledge of project management systems (such as Smartsheet), financial management, and reporting systems. Advanced skills in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, MS Project, etc.) and/or other database applications. Excellent analytical skills. Ability to adapt to changing priorities and new procedures quickly. Ability to deal with sensitive and confidential information in a professional manner. Personal attributes such as high standards of conduct, respect, flexibility, and sound work ethics. Ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural setting. Demonstrable knowledge in Project management standards, practices, and processes for the effective implementation of projects. Proven Knowledge in monitoring, evaluation, and learning standards, practices, and processes for the effective implementation of projects.COMPETENCIES:
Essential,
Interpersonal skills. Teamwork. Pragmatism. Reliability. Analytical skills.Benefits
This is a nationally recruited position and only Sri Lankan nationals will be considered. IWMI offers a competitive salary and benefits package, inclusive of health insurance, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, and long-term disability coverage. The duration of the contract will initially be for a period of three years with the possibility of extension.
HOW TO APPLY: Apply for the position by following the application instructions at www.iwmi.org/jobs. We will be accepting applications through 24:00 (IST) on December 08, 2023 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis). Your application must include a CV, cover letter, and three (3) references, which may be contacted if you are shortlisted. Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary working environment. We are consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.