Manager (Sierra Leone) - Governance & Stability

Vacancy type: Manager levels 1-3

Location: Freetown, Sierra Leone (at least 50% of time, up to full-time)

Service area(s): Governance & Stability

About ASI

Adam Smith International is a strategic development company that helps people prosper by making economies stronger, societies safer, and governments more effective. Our clients are governments, international organisations, companies, and foundations. They come to us to develop strategies and to design, deliver and evaluate programmes that, in turn, stimulate growth, stability and good governance.

Our core team of managers and technical experts, in offices around the world, ensures the quality of delivery and high ethical standards that we and our clients require. We bring together a global network of specialist experts, who contribute their experience and know-how, where and when it is needed.

ASI is owned and operated by its employees, and we are all dedicated to making a meaningful difference in complex, challenging situations. We are committed to corporate integrity and a triple bottom line of social, environmental and financial performance.

About the role

ASI’s Governance and Stability Practice is responsible for supporting the design and delivery of our work focused on strengthening governance and enhancing stability around the world. The practice covers centre of government reform, local government reform, public financial management, anti-corruption and illicit financial flows, and civil society development and education under the rubric of governance and stabilisation, countering violent extremism, countering disinformation, security sector reform, conflict reduction. We place a strong emphasis on gender and social inclusion in all of our programming and have a particular focus on the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

Our work takes place in a range of fragile and conflict affected states as well as more stable countries. We work in places ranging from Pakistan and Myanmar to Iraq, Syria and Palestine, Ukraine, Georgia and Latvia, to Somalia, Nigeria, Ghana and Mali.

We are currently looking to fill a Manager role which will be based in Freetown, Sierra Leone at least 50% of the time and ideally full-time. The Manager is expected to oversee the start-up and delivery of a new multi-million pound FCDO-funded programme, which is focused on public financial management reform and supporting the Government of Sierra Leone to attract private finance for infrastructure investments. The Manager will also support business develop activities with a particular focus on: (1) public financial management projects; and (2) the West Africa region. This is an exciting role managing an important programme and with considerable growth potential within ASI.

Key tasks and responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

Project Management:

• Support the Project Director in the successful management of projects to terms of reference, time, quality, cost and donor and Government satisfaction. This will include support in the following areas of project management:

1. Financial and budget management, client invoicing and financial forecasting
2. Operations management
3. HR management and recruitment
4. Implementing partner management
5. Financial and narrative programme reporting
6. Monitoring project deliverables and workplan execution
7. Team management
8. Risks & issues management
9. Event logistics & management

• Build strong working relationships with project associates, ensuring they feel part of the ASI ‘family’, and support them to ensure job satisfaction; and with ASI technical, geographic and finance teams.
• Supporting the Project Director in engaging with and managing relations with project clients on a day-to-day basis.

Platform Management

• Support the Governance & Stability team leadership to ensure that ASI’s in-country operations are compliant and meet ASI’s Duty of Care obligations.
• Support in-country platform staff in ensuring that ASI’s operations meet ASI corporate’s standards.

Business development

• Research business development opportunities and helping to develop a pipeline of opportunities in Sierra Leone, as agreed with Line Manager
• Take on ad hoc, discrete and accountable roles in technical and commercial proposals and be an effective member of bid teams, as agreed with Line Manager, with a particular focus on public financial management proposals.

REQUIREMENTS

About you

A Manager should have the ability to build effective relationships with clients from a wide range of professional and cultural backgrounds, and to work effectively in politically sensitive and challenging environments. He/she should relish working in a team, should be innovative, energetic, positive, and genuinely committed to making a lasting contribution to the reduction of conflict and poverty. 

Adam Smith International seeks the following skills and experience:

• An under-graduate degree in international development, international relations, political science, economics or other relevant fields;
• Demonstrable interest and experience, 2-5 years, in the technical areas of the Governance and Stability team – and ideally in public financial management reform specifically;
• Demonstrated experience of initiative, planning and organisation skills, results-focus and working in complex and time-pressured contexts;
• Outstanding written English and oral communication skills;
• Excellent inter-personal skills and team-work;
• Strong attention to detail;
• The ideal candidate could be a Sierra Leone national however, an appropriate benefits package will be provided if the shortlisted candidate is an international hire.  
• Willingness to travel at short notice and work in other developing countries;
• Enthusiasm and flexibility; and
• Strong IT skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

This Manager role is intended for an international development professional with 2-5 years of relevant experience, ideally with some demonstrable experience in public financial management. Managers at this level have responsibility for overseeing programme delivery in fragile and conflict affected contexts, and will normally be responsible for managing teams of seasoned technical experts. It will require an individual who can quickly master the technical background of the programmes, an ability to manage teams of experienced professionals and gain the respect and trust of senior experts and counterparts, and a calm and level-headed approach to dealing with issues that arise during programme implementation. ASI’s Governance and Stability portfolio is expanding and this position offers candidates the chance to support this growing area of work.

What We Offer You

As an employee-owned company, our people are at the heart of our strategy and our decisions. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, a dynamic and friendly team environment, the opportunity to support a highly successful portfolio of programmes, and support to develop your skills and progress in your career.

The diversity of our workforce makes ASI a great place to work, more creative and resourceful, and underpins strong partnerships. We keep a sharp focus on diversity and inclusion, including through our Equality Action Plan and our Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and through leadership from our Executive Team and oversight by our Board.

We recognise the importance of your life outside of work. We are proud to support flexible working arrangements, and commit to make a success of flexible working arrangements wherever possible. We’ve built a culture to reflect our values, full of likeminded professionals who are smart, passionate and great at what they do.

Ready to Apply?

We would love to hear from you. Please submit a CV (no more than 2 pages) and short cover letter.

Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis and assessments and interviews will be conducted within a week of being contacted.

Shortlisted applicants only will be contacted. Thank you for your consideration.

We are committed to equal opportunities and creating an inclusive environment for all our employees. We welcome applicants regardless of ethnic origin, national origin, gender, race, colour, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation or age. # We’re Happy to talk flexible working.