Project Manager – Technical At Ark Group

Location: ARK is keen to hear from candidates based in or willing to move to Aden or Amman. Other locations would be considered on a case-by-case basis but travel to both locations will be required

Reporting to: Head of Projects

Contract type: 12-month FTC

Hours: Full time

Closing date: Thursday 4th July 2024

Start date: November 2024

**This role is contingent on successful award of project

About ARK

ARK is a social enterprise, empowering local communities through the provision of agile and sustainable interventions to create greater stability, opportunity and hope for the future.

We believe that strong, resilient communities are the foundation of local, national, regional and international development and stability – and ultimately a safer, peaceful and more prosperous world. At ARK, we have delivered research and programmatic interventions validating this approach in over twenty countries since 2008. As a social enterprise we work in partnership with communities, our donors, and other implementers to build local capacities, generate opportunity and bring about sustainable change.

Learn more about our impact here: https://www.ark.international/impact

About the Role

ARK is expecting to expand its current Yemen project portfolio and is seeking an experienced project manager for a flexible funding mechanism in Republic of Yemen Government (ROYG) areas to support stabilisation and improve governance in southern Yemen. The project will be delivered through a series of Technical Assistance Ventures (TAVs) that could include capacity building mechanisms, including training and mentoring, co-developing strategies and policies, and development of services and processes. The project will leverage Yemeni and international expertise to deliver TAVs that support ROYG institutions that contribute to improved governance and support peace process activities.

The project manager is responsible for overseeing the planning, implementation, and completion of all activities within the project. These include:

• Project Planning: Developing detailed project plans, including timelines, budgets, and resource allocation.
• Team Leadership: Leading and coordinating project teams, often composed of diverse members from different backgrounds and locations.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging with key stakeholders, such as local communities, government officials, donors, and partner organizations, to ensure project alignment and maintain support.
• Risk Management: Identifying potential risks to project success and implementing strategies to mitigate them.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Working closely with MEAL colleagues to monitor project progress against established goals and objectives, and conducting regular evaluations to assess impact and effectiveness.
• Budget Management: Managing project finances, including budgeting, tracking expenses, and ensuring compliance with donor requirements.
• Reporting and Communication: Providing regular updates and reports to stakeholders, donors, and project partners to ensure transparency and accountability.
• Adaptation and Innovation: Being adaptable and innovative in response to changing circumstances, such as shifts in funding, political dynamics, or community needs.

As Project Manager you will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to deliver a range of TAVs that demonstrably use research insights to design interventions that improve ROYG governance mechanisms and support peacebuilding initiatives. You will liaise closely with Yemeni and international community stakeholders to share knowledge and build consensus in support of the project.

Success in this role will mean research outputs have been successfully leveraged in the design of interventions that meaningfully increase governance and conflict mediation capacities in Yemen, and all activities have been delivered on time, within budget and compliantly.

Requirements

Essential experience & skills:

• Experience in Challenging Environments: Proven experience working in Yemen or similar fragile contexts within the MENA region.
• Governance and Technical Assistance: Demonstrated ability in implementing effective governance and technical assistance programmes in fragile and conflict affected states.
• Local Engagement and Collaboration: Track record of successful collaboration with local implementing organisations, stakeholders, and partners within the country.
• Donor Relations Management: Experience managing multi-donor funded projects, with a strong ability to nurture relationships and effectively communicate with multiple donors.
• Government Relations: Ability to establish and maintain relationships with government ministries and officials, fostering productive partnerships.
• Conflict-Sensitive Programming: Deep understanding of the conflict landscape and dynamics to design and deliver capacity-building initiatives effectively.
• Policy Engagement and Evidence-Based Programming: Proficiency in engaging in political and policy discussions, utilising real-time evidence to drive adaptive programming and ensure coherence across interventions.
• Flexible Funding Mechanisms: Demonstrated proficiency in implementing flexible funding mechanisms that allow for adaptive and responsive project outputs.
• Conflict Sensitivity and Gender Mainstreaming: Thorough understanding and application of conflict sensitivity and gender-sensitive programming principles throughout project design and implementation.

Essential competencies

• Team Leadership: Accountability for work delegated to others (peers, team members, experts, etc.), encouraging people with opposing viewpoints to express their concerns and able to resolve conflict among team members sensitively and fairly
• Building Working Relationships: Maintain a network of contacts that benefit the organization and leverage those relationships to achieve organizational objectives. Shows the ability to influence and negotiate effectively with stakeholders
• Communication: Skilled in actively listening, empathising, and fostering open dialogue, facilitating mutual understanding and collaboration among stakeholders.
• Planning and Organisation: Ability to effectively manage complex projects, timelines, and resources, demonstrating strong attention to detail in all aspects of work, ensuring accuracy and completeness.

Benefits

Why join ARK?

• Comprehensive Benefits: Life and private medical insurance, communications allowance.
• Impactful Work: Your expertise will directly impact the lives of those in need.
• Global Reach: Collaborate with international experts and local stakeholders.
• Innovation: Engage in pioneering solutions for sustainable change.

Our People

Our team covers a diverse range of professional backgrounds, from diplomacy, humanitarian, development and the military, to the UN, civil society groups, multilateral organisations, journalism and the private sector.

An ARK Person Is:

Smart: We think deeply about things. We’re proud of our institutional knowledge and our grounding in rigorous research, which we use to make informed decisions.

Humble: Our work leaves little room for pride or arrogance. Our operating environment is constantly evolving, and we recognise out limitations. We believe in and rely on the education and experiences of others while remaining quick to read, invite feedback, and ask sensible questions.

Accountable: Each of us want ARK, its partners, and beneficiaries to succeed. This means taking initiative, assuming ownership when necessary and never giving up on our beneficiaries. We are committed and accountable, to both our donors and the communities we serve.

Collegiate: We know we are stronger together and that every contribution counts. We trust each other and always support each other.

Outspoken: We tackle diverse challenges and we always want to find the best solution to a problem. We aren’t afraid to share our opinions and we want to hear those of others too.

ARK Group is an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. ARK Group does not discriminate on the basis of ability, age, gender identity or expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs or sexual orientation. We welcome all kinds of diversity. ARK Group places human dignity at the centre of its development and stabilisation work and is this committed to the protection from sexual exploitation and abuse of children and adults. All ARK Group employees and related personnel are expected to share this commitment and only those who also uphold these values will be recruited as part of our team. This vacancy is therefore subject to a range of due diligence checks.