Project Manager 1074 views

Job Title: Project Manager 

Location:  Banjul 

Reports to: Country Programme Manager – The Gambia 

Direct Reports: Project Officer(s)  

Key Relationships: Director of Programmes, Head of Strategy & Impact, Grants Finance Officer, Director of Fundraising, Communications Officer, Members of the WasteAid Gambia Team. 

Contract Duration:  1 year – with potential for renewal. 

About WasteAid 

WasteAid is an international non-governmental organisation that works in low and middle-income countries to implement environmental and economic development programmes, focusing on support to nascent green businesses and grassroots entrepreneurs.  The work improves the livelihoods of some of the poorest and most marginalised, promotes circular economy innovation and contributes to a cleaner and healthier future for all. 

WasteAid promotes and shares locally appropriate, evidence based and inclusive practices, supporting and empowering others to take positive action.  We partner with public, private and community-based organisations in countries where practices are harming the environment, economy and society.   

WasteAid in The Gambia 

WasteAid is delivering a growing portfolio of projects in The Gambia centred around the Greater Banjul Area. Our work focuses on supporting grassroots green businesses, first-step waste management systems and establishing a circular economy network. Our existing programme in The Gambia is funded by a combination of institutional, corporate and private donors. 

Job Purpose   

The Project Manager will have responsibility for delivering nominated project(s) in The Gambia – initially focusing on first-step waste management systems to support plastics recycling. The nature and number of projects to be managed will vary according to organisational needs and available funding. Reporting to the Country Programme Manager, the post-holder will lead the day-to-day delivery of high quality and impactful community-focused projects in the waste management and recycling sectors. With a small, but growing, project portfolio, the Project Manager will need to take a hands-on approach to supporting many different aspects of programme growth and delivery. 

Key Tasks & Responsibilities 

Project Delivery: 

• Develop and/or maintain an up-to-date activity plan for the project(s) ensuring that all staff and consultants involved in project delivery are aware of, and delivering in accordance with, the agreed timetable 

• Lead the timely delivery of project activities against the activity plan with support from direct reports, colleagues and external consultants as appropriate. 

• Ensure that project activities are professionally delivered in accordance with donor obligations and requirements and achieve value-for-money 

• Where project activities are being delivered with external support, ensure that the necessary legal agreements are in place supported by clear Terms of Reference (or similar) and that partners/consultants are held accountable for delivering to a high standard against them 

• Ensure that high-quality donor reports are submitted in line with contractual obligations. 

• In collaboration with the Country Programme Manager, ensure that project activities align with national waste management strategies and environmental policies 

Stakeholder Engagement: 

• Build strong relationships with project participants, Municipal Councils, businesses, government bodies, NGOs and other key stakeholders in the waste management space as is appropriate for the project(s)  

• Where appropriate, facilitate the establishment of strong partnerships between communities and private sector actors, for example recycling businesses and waste offtakers, to create sustainable market linkages. 

• Represent WasteAid externally, attending meetings and events as reasonably requested 

• Contribute to the creation of a positive image and credibility of WasteAid in The Gambia 

Financial & Resource Management: 

• Manage the project(s) budget, including tracking expenditure against available funds 

• Manage and report on cash advances issued to you for project delivery purposes 

• Ensure that all expenditure in incurred in accordance with contractual obligations and requirements and in line with WasteAid’s financial policies and processes 

• Ensure that all procurement is carried out in accordance with donor and WasteAid requirements 

• In collaboration with the Grants Finance Officer, ensure that high-quality accurate financial reports are submitted in accordance with donor requirements 

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL): 

• With technical support from the Head of Strategy and Impact, ensure that there is an appropriate MEL plan in place for the project(s) that aligns with donor requirements 

• Ensure that the MEL plans are followed, with relevant indicators data collected on a regular basis in line with project monitoring and reporting requirements 

• Where appropriate, coordinate the delivery of external assessments such as baseline or endline surveys, by external consultants 

• Document lessons learned and share insights with stakeholders to improve future interventions.  

Communications, External Relations & Business Development: 

• Work in partnership with WasteAid’s communications staff in the UK to ensure that an appropriate communications strategy is in place for the project(s) that aligns with internal and external (donor) requirements. 

• Provide a regular flow of information and updates on project delivery for dissemination though WasteAid’s online and offline communications channels. 

• Attend and contribute to WasteAid project and team meetings, ensuring the Senior Management Team are kept up to date on the progress against key milestones set for the project(s); and ensuring activities reflect WasteAid technical recommendations. 

• Proactively seek to identify opportunities for additional funding or partnerships to expand the project 

• Support with developing funding proposals for new projects in The Gambia 

Line Management 

• Lead and motivate direct reports, providing them with the guidance and support needed to thrive in their roles 

• Contribute to fostering a positive and collaborative ‘remote working’ spirit amongst staff in The Gambia 

• Monitor the performance of direct reports in line with their job description and objectives. 

• Lead by example, promoting and demonstrating best practice behaviours that align with the WasteAid Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policies. 

Perform other duties as assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed in this document are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and not necessarily all inclusive. 

Person Specification 

Knowledge, Qualifications & Experience 

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field; or equivalent combination of qualifications and practical experience. (Essential) 

• Experience of leading project delivery in the development or other relevant sectors (Essential) 

• Experience of working on donor-funded projects, including ensuring adherence to donor requirements and producing reports for donors (Essential) 

• Experience of engaging with communities to implement locally led initiatives, with a strong focus on participation, capacity-building, and sustainability (Essential) 

• Budget and/or expenditure management experience (Essential) 

• Proven ability to lead, manage, and motivate others (Desirable) 

• Experience of remote line management (Desirable) 

• Experience of working with monitoring & evaluation tools and frameworks (Desirable) 

• Knowledge of the waste management and/or recycling sectors in The Gambia (Desirable) 

Skills & Abilities 

• Outstanding verbal communication skills; and the ability to build productive relationships with a wide range of different stakeholders and audiences (Essential) 

• Excellent written communication skills; and the ability to produce high-quality written documents such as donor reports (Essential) 

• Good decision-making skills, and able to make good judgements on when your decisions need validating by a more senior staff member. (Essential) 

• Excellent organisational skills (Essential) 

Personal Qualities 

• Self-motivated, with the ability to independently manage your workstreams and workload (Essential) 

• Excellent relationship-building skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with many different types of stakeholders ranging from informal waste collectors to government officials. (Essential) 

• Flexible, solution-orientated attitude to managing the delivery of project activities in a logistically challenging context (Essential) 

Guidance for Applicants 

To apply please send your CV, salary history/expectations for this role, and a covering letter (no more than 2 pages) explaining your interest in the role and how your profile aligns with the criteria laid out in the person specification by email to recruitment@wasteaid.org with Project Manager – The Gambia in the email subject box. 

Deadline for applications is Sunday 30th March 2025.  

Please note that WasteAid may review, shortlist and interview candidates prior to the closing date so we encourage all candidates to apply as soon as possible. If we receive a very high response, we may close the vacancy early and will not accept further submissions. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applicants will ideally be already based in The Gambia and have the right to live and work in the country.  

The successful applicant will be salaried in GBP, paid from the UK, and required to take responsibility for deduction and remittance of their own taxes and other statutory payments in The Gambia. 

WasteAid is an equal opportunities employer, and we encourage applications from candidates from historically underrepresented groups.