Project Manager

Job Description

Position Title: Project Manager

Location: Malawi
Reporting to: Project Director

Contract Type: Associate Consultant/ Staff

Duration: Full time

Start Date: ASAP

I. Background and Context

The Malawi Anti-Corruption Civil Society Support (MACCSS) programme (August 2024-March 2026) led by Adam Smith International (ASI), aims to enhance accountability and transparency for better service delivery. The programme will engage civil society, private sector, media, and state agencies to co-develop interventions that strengthen accountability systems and empower citizens in the democratic process.

To achieve its aims, MACCSS will focus on creating a broad-based coalition with actors across the government, civil society, media and private sector. Through a combination of strategic capacity building activities, civic awareness, and advocacy interventions, MACCSS will improve compliance with and strengthen Malawi’s anti-corruption framework. In addition, MACCSS will coordinate with other international donors and partners to ensure the project’s activities are complementary, non-duplicative and leverages opportunities to engage with other programmes and maximise impact.

The programme aims to deliver its actions flexibly and adaptively, ensuring interventions are demand-driven, gender sensitive, context-responsive, and adaptive to emerging opportunities.

II. Role

The Project Manager will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day implementation of MACCSS, ensuring effective delivery of activities, management of resources, and achievement of programme objectives. They will work closely with the core team, short term technical experts, and implementing partners to coordinate the operational success of MACCSS.

III. Responsibilities

Project Management and Reporting:

Lead project implementation and coordination processes, including financial management, risk management, and reporting

Monitor the workplan, supporting and holding the Team Leader accountable for delivery

Ensure optimum consultant inputs and achievement of desired results through regular performance reviews with the Team Leader, tracking consultant burn rates, and escalating performance issues to Project Director as needed

Support Project Director and Team Leader in formulating workplans and delivery plans

Develop and agree reporting templates with FCDO, submitting regular reports in collaboration with Team Leader and Project Director

Brief donors regularly on implementation progress through formal reporting (Inception Report, Quarterly Reports, Annual Review) and provide updates on major issues and bottlenecks on an ad hoc basis

Assist in the compilation of final reports focusing on progress against logframe milestones and targets

Serve as Line Manager to Finance and Grants Manager and Office Manager

Financial Management and Risk Management:

Monitor and analyse programme costs with the Finance and Grants Manager, maintaining detailed knowledge of MACCSS budget and contract

Oversee the complete client invoicing cycle including processing invoices, tracking payments, managing supporting documentation, and ensuring compliance with payment schedules

Lead on MACCSS budget development and coordinate quarterly reviews with all stakeholders, providing accurate financial forecasting and early communication to donors on changes

Manage implementing partners’ financial oversight including budget analysis, expenditure tracking, capacity building, and payment request approvals

Maintain oversight of project resources through staff time tracking, timesheet management and approval, and administration of ASI’s OS financial management system

Serve as focal point for programmatic risk management, maintaining risk matrix and ensuring timely reporting of any incidents to donors and Project Director/Team Leader

Stakeholder Management and Coordination:

Coordinate with implementing partners

Facilitate effective communication and collaboration among programme partners

Support development of strategic partnerships to enhance programme impact

Represent MACCSS at relevant forums and meetings

Ensure strong working relationships with donors

IV. Qualifications and Skills

University level degree in Political Science, International Development, International Relations, Public Policy, or related field

Excellent writing skills

Strong Excel and financial management skills

Fluency in English

Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment

V. Reporting

The Project Manager reports to the Project Director and works closely with internal and external stakeholders.

About the Organization

Adam Smith International Limited (ASIL) has built upon the original ideas of Adam Smith as these apply to policy and practice in modern economic development and government reform. The practical policy reforms advanced by ASIL to promote the benefits of competition and individual liberty have been central to the social and economic success of many societies and their governments throughout the world. ASIL's philosophy stems from a group of core values, which we have applied to the problems of developing and transitional countries all over the world. These values focus on fostering: - Competitive markets - Honest government - Individual liberties ASIL's consulting and training divisions, informed by these values, have helped many governments to reduce poverty and improve the living standards of their people. ASIL's areas of advisory, consultancy and training work include: - Enterprise restructuring and corporate governance - Public administration and governance reform - Utility restructuring and regulation - Infrastructure privatisation policy and execution - Trade reform - Conflict resolution and negotiations support Our focus is on the provision of cutting edge economic and governance thinking underpinned by practical support for ministers, officials, managers and citizens at all levels. We work with governments, enterprises and aid agencies on a short or long term project basis, or through tailor-made training programmes.