Project Officer – Consultancy Services and Applied Research Projects

The Project Officer provides a range of project management and support services, including preparation of reports and briefs, coordinating resources, maintaining project documentation and implementing and monitoring project plans.

Job Overview
The Project Officer provides a range of project management and support services, including preparation of reports and briefs, coordinating resources, maintaining project documentation and implementing and monitoring project plans, to ensure project outcomes are achieved on time, on budget, to quality standards and within agreed scope, in line with established agency project management methodology. Moreover, Project Officer prepares and maintains project documentation for reporting, monitoring and evaluation purposes to ensure accessibility of quality information and contribute to the achievement of project outcomes.

Additionally, the Project Officer communicates with key stakeholders and coordinates working groups, committees and consultations to facilitate exchange of information and support project completion in line with project plans. Also, this position is responsible for sourcing, collating and compiling data and information to identify emerging issues and track and report on project progress against established milestones and deliverables. Furthermore, the position holder undertakes research and analysis, identifying trends and preparing project briefs, to support informed decision-making and planning. This position is also responsible for pursuing grant funding with a view to increasing the revenues of the School through industry and applied research projects.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Responsibility for researching, writing, compiling, and managing the timeline of all grants including maintenance and oversight of workflow processes and procedures to ensure accurate and efficient collection and timely submission.
• Writes grant applications and all reports and conducts prospect research on new opportunities grant funding and industry or applied research that align with the SCHSBM’s vision and mission.
• Provides links between programme, finance, and other staff so that all activities related to grant data collection and reporting are smoothly implemented.
• Leads the preparation of periodic reports and other project outputs for public and commercial clients as well as project funders.
• Leads and assists activities to ensure the School is well positioned for arising funding opportunities and academic-driven commercial project opportunities.
• Responds to requests for special reports, collaterals, and non-grant materials with a strategic perspective.
• Engaging with appropriate stakeholders from education, training, business and industry, community and cultural organisations, government bodies and commissions, to achieve the School’s vision.
• Seeks out opportunities for consultancy and research across the private, public and nongovernmental sector.
• Manages and coordinates the preparation and delivery of a range of planning and development related to projects.
• Pursues various opportunities for applied research projects and grants through project proposals and project bids.
• Liases with senior management and the manager for consultancy services and applied research projects to provide updates on projects and consultancies.
• Preparing and presenting proposals for projects including proposals for funding.
• Leads the creation and development of digital solutions with the use of Big Data.
• Analyses data models to deliver logical conclusions and insights to the clients and internal and external stakeholders.
• Develops innovative solutions for operational and strategic changes in the School through analysing and optimising the operations and systems of the School.
• Takes accountability for tracking/reporting of project/programme metrics, including budgeting and financial progress reporting.
• Develops and maintains a communications framework for projects that would include websites and dissemination materials.
• Conducts tests, surveys, and workshops for industry collaborations.
• Liaising, influencing and communicating with client/customer representatives and other project stakeholders.
• Identifies and provides necessary documentation for bids and projects.
• Collates, edits, and prepares reports and presentations and conducts research and policy work.
• Provides support through existing project management responsibilities such as management of project plans, gant charts, and maintenance of requirement documents.
• Manages and monitors project budgets and meets annual revenue targets related to the generation of grant funding and revenue from industrial and applied research projects.
• Ensures that project results are made available to the relevant people, providing feedback to project managers, project teams and other staff as necessary.
• Monitors the progress of a project against agreed and documented time and budget targets while ensuring appropriate quality standards are maintained.
• Liaises with Project Managers and Senior Project Managers to enable appropriate project resourcing.
• Ensures that reporting is complete and checked according to the quality control process before it is issued.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to multitask.
• Must be able to work independently and make critical decisions.
• Must be able to accept criticism and deal calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
• Excellent communication skills, including high standards of written communication, grammar and spelling.
• The sensitivity to manage confidential student and faculty matters
• Ability to draft high-quality, clear and concise analyses and reports.
• Ability to provide technical assistance for the development of policies and frameworks at country level.
• Ability to conduct analytical studies and prepare presentations on project implementation.
• Ability to design instruments for the monitoring and evaluation of project activities.
• Excellent project management skills, including budgeting and monitoring of projects and activities.
• Excellent management, coordination, and negotiation skills, as well as the ability to network with a range of partners, donors and other stakeholders.
• Excellent knowledge of ICT and good knowledge of statistics and big data techniques and analytics.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with proven ability to maintain effective working relations within a multicultural environment and team.
• Demonstrated capacity to work under tight deadlines.

Experience
• At least 3 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
• Having previously worked in a consultant environment will be an asset.

Qualifications
• Masters’ degree in management, administration or a related discipline.
• PMP certificate is desired.