Project Assistant

Opportunity description: Main activities

Main duties

Under the supervision of the Regional Director, the incumbent will be responsible for:

Other information

Support the Regional Director and the Main Office in various tasks related to GRID-Arendal’s main areas of intervention, including pollution, climate, nature and biodiversity, through the following activities: Conduct research, write and review various documents as directed by the Regional Director. Coordinate the activities of projects under the cluster, in particular by supporting the activities of local partners and researchers and by organizing events related to projects on site. Develop the annual work programme and budget, then ensure implementation of activities. Participate in the monitoring and evaluation of programs and projects. Participate in the preparation and analysis of budget proposals for programs and projects. Conduct periodic reviews of project progress, identify challenges and initiate necessary follow-up actions; prepare revised budget estimates; report on budget revisions, expenditures and commitments; verify the availability of funds.

Education / Qualifications

Ensure that the necessary approvals are obtained and that information is entered into the computerized budget system. Prepare standard terms of reference according to the objectives of programs and projects. Prepare progress reports. Organize meetings and write minutes. Participate in the coordination of program planning and preparation; monitor the status of program and project proposals; take necessary steps to ensure that project documents are finalized and forwarded to relevant parties for approval.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities also include the following tasks: Assist the Regional Director in the preparation of Board meetings. Contribute to the development of GRID’s strategic documents Dakar, including the five-year strategy, resource mobilization strategy, communication strategy and action plan. Participate in the submission of project proposals and budget estimates, ensuring that all required information is included and justified with respect to the proposed activities. Carry out routine administrative tasks, such as preparing correspondence, attending meetings on behalf of GRID Dakar, the production of photocopies, assistance with the sending of letters in numbers and translation work. Perform any other required tasks.

Candidate profile

Education Hold a university degree, preferably at the postgraduate level, or an equivalent diploma. Have proven knowledge in at least one area related to environmental sustainability, including: Marine biology; plastic pollution; management of fisheries; Management of water resources; Management of natural resources.

Experience

Demonstrate at least two years of relevant professional experience, with demonstrated achievements in the following areas in Africa: Marine biology; plastic pollution; management of fisheries; Integrated management of coastal areas. Skills

Location

Professionalism: Good knowledge of global and regional challenges, as well as skills and commitment to conservation and sustainable use of the environment, including in the areas of plastic pollution, fisheries management and integrated management of marine and coastal environments. Knowledge of key multilateral and bilateral donors as well as the private sector through partnerships and resource mobilization activities. Be able to work independently, while demonstrating team spirit and contributing to a common goal. Teamwork: Collaborate with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicit input from others by sincerely valuing their ideas and expertise; be willing to learn from others; prioritize team goals over personal interests; support and respect the group’s final decisions, even when they do not fully align with their own opinions; share the merit of collective accomplishments and jointly assume responsibility for team inadequacies. Sense of responsibility and accountability: Fully assume responsibilities and meet commitments; deliver expected results on time and in accordance with cost and quality standards; comply with the organization’s rules and procedures; supervise employees under its responsibility, monitor their activities and take responsibility for delegated tasks; acknowledge its own shortcomings as well as those of its work unit, where appropriate. Customer Orientation: Consider all service recipients as customers and understand their needs and perspectives; establish and maintain productive partnerships based on trust and respect; identify customer needs and propose appropriate solutions; monitor internal and external developments that may influence their environment in order to anticipate difficulties; inform customers of project progress and possible delays; respect the delivery times of products or services. Languages: For this position, an excellent command of English and/or French, both oral and written, is required. Other Desired Skills: Ability to perform the described missions relatively independently, with limited support from support staff. Willingness to adhere to the values of GRID-Arendal. Technical skills in networking Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain relationships with a complex network of actors from both the governmental and non-governmental sectors, as well as creatively identify their different needs in order to facilitate collaboration and support partnerships. Have strong organizational skills and good project management experience. Be able to prioritize priorities and work with limited or non-existent supervision as well as within multidisciplinary teams, in order to contribute to a common goal. Communication Speak and write clearly and effectively; listen to others, interpret their messages correctly and respond appropriately; ask questions to clarify information and promote two-way communication. Adapt language, tone, style and format to the target audience; be open in sharing information and ensure that interlocutors are kept informed. Proven oral and written communication skills, as well as promotion, marketing and project development skills. Computer skills Have good computer skills and master the software of the Microsoft Office suite as well as Internet navigation tools. Technical skills in project management Ability to write technical requirements documents and standard operating procedures. Ability to translate planning specifications into technical notes for data collection and analysis, and vice versa. Ability to compile and analyze diverse datasets in a holistic manner. Ability to train data collection officers. Ability to coordinate technical activities according to operational needs, within short time frames, while ensuring high quality results.

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