Manager - Economic Development Team

Location: New Delhi, India (Hybrid)
Contract type: Permanent

Background

Adam Smith International is a global advisory company that works locally to transform lives by making economies stronger, societies more stable, and governments more effective. We work on behalf of governments, foundations and companies that share our ambition to take on the big challenges facing the world. Our core team of managers and technical experts, in offices around the world, ensures the quality of delivery and high ethical standards that we and our clients require. We bring together a global network of specialist experts, who contribute their experience and know-how, where and when it is needed. ASI is owned and operated by its employees, and we are all dedicated to making a meaningful difference in complex, challenging situations. We are committed to corporate integrity and a triple bottom line of social, environmental and financial performance. Company-wide, our pipeline of business opportunities and portfolio of programmes are growing. We want to recruit high calibre candidates to support the continued growth and delivery of our global portfolio and become part of a team of bright, dynamic and committed people, determined to transform lives for the better.

The Economic Development team

Our team specialises in the design and delivery of innovative programmes focused on three core practice areas: infrastructure and urban development; climate resilience and adaptation; and trade, investment and private sector development. We deliver impactful, results-driven programmes across Africa, South Asia, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and the Americas for clients including the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, European Commission, European Investment Bank and various other multilateral development banks and bilateral donors.

About the role

A Manager should relish working in a team, be innovative, energetic, positive, and genuinely committed to making a lasting contribution to the reduction of poverty.

Key tasks and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Project management

Enable Project Directors to successfully deliver projects in line with agreed Terms of Reference/Statements of Work, and to agreed parameters of time, quality, cost and donor/Government satisfaction. This will include playing a critical ownership role in the following areas of project management:

• Financial and budget management, including timesheet approval, expense approval, client invoicing, financial forecasting, financial reporting, financial reconciliation etc.

• Supporting regular internal and external audit reviews

• Operations management, including resourcing, contracting and onboarding of personnel

• Programme delivery reporting, such as monthly highlight reports

• Monitoring (and supporting) the timely delivery of high-quality project deliverables

• Team management, including line management of junior resources

• Risk and issue monitoring, management and mitigation

• Event logistics and management

• Comms management, including development and distribution of newsletters, and designing and hosting learning webinars

• Stakeholder management and relationship building, including with full-time ASI staff, part-time ASI associates, partner organisations, clients, donors etc.

Business development

• Research business development opportunities and help to develop a pipeline of relevant business opportunities, as agreed with your Line Manager

• Take on ad hoc, discrete, and accountable roles in technical and commercial proposals and be an effective member of bid teams, as agreed with your Line Manager

About you

A Manager should have the ability to build effective relationships with clients from a wide range of professional and cultural backgrounds, and to work effectively in politically sensitive and challenging environments. They should relish working in a team, should be innovative, energetic, positive, and genuinely committed to making a lasting contribution to the reduction of poverty.

Adam Smith International seeks the following skills and experience:

• An undergraduate degree (preferably a master’s degree) in international development, international relations, economics or relevant field

• 2-5 years’ project management experience ideally with some demonstrable understanding across the economic development landscape

• Strong organisation and planning skills, with an ability to work in complex and time-pressured contexts

• A focus on results and impact

• Outstanding written English and oral communication skills

• Outstanding numerical and financial skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills and teamwork

• Strong attention to detail

• Willingness to travel to fragile and conflict affected environments (sometimes at short notice)

• Can-do and solution-oriented approach

• Strong IT skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint

• Please note that to apply for this role, you must have the right to work in India.

What we offer you

Our people are at the heart of our strategy and our decisions. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, a dynamic and friendly team environment, the opportunity to support a highly successful portfolio of programmes, and support to develop your skills and progress your career. The diversity of our workforce makes ASI a great place to work, more creative and resourceful, and underpins strong partnerships. We keep a sharp focus on diversity and inclusion, including through our Equality Action Plan and our Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and through leadership from our Executive Team and oversight by our Board.

We recognise the importance of your life outside of work. We are proud to support flexible working arrangements and commit to making a success of flexible working arrangements wherever possible. We’ve built a culture to reflect our values, full of likeminded professionals who are smart, passionate and great at what they do.

The deadline for applications is Friday, 29th August 2025.