Team Leader - REMIT Programme

About the Programme

The Revenue Mobilisation, Investment and Trade (REMIT) programme funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The programme provides technical assistance (TA) to Pakistan to implement reforms for strengthening macroeconomic stability and improving conditions for high and sustained growth, mutual prosperity, job creation and poverty reduction. The Programme works towards supporting Government of Pakistan, its relevant ministries, institutions, and departments to strengthen revenue mobilisation reforms/initiatives; address investment environment challenges; facilitate trade and drive competitiveness by reducing the barriers to trade; and improve the macroeconomic policy and its management. ASI is one of the implementing partners on REMIT and is responsible for delivering technical assistance to output 1 “revenue mobilisation”; and output 2 “investment climate” with cross-cutting elements such as advocacy, communication, behavioural insights, gender, and climate change.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

This is a full-time position. The position’s objective is to:

a)     Sets Strategic Direction: Sets the strategic direction of the programme, ensuring overall alignment of the workplan with Theory of Change and logframe throughout all planning and delivery.

b)     Leads Client Engagement: Leads in engagement with GoPK, and the key point of contact for FCDO on technical issues.

c)     Leads the REMIT Team: Provides leadership to the REMIT technical team, defining roles, and instilling a culture of high performance, adaptation and innovation, and working politically, whilst encouraging collaboration, retention, well-being, and positive behaviours in line with ASI values.

The key responsibilities and tasks include:

Strategy

·       Lead and manage the programme, including overall strategic direction and programme guidance on all aspects of the programme.

·       Ensure that activities are implemented to a high quality within expected timeframes and expected results.

·       Act as the primary point of contact with the UK-FCDO and government counterparts, including representing the programme at meetings with representatives of donors, national and sub-national governments.

·       Lead, coordinate and contribute, as appropriate, to any relevant policy dialogues to achieve the goals of the programme.

·       Holds the overall accountability and responsibility for the technical delivery of REMIT programme.

·       Sets strategic direction, maximising impact and value for money, ensuring overall alignment of the workplan with strategic priorities.

·       Leads the development of the programme Theory of Change and the design of interventions, contributing knowledge of international best practice grounded in the local context.

·       Periodically reviews Theory of Change, impact and value for money of interventions, ensuring learning from implementation is fed back to design.

·       Oversee and manage a real-time M&E process that drives continuous learning, and captures planned and emergent outcomes.

·       Ensures that all interventions and workstreams have a clear sustainability strategy and exit plan from the start of the programme.

Client engagement, Stakeholder Relationship Management and Communications

·       Leads overall relationship with the Government of Pakistan.

·       Acts as principal liaison with FCDO– ensuring the client is appraised of project progress, issues and risks are identified early enough and escalated.

·       External reporting to the FCDO SRO, leadership on Programme Steering Committee (PSC) governance.

·       Structured coordination and implementation follow up for PAG missions.

·       Managing PSC organisation, as well as engagement with independent evaluation panels.

·       Builds relationships with relevant Government Ministries and other key actors in the private sector, multilateral and development sectors.

·       Lead on technical discussions and briefings with other donors as required.

·       Acts as a representative and ambassador for REMIT and for ASI both internally and externally

Work Planning and Progress Tracking

·       Leads the development of REMIT’s workplan, its implementation and initiate necessary revisions and further FCDO approvals where necessary.

·       Is responsible for identification and achievement of programme key performance indicators (KPIs) and logframe targets.

·       Ensures timely and quality delivery of all contractual deliverables and annual workplans.

·       Responsibilities for managing the RPF approval process and oversight of PSW specialised TA.

·       Accountability for RPF and PSW delivery. 

·       Leads regular Strategic Reviews, as agreed with FCDO.

Financial Management

·       Reviews budget implications of technical decisions with PD and management team

·       Works with programme management team to ensure effective management of the project budget, ensuring efficient use of resources, and managing expenditure in line with the agreed budget.

·       Ensures accurate and timely budget forecasting of all planned activities for timely reporting to FCDO and cash transfers from ASI HQ

Legal, Ethics and Compliance and Risk Management

·       Leads regular discussions to identify and assess risks/issues, to assign risk ownership and to follow up on implementation of mitigating actions (at least monthly)

·       Ensures FCDO is informed of strategic risks and mitigation plan is in place.

·       Oversees and ensures programme practices are in compliance with ASI and FCDO contractual rules and regulations, and that all REMIT staff comply with UK and local laws and regulations, client, and company policies.

·       Ensures programme adheres to all compliance procedures such as audits, required UK Aid branding, Duty of Care policies, expected VfM analysis, and GDPR/IATI protocols.

People Management

·       Responsible for line management of REMIT’s core team technical staff.

·       Leads the REMIT team to ensure clear roles and responsibilities, understanding of the workplan, objectives, priorities and deliverables.

·       Oversees team performance, ensuring that appropriate HR practises, including performance management system, are in place and being followed.

·       Fosters a positive and encouraging team atmosphere, supporting team members to develop and excel in their positions.

·       Manage subcontractors’/partners’ performance, to ensure quality and timeliness of delivery and results at project level.

Qualifications

·       Master’s degree in project management, economics and finance, public policy, or relevant field from an internationally reputed educational institution.

·       At-least 15 years of professional experience in leadership, management and advisory roles, including 3-5 years’ experience in leading donor funded public policy, institutional and/or economic reform programmes (preferable experience as Team Leader)

·       Demonstrable experience of working/engaging with public sector at a senior level, with demonstrated ability to engage with senior leadership in public institutions, multilaterals, and donors.

·       Demonstrable experience and ability to lead strategic planning, experience with adaptive management and managing and coordinating large multidisciplinary team of consultants or project personnel.

·       Demonstrable experience in formulation and execution of public policies and key economic and sectoral reforms

·       Preference will be given to candidates with experience of working with FCDO (ex-DFID) programme at strategic and advisor level.

·       Understanding of cross cutting approaches (e.g., GESI, PDIA, PEA, VfM, M&E etc.) and integration to development programming

·       Excellent written communication and presentation skills, with analytic capacity and ability to respond to donor requirements.

·       Ability to nurture and maintain stakeholder relationships through communication and networking.

·       Excellent computer skills, including skills in handing software/platform for online meetings, chat, webinars, and online events.

·       Excellent oral and written English.

Reporting

The Team Leader reports to and works under the supervision of the REMIT Project Director and works in close coordination with the other REMIT programme leadership, Deputy Team Lead (DTL) and the PMU.

Application deadline - Monday 5th January at 11.59pm PKT.