Assistant Manager - Governance & Stability (Expression of Interest)

Join our Talent Pool for Future Opportunities

Adam Smith International (ASI) is building a talent pool seeking for our growing portfolio of programmes and bids. We are particularly interested in hearing from professionals with experience or interest in:

• Education – including education reform, governance and education systems strengthening
• Governance – including public sector reform, public financial management, transparency and accountability, local governance, institutional strengthening, and civil society development.
• Conflict, Security & Stability – including security sector reform and stabilisation (with particular focus on former serving UK security sector, military, policemen or those with background in strategic communications/foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), cyber security, and related fields).

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, both 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 against the quality and high ethical standards that we and our clients require. This is an exciting time to join Adam Smith International and become part of a team of bright, dynamic and committed people, determined to transform lives for the better.

The Governance & Stability Team

The Governance and Stability team manages projects focused on improving national and local governance, centre of government and public finance management, security and justice, stabilisation and conflict and education. We work in Africa, the MENA region, Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America. Our current portfolio of work in governance ranges from PFM reform in east Africa, to education reform in Pakistan, centre of government support in Iraq, to security sector reform in MENA and Africa, to countering violent extremism and stabilisation in south Asia, Africa and the Middle East, to countering disinformation and illicit financial flows in Eastern Europe. Our team also oversees ASI’s work in the MENA region and Eastern Europe, where it is possible also to get involved in a broader range of projects including those focused on economic development, infrastructure and climate change.

About the Role

The Professional Development Scheme is a 12-month programme for early-career professionals and is an opportunity to gain practical experience across project management and business development responsibilities, working across our different service lines while developing the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to succeed in the sector. The scheme is designed to both challenge and support you. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with, support and learn from experienced Managers across different teams, while also exploring the areas of the business that best align with your skills and interests.

As an Assistant Manager, we will support and prepare you on the following

• Development of impact-driven technical and financial proposals for leading development partners.
• Understanding local delivery contexts and political economies.
• Managing complex delivery tasks and project risks.

Over the course of scheme, you will also have the opportunity to travel to overseas locations supporting our global portfolio of impactful programmes. After successfully completing 12 months with the company, and depending on your performance, you will have the opportunity to progress into a manager position.

In addition to a competitive compensation package and excellent benefits, we offer you a friendly and supportive team environment and the opportunity to work on a highly successful portfolio of programmes. As a certified B Corp, we care about the wellbeing and growth of our people and are committed to supporting your personal development and actively facilitating opportunities to build skills and knowledge in your areas of interest.

Key responsibilities

• Project Management & Delivery:
• Develop technical understanding and delivery skills in one of the Team’s core practice areas.
• Support the management of the successful delivery of projects to terms of reference, time, quality, cost and donor and Government satisfaction. This will include assistance in the project finances, operations, risk mitigation, technical analysis and management of consultancy teams.
• Maintain awareness of and conversance with political economy and key topics in priority countries.
• Build strong working relationships with the project team.
• Business Development:
• Perform market mapping and partner identification research and present this to bid manager.
• Gain an understanding of the company’s capabilities and experience.
• Seek to further technical knowledge in at least one practice area and help identify opportunities.
• Analyse ToRs and extrapolate key points and conduct required background research.
• Provide concise check-ins/updates to bid managers, including to flag any risks.
• Manage the full recruitment cycle for experts.
• Develop an understanding of commercial considerations for business development and project implementation.
• Thought Leadership and Corporate Initiatives:
• Contribute to the growth and development of Adam Smith International through:
• Marketing: Contributing content and articles to external channels.
• Knowledge management: Ensure all knowledge is shared via agreed team systems and processes.
• Personal development: Take ownership to grow own capability, experience and expertise.