ODI Global
Project Manager
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Application Deadline: 18 September 2026
Department: Project Management
Location: London, UK
Compensation: £39,220 - £49,820 / year
Description
Note: We are recruiting for two positions: one permanent full-time role and one fixed-term maternity cover role.
Overview of the job
The Project Manager (PM) oversees the successful delivery of ODI Global’s donor-funded projects across the research group cycle from business development through to implementation, financial management, reporting, and close-out. The PM will be responsible for coordinating the delivery of outputs, contributing to and taking ownership of the workplan, liaising with both internal and external stakeholders and maintaining up to date information on project finances, delivery, timeline and risks.
The PM will report to a Senior Portfolio Manager (SPM) and with a partnering ‘dotted line’ relationship to project(s) technical lead(s).
Overall responsibilities include:
- Coordinating proposal and budget development for high-, medium- and low-complexity and value business development opportunities in collaboration with the SPM, Portfolio Finance Manager (PFM) and technical lead for the relevant Research Group, including managing donor contracting negotiation and approvals
- Managing projects to ensure efficient and timely implementation, strong financial and delivery performance, high quality donor reporting and effective management of donor and partner relationships
- Leading on procurement, contracting and ongoing management of partners and sub-contractors
- In collaboration with the PFM, developing project budgets, monitoring project expenditure, executing monthly reforecasts and contributing to internal and donor financial reporting.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Business development (BD) and funder management
- Alongside the technical lead, coordinate and oversee the development and submission of high-quality funding bids, ensuring the SPM for the relevant Research Group is kept up to date on progress
- Develop project budgets that optimise resource coverage and indirect cost recovery in line with ODI Global and funder policies
- Support the technical lead with narrative elements of bids as required including mapping delivery timelines and capturing risks
- Coordinate with Project Officers and Administrators (PO / PA) on the development and / or collation of due diligence documentation as required by funders
- Manage bid committee meetings as required
- Coordinate pre-submission internal proposal and budget reviews and approvals
- Coordinate contract review, negotiations, approvals and signatures for successful bids
- Contribute to thinking around and development of BD tracking tools
Project management
- Monitor project delivery, ensuring regular checkpoints for discussing, among other topics, progress, challenges, risks and adjustments
- Oversee the establishment of clear communication channels for each project to facilitate inputs from key stakeholders
- Ensure projects are delivered in a way that is compliant with donor contract clauses and ODI policies
- Identify the impact that delays or changes in the delivery schedule have on projects’ financial performance and work with the technical lead to find possible solutions
- Identify, manage and mitigate project risks, escalating more complex issues to the SPM and HSO for resolution as needed
- Coordinate partner, sub-contractor and supplier procurement processes and the drafting of Terms of References by project technical leads
- Review and approve partner, sub-contractor and supplier contracts drafted by PO/As and coordinate contract signatures
- Manage partner, sub-contractor and supplier relationships and invoice schedules, ensuring PO/As have the relevant documents and information needed to process invoices in a timely and accurate manner
- Support on the planning, implementation and booking of events and / or travel as required, coordinating with PO/As when extra support is required
- Coordinate donor reporting processes and submissions, supporting the technical lead on narrative elements and reviewing and feeding into financial reports produced by PFMs
- Support donor engagement and communications, including discussions around project and contract amendments as required
- Ensure the SPM for each project’s home Research Group is kept up to date on progress and challenges, feeding project-specific information such as staff days and KPI data into trackers as requested
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Financial Management
- Ensure the SPM of the project’s home Research Group is kept up to date on challenges and / or changes that impact budget and spend, with reference to staff time coverage
- Monitor spend against budget, tracking delivery against forecast and executing accurate and timely budget reforecasts in compliance with donor policies
- Manage budget amendments including donor coordination
- Work with PFMs to monitor and manage donor invoicing schedules and submissions
- Instruct PO/As on issuing purchase orders (POs) and process approvals
- Provide information as requested to SPMs to support with annual budgeting processes
Knowledge management
- Facilitate information sharing and problem solving across the wider Project Management team
- Participate in the ongoing development and consistent implementation of project management processes and tools
- Keep Award Management Library (AML) records up to date and audit-ready
- Attend team meetings as required
- Attend and actively participate in Operations Away Days
Person specification
Essential
Knowledge and qualifications
- Education to degree level or equivalent level of experience
- Strong knowledge of project cycle management and methodologies
- Solid knowledge of financial management including of developing and managing budgets and overseeing finances
Experience
- Experience of business development processes
- Experience of conducting donor contract negotiations independently
- Experience in donor compliance and relationship management, including effective engagement and strong management of financial and narrative reporting
- Experience managing projects of differing size and complexity across the full project cycle
- Experience of working within complex business models and of managing projects to maximise their contribution to ODI’s financial and strategic objectives, including in multiple currencies
- Experience in setting up and monitoring compliance with operational processes and procedures
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Skills / abilities
- Strong inter-personal and team-work skills
- Proven ability to understand the needs of donors and partners and to make business-oriented decisions
- Proven ability to innovate and improve working practices to overcome problems and emerging issues
- Advanced IT skills including Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and databases
- Ability to write well and to prepare reports with minimum supervision
- Strong and clear communication skills: written, verbal and visual
Desirable
- Project Management qualification
- Experience working with partner organisations in low- and middle-income countries
- Additional language skills
- Experience of the Progressus / Business Central system
Key Relationships and Contacts
- Head of Strategic Operations
- PM colleagues
- Project management unit team staff
- Colleagues in other
All staff are expected to:
- Positively support equality of opportunity both within ODI and externally
- Help maintain a safe working environment and take responsibility for own and colleagues’ Health and Safety
- Undertake such other duties within the scope of their post as may be requested by their Manager
Why should you work for us?
ODI Global is committed to developing and supporting diverse and inclusive teams of people who share our passion, where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We welcome applicants from a range of diverse backgrounds including those who experience intersectional marginalisation on the basis of their class, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious identity or belief, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We also welcome applications from those living with disabilities.
Benefits
We prioritise the well-being of our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your personal and professional growth. Enjoy a generous annual leave allowance, including public holidays and additional time off during Christmas and New Year. We also recognise the importance of work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements, remote work options, and study leave to support your professional development.
Our commitment to employee well-being extends beyond annual leave. We provide comprehensive benefits such as maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental leave, competitive pension schemes and interest-free travel loans. We offer sick pay, an Employee Assistance Program, and staff events and social activities to ensure your physical and mental health.
For those relocating to the UK, we provide relocation assistance to help you settle in. We also promote sustainable commuting with our Cycle to Work scheme and offer union membership to protect your rights and advocate for your interests.
At ODI Global, we believe that a supportive and rewarding work environment is essential for success. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects our commitment to your well-being and professional growth.
For a full listing of benefits, please visit our Careers page.
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