Assistant Project Manager - Forests, Democratic Republic of Congo

Cambridge, UK

Organisation: REM (www.rem.org.uk)
Start date: March 2010
Location: Cambridge, UK, with extensive travel abroad (Africa, Asia)
Salary range: £24-29k/yr
Full-time post: 35h/week
Reports to: 2 Directors
Co-supervises: Project Staff, project consultants

Summary Description:
REM is a UK-based NGOs specalised in independent monitoring of law enforcement and governance. Our work covers a wide area internationally, and we have carried out projects in Africa (including Congo B, DRC, Cameroon, Liberia, Tanzania, CAR, Gabon). REM has also opened offices in Cameroon, the Republic of Congo and is opening one in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

We are currently seeking an Assistant Project Manager to continue develop and supervise REM's Projects. The post will require a good understanding of forest policy, governance related issues, traceability and law enforcement systems, forest monitoring, and strong management skills.

Activities. This list is indicative of activities that will be undertaken by the Assistant Project Manager, but not exhaustive

DEVELOP PROJECTS

• Research (field and web based)
• Presentations about projects at international conferences and meetings (including travel)
• French/English translations on an ad-hoc basis
• Support the strategic development of REM’s activities and projects
• Identify opportunities for organisational development
• Participation to fundraising activities, including proposal writing, budget drafting and consolidation with REM's existing projects
• Networking with international organisations, donors, governments
• Participation to the recruitment of staff/consultants and review of contracts, job descriptions
• Preparation of logistics for the installation of staff/consultants

ASSIST IN MANAGEMENT OF PROJECTS

• Assist in the supervision of the implementation of the projects' contractual and reporting requirements
• Familiarisation with all issues related to independent monitoring of deforestation issues and forest law enforcement and governance
• Backstopping missions abroad to undertake part of the project activities in support of local staff/consultant or during project installation. This may include field missions in forest areas to detect forest infractions and investigative work
• Strategic guidance to consultants and local staff, liaison with donors, ministry officials, international and local civil society representatives
• Participation to writing of analysis reports and mission reports, proofing, translations, publishing, quality control
• Participation to work on law enforcement procedures, database work, VPA legality grid and traceability systems
• Consultants appraisals. Provision of guidance and assist in supervision
• Identification of difficulties encountered and support to project staff and consultants
• Support visibility actions, and provide material for websites

Administrative and Financial management

• Verification of projects administrative and finance processes and outputs
  against donor and contractual requirements within set timelines
• Participate to the preparation of the projects' financial reports
• Participate in cash flow projections in collaboration with finance manager

OFFICE DUTIES

• Support to logistics when required (obtain visas, etc)
• Filing, tidying
• Answering telephone calls

SPECIALIST AND STRATEGIC OTHER ACTIVITIES

Any other duties that reasonably arise in the course of project implementation and to support the organisation development

Experience and skills required

• French language
• Work in difficult areas (forests, conflict zones)
• Management experience in the Congo Basin
• Congo Basin forest sectors and laws
• Governance and legality issues
• Investigative skills
• Writing skills
• Financial reporting skills

How to apply: Please email a covering letter and CV to mail@rem.org.uk by 25 March 2010.