Assistant Project Manager - Forests/Fisheries

Cambridge, UK

Organisations: REM (www.rem.org.uk) and Forests Monitor (www.forestsmonitor.org)
Start date: 30 March 2010
Location: Cambridge, UK, with travel abroad (Africa, Asia)
Duration: 1 year renewable
Salary range: £28k/yr – £33k/yr
Full-time post: Basic office hours applicable
Reports to: 2 Directors
Co-supervises: Project Staff, project consultants

Summary Description:
REM and Forests Monitor are partner UK-based NGOs which investigate the industry and inform the policy making-process to tackle illegal exploitation of natural resources, law enforcement issues, and empower people dependent on these resources. Our work covers a wide area internationally, and we have carried out projects in Africa and Asia (including Congo, Cameroon, Liberia, Siberia, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia). REM and Forests Monitor have also opened offices in Cameroon, the Republic of Congo and Democratic Republic of Congo.

REM, with support from Forests Monitor, is current seeking to apply its independent monitoring of forest law enforcement and governance approach (IM-FLEG), which has successfully been implemented in several countries by both organisations, to the fisheries sector (IM-FiLEG). We are seeking an environment expert to join our team as Assistant Project Manager (APM). The APM will learn about the IM-FLEG approach by assisting in the management on ongoing IM-FLEG projects for several months, while working at the same time on the design and development of IM-FiLEG project.

The post will require a thorough understanding of natural resources policy, governance related issues and legislation, as well as strong management skills. Fluency in French would be a strong advantage.

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

DEVELOP PROJECTS

• Familiarisation with the IM-FLEG approach
• 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
• Presentations about projects at international conferences and meetings (including travel)
• Participation to the recruitment of staff/consultants and review of contracts, job descriptions
• Preparation of logistics for the installation of staff/consultants

MANAGING PROJECTS

• Supervision of the implementation of the ongoing IM-FLEG projects' contractual and reporting requirements
• Backstopping missions abroad to undertake part of the project activities (IM-FLEG). This may include field missions in forest areas/ports to detect 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, publishing, quality control
• Consultants appraisals
• 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

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

Experience and skills required

• Forest or Fisheries sector
• Forest or Fisheries legislation and illegalities
• Forest or Fisheries policy
• Governance issues
• French a strong advantage
• Investigative skills
• Writing skills
• Financial management skills

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