Summary
Date Posted: Friday, March 11, 2022 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Program Manager
Industry
Technology
City
Kigali
State/Province
City of Kigali
Zip/Postal Code
250

Job Description
Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa), located in Kigali, Rwanda, is seeking a highly efficient and experienced Program Manager professional who will enthusiastically lead the Upanzi Network Project. The Program Manager will oversee diverse academic and technical staff of the project as well as represent the Upanzi Network to international stakeholders in government, industry, academia, civil society, and the community. The Program Manager will work alongside and complement CMU faculty members who provide technical leadership for network activities such as field research, building and deploying demonstration projects, and planning policy forums with diverse international stakeholders. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment.

About Carnegie Mellon University and the Upanzi Network
Established out of a partnership between Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the Government of Rwanda, CMU-Africa is addressing the critical shortage of high-quality engineering talent required to accelerate the economic development and digital transformation of Africa—home to the fastest growing workforce in the world. CMU-Africa was established in 2011 and is the only U.S. research university offering its master’s degrees with full-time faculty, staff and operations in Africa. CMU’s presence in Rwanda provides a platform to engage in Africa’s most significant opportunities and challenges across the continent through world-class education and contextually relevant research.

Carnegie Mellon University has received a four-year grant to implement the Upanzi Digital Public Good Network Project (The Upanzi Network). The project has a broad focus on cybersecurity, digital transformation of Africa and infrastructure. The Upanzi Network aims to address issues around unequal access, and barriers to financial services including availability, access, affordability, regulations, and trust. The Upanzi Network will coordinate researchers in Rwanda, the U.S., and other countries across Africa to establish a comprehensive and coherent multi-stakeholder approach working with communities around Africa as well as industry and government representatives.

Role and Responsibilities
As Program Manager of Upanzi Network Project, you will be responsible for planning and organizing the completion of project tasks while ensuring that all activities are on time, on budget and within scope. You will also be the primary interface with internal and external stakeholders. While specific responsibilities will vary, they will include, but will not be limited to, the following:
• Oversee project activities by developing and monitoring project schedules and timelines to ensure that activities are run effectively and efficiently within specified time, budget and scope.
• Organize, manage and lead the project team to reach their full potential in the execution of their duties with the aim of meeting the needs of the project through clear and straightforward plans.
• Ensure Stakeholder Satisfaction by serving as the project liaison and ensuring that stakeholders are updated on the progress of the project.
• Facilitate Periodic evaluation of the Project Performance with the aim of measuring its efficiency, effectiveness and develop plans to fix shortcomings that will be identified during the evaluation process.
• Identify relevant stakeholders and engage with them to ensure successful participation to the Upanzi Network’s regular Digital Public Goods (DPG) Policy panels.
• Coordinate the Upanzi Network’s DPG solutions demonstration workshops and solution showcasing and evangelization to relevant stakeholders.
• Serve as liaison between the CMU-Africa marketing team and contractors in charge of the marketing and communication strategy of the Upanzi Network.
• Support the Upanzi Network Director in developing and maintaining partnerships and relationships with other stakeholders in industry, governments, and funders operating across the region.
• Coordinating the development of user manuals, training materials and other documents as needed to enable successful implementation of the project deliverables.
• Manage contracts with suppliers, vendors and other third parties by assigning tasks and communicating expected deliverables for the flawless execution of the project.
• Coordinate regular meetings with project team members to identify and resolve issues.

Requirements
Qualification
Education and Experience
• At least 5 years’ experience in a relevant position plus experience in a coordination management support, and/or management role.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is required, master’s degree preferred.
• A high degree of organizational skills using computer-based tools/software with demonstrated attention to detail.
• Proven record of project management particularly including operations, finance and program activities as well as trouble-shooting skills.
• Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management
• Knowledge and experience with project management software and tools is a plus.
• Strong language proficiency in English is compulsory; fluency in French or Kinyarwanda are a plus.

Skills and Competencies
To be successful in this role, you will also need to demonstrate these competencies:
• Outstanding project management, analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills which support and enable sound decision making.
• Self-starter with the ability to think strategically, tactically and creatively within a lean and dynamic organization with limited direction.
• Strong presentation and communication skills with a varied audience in addition to being able to build and sustain professional relationships and partnerships.
• Demonstrable ability to collaborate with different stakeholders and project partners and has the ability to coordinate activities for the successful implementation of the project.
• Analytical thinker with the ability to synthesize data to make informed, strategic decisions.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to connect easily with people from various cultures and backgrounds.
• Goal-oriented with ability to identify synergies and opportunities for improved team interactions.
• Ability to fundraise with Knowledge of the African philanthropic landscape is strongly desired for the long-term sustainability of the Umoja Network projects.
• Familiarity with legal and ethical practices related to donor management, record maintenance, and gift accounting.
• Flexible and adaptable style, an ability to work independently and as a team member in a highly collaborative environment.
• Agile learner with the ability to adapt and thrive in an evolving and diverse business environment.
• Have the ability to work independently and take initiative in tasks and self-learning

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 60

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

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