Senior Project Manager - Eyes On Russia in London

The Centre for Information Resilience (CIR) is an independent organisation dedicated to exposing human rights violations and threats to democracy. We achieve this through open source research, digital investigations, capacity-building with local partners, and collaboration with media to amplify our impact.

CIR was born out of a determination to expose those spreading harm – online and offline – around the world, particularly in areas of violent conflict, such as Ukraine, Sudan and Myanmar. Our projects are at the forefront of efforts to investigate and document human rights abuses, war crimes, harms targeting women and minorities, and influence operations. We work closely with multilateral and national justice accountability bodies.

This is an exciting opportunity to join an innovative, ambitious, non-profit organisation at a formative time in its development. As a Senior Project Manager, you’ll play a key role in taking forward our mission – managing the delivery of open-source research projects and ensuring the right processes and resources are in place to deliver efficiently, on time, within budget and to a high standard.

Working within a developing organisation, you’ll need to be a flexible and collaborative team player, willing to pitch in and multi-task across different projects and work at pace to often tight timeframes. In exchange, we offer a supportive and collaborative work environment, opportunities to take on new challenges and to grow your skills and experience.

In January 2022, CIR launched the Eyes on Russia project to collect and verify videos, photos, satellite imagery and other media related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Our objective was to provide journalists, NGOs, policymakers and the public access to verified, trustworthy information.

As the Senior Project Manager of Eyes on Russia, you will be responsible for the management of one of CIR's flagship projects. Eyes on Russia is a multi-donor, multi-year program with a large team based around the world. Specific tasks include but are not limited to:

• Designs and operationalises effective project management mechanisms, including planning, progress tracking, risk management, reporting and learning.
• Designs team structure and roles to ensure EOR has the forms of expertise and scale of resources to deliver workplans effectively.
• Oversees communications with donors relating to budgets, expenditure, risk management and other aspects of contract administration, to ensure donors have full confidence in CIR’s project management skills and delivery capacity.
• Designs budgets across EOR, ensuring budgets align with workplans, fulfil CIR commercial / cost-recovery targets, and are easily understood and approved by donors.
• Develops financial forecasts, oversees expenditure, and ensures accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Collaborates with Project Leadership, technical staff and MEL team to ensure a MEL framework is developed and maintained, including Theory of Change, Results Framework and mechanisms for collecting and synthesising data.
• Generates creative solutions to both strategic and day to day challenges to project delivery that maximise impact, comply with donor regulations, are within budget and motivate staff.
• Ensure compliance with CIR’s corporate policies relating to data protection, cyber security, anti-corruption, safeguarding, conflict sensitivity, and CIR’s Code of Conduct.
• Supports business development activities by contributing to the identification of potential funding opportunities, building client relationships, and preparing high-quality proposals, bids, and tender submissions.
• Works with CIR’s People team to support hiring and recruitment through team planning, candidate assessments and interviews, and onboarding activities.

Experience Needed:

• A proven track record of successfully delivering large scale projects to deadline, within budget and with evidenced measurable impact.
• Substantial experience of implementing projects funded by the UK government and knowledge of associated policies, regulations and operating procedures.
• Strong understanding of project planning, financial management, impact reporting and risk mitigation.
• Managing and motivating interdisciplinary and multi-national teams.
• Building strong relationships with diverse stakeholders including donors, beneficiaries and partner organisations.
• Fluency in English.

Desirable Experience:

• A proven track record of successfully delivering research, capacity building or communications projects.
• Experience of safeguarding investigators and ensuring data security during sensitive research will be advantageous.
• Contextual knowledge and experience.
• Experience working in Ukraine or with Ukrainian state institutions.
• Experience of delivering projects in conflict-affected or fragile settings.

Please upload your CV with a brief note about your availability and areas of expertise. CIR is an equal opportunities employer. If you require adjustments or additional support to complete this process, please let us know in your application.