Advisory & Surge Deployments Project Manager in London

The Humanitarian and Stabilisation Operations Team (HSOT) is contracted by Palladium to deliver the Humanitarian Emergency Response Operations and Stabilisation Programme (HEROS), working with FCDO’s Humanitarian Response Department (HCRD) and the Migration and Conflict Directorate (MCD), as well as multiple UK Government teams and partners in countries. The team provides operational and advisory support to meet humanitarian needs and restore stability in sudden-onset disasters, protracted crises and complex emergencies.

The role will report into Advisory and Surge Deployments Deputy Team Lead managing the end to end deployment of consultants recruited to work with HCRD/MCD. You will help to foster a culture of continuous improvement within the team, seeking to increase opportunities for learning, experience, and devolving responsibility to reduce bottlenecks, identifying issues and escalating concerns in a timely manner. You will take on primary responsibility for day-to-day consultant interface ensuring deployment is managed effectively. This will include but not limited to timesheet management, responding to consultant queries, be the point of escalation for any performance or behavioural concerns.

The A&S Deployments PM will be expected to work across the clients served by the team, primarily HCRD and the MCD, but also including Standby Partnership (SBP) and UNDAC, however they may take the lead as primary focal point for a specific client.

The post-holder will be responsible for ensuring that the end-to-end management of deployments are completed in a timely, professional manner and which meets both Palladium’s and HMG legal duty of care requirement. Duties will include, but not be limited to:

• Project manage up to 15 active deployments, where you will be responsible for the recruitment, contracting and deployment of Contractors and Consultants.
• Advise and support task development with client.
• Liaise with UK Government colleagues and field offices and regularly attend regional ops meetings.
• Issue job offers and deal with initial contractual queries.
• Arrange travel for deployed contracted staff (flights, visas, hotels).
• Be the point of contact for contracted staff on an array of issues, including performance, welfare and travel, utilising escalation mechanisms where appropriate.
• Arrange (de)briefing schedules and facilitate Palladium meetings with DCEs.

Assume overall accountability for deployment budgets, ensuring that deployments are delivered in line with budget and forecast and that they deliver the required financial return. Duties will include:

• Manage deployment cost, revenue, and accruals in line with client expectations good financial management.
• Oversee of deployment invoicing and debt, ensuring projects are billed in a timely manner and invoices are paid within 30 days of being issued.
• Report against deployment and client financial metrics.
• Support the external audit process and ensure retention of project records is compliant with company policy.
• Monitor deployment risks and escalate issues or suspected fraud to line manager.
• Support monthly, quarterly, annual contractual reporting on key result areas and, as required, any other important areas of concern.
• Assist in the promotion and encouragement of consistency, integrity, and transparency across the team.

Work constructively with colleagues to achieve shared goals. Share knowledge, support others, and contribute to a positive team culture. Be open to feedback and willing to adapt to meet team needs.

Be aware of potential risks to effective and responsible programme management and contribute to mitigation measures according to job role. Be familiar with and actively participate in established risk management procedures, including reporting issues against identified risks and failures of mitigation measures. Contribute to risk assessment activities and suggest improvements.

Required to deploy as and when required during emergency response and with other colleagues for welfare/monitoring visits up to 4 weeks at a time. Undertake any other duties as appropriate to the position, as requested. Fulfil role of Duty Officer on rotation, providing week-long out of hours surveillance of emergencies. Undertake HEST Training. Contribute to HEROS contract monthly, quarterly, annual contractual reporting on specialist portfolio, and provide support as requested in support of results-based reporting. As appropriate, engage with Palladium UKEA regional team fora and initiatives. Support business Transition and Exit Planning: Play a pivotal role in adapting to system upgrades and organizational changes, ensuring the workforce is aligned with future business needs. Lead on providing data inputs during the transition phase. Participate in cross functional HSOT projects and other activities. Support client in ensuring legal compliance on contractor related matters (IR35).

Experience of developing and managing budgets. Strong candidate and client management experience. Experience of working with external stakeholders working towards tight deadlines. Problem solving. Act with integrity, reliability, and respect in all interactions. Take ownership of tasks and responsibilities. Deliver work to agreed standards and deadlines. Follow through on commitments and raise concerns early when issues arise.

This is a fixed-term position with a duration of three months. Please apply if you hold the right to work in the UK as Palladium does not sponsor work visas.