Project Manager, India Operations

Overall Function

Environmental Defense Fund has teams working in India  closely with Partners in the state of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu,  Bihar and Delhi. The Project Manager, India Operations will work closely with key players across the organization to support the day-to-day operations of EDF’s work in India. These responsibilities include establishing and implementing appropriate systems to maintain operational effectiveness and ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations. The Project Manager will track deliverables and assist in allocating resources strategically. They will also strengthen team synergies by fostering effective communications and interfacing with teams across EDF, including Global Operations, Global Mission, Finance, IT, Communications, Development and Partners in India and Consultants to  ensure collaboration and smooth functioning across our units. The Project Manager will report to the Lead Advisor-Enterprise, India.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead coordination with other team members  to develop new project management tools, roll out updated procedures, standardize approaches and optimize systems that support operational effectiveness for EDF’s work in India.

• Ensure that the team’s various goals and milestones are achieved by:

  • Working with the team to develop and/or implement necessary tracking tools and documents to foster project flow and efficiency.
  • Monitoring progress of projects to ensure grant milestones are met.
  • Participating in strategic planning efforts to ensure clear objectives and priorities.
  • Soliciting and sharing regular updates from project teams on key milestones and accomplishments to the broader global team.
• Manage the development of grant reports and proposals by coordinating with team leadership, drafting and proof-reading language, managing documents and communicating with EDF staff in other departments.
• Oversee contract development for consultants and partners, including working with key stakeholders to draft contract deliverables, coordinating review and approval of agreements by relevant team members and leadership, and identifying potential issues or compliance concerns and communicating them to Legal or Leadership as appropriate.
• Track ongoing and upcoming grants and contracts in collaboration with program staff to ensure  obligations of contracts are fulfilled and invoices are submitted in a timely fashion.
• Coordinate with other teams and departments at EDF, including Global Operations, Global Mission, Finance, IT, Communications, Development, and Consultants and Partners in India  to ensure collaboration and smooth functioning across units.
• Ensure efficient and accurate processing of expense reimbursements, invoices, set up of new vendors and other administrative tasks.
• Assist in organizing team events and meetings to ensure they effectively meet their desired objectives.
• Prepare reports for India leadership including operational reviews and other team summaries.
• As needed, support the implementation of operational infrastructure for EDF’s work in India, including ensuring relevant policies and procedures are communicated and followed across the India team and other EDF teams conducting work in India.
• Develop standard operation procedures and best practice guidance documents as reference for India team members and other EDF teams conducting work in India
• Mentor and train team members in standard operating procedures.
• Assist with on- boarding for new team members serving as a liaison with other departments such as HR, Procurement,  ,  and IT and ensure appropriate accessibility to relevant platforms.
• Manage document sharing and storage using EDF supported platforms.
• Participate in advancing EDF’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.
• Additional relevant responsibilities as assigned from time to time.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required with at least 4 years of relevant experience or relevant advanced degree with 2 or more years of experience. Project Management or related certification a plus.
• Strong interest in operations, project management and administrative tasks.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interface across internal departments to represent the team in a highly professional manner.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, particularly with cross-functional teams and staff located around the world. Ability to communicate concisely and clearly across multiple communication mediums.
• Ability to work in a highly collaborative setting with the initiative to work with teams outside of the core team.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and planning skills.
• Ability to take initiative, make decisions, prioritize multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and work well under pressure.
• Strong research and analytical skills to gather and summarize data for reports, proactively identify issues, and problem solve.
• Demonstrated poise, tact, and diplomacy, including comfort handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Demonstrated self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Ability and willingness to work across multiple geographies, including flexibility to work across time zones when necessary.
• Familiarity or understanding of non-profit operations, especially in a global context, preferred.
• Experience with working in India and fluency in English preferred.
• Interest and/or experience in environmental preferred.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office suite of software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint).
• Ability and willingness to work across multiple geographies, including flexibility to work across time zones when necessary.
• Willingness to travel (up to 10% of time), including internationally.

Term

Fixed Term for 2 years, with a possibility of extension