Project Lead - Functional Excellence

The role will be line managed by the Senior Director of Transformation. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Deliver project objectives through excellent project management
• Ensure the successful delivery of project objectives within the approved budget, timeline, and scope.
• Develop project plans, timelines, budgets, and success metrics aligned with project goals, Project Management Lifecycle, and CARE policies
• Liaise with FP&A team and Executive Office budget manager to ensure project’s adherence to budget guidance and to manage any budget-related risks or issues as they arise
• Track project progress against outcomes and lead project team in successfully executing on project plan by facilitating team meetings, identifying and addressing barriers, and mitigating risks and issues
• Collaborate with the Senior Global Change Manager on integration of Change Management work and plans into overall project strategy and planning
• Ensure inputs from cross functional stakeholders on project planning where needed, such as for functional leads on periods of implementation for their function
• Leverage Monday.com and other project management tools for maximum efficiency and clarity
• Identify and manage resources needed to deliver on project goals, such as external consultants; travel; translation; etc. 

Lead stakeholder engagement

• Lead in articulating the project vision and promoting the active engagement of key stakeholders
• Facilitate inclusive planning sessions, workshops, and project meetings
• Lead development of multi-stakeholder communication, engagement and commitment strategies, promoting dialogue from a diverse array of levels and functions across CARE
• Provide timely and impactful project communication and updates to all stakeholders across the CARE network: country office staff, regional offices, HQ functional teams, IPO, and executive leadership
• In partnership with the Senior Global Change Manager, support trainings and comms related to change management 
• Represent the project as needed in organizational or team forums
• Identify and mitigate risks related to staff capacity and active engagement in the project.
• Ensure effective project governance
• Schedule, plan, and facilitate Steering Committee meetings, including preparing meeting agendas and slides; discussing meeting objectives with Executive Sponsors; ensuring adequate attendance; preparing any other facilitators as needed; and sending post-meeting follow-ups. 
• Identify needs for governance input, such as significant risks or issues; changes to scope; etc., and bring them to the Steering Committee for decision
• Facilitate the project’s progress through Project Management Lifecycle stage gates by guiding Steering Committee approval and decision points
• Manage other key meetings of leadership related to project governance.

Personnel management

• Provide day-to-day direction, coaching, and regular feedback to a change manager, setting clear priorities and expectations aligned to project goals, addressing any performance or capacity issues early and constructively
• Support the change manager's professional development through goal-setting, performance conversations, and stretch opportunities
• Delegate effectively, balancing ownership and autonomy with appropriate oversight and escalation points
• Foster a collaborative, trusting working relationship that models inclusive, transparent, and adaptive leadership.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's and/or Master's degree in business, organizational management, nonprofit management, or other relevant field; or equivalent experience
• Professional certification in Project Management
• A track record of leading large-scale organisational transformation and enterprise-wide change programmes within complex global organisations.
• Experienced in operating within complex INGOs, federated organisations, multinational matrix environments, or similarly complex stakeholder structures.
• Extensive experience engaging, influencing, and building alignment among Executive Leadership Teams, Global Functional Leaders, Country Directors and senior stakeholders across multiple geographies.
• Has knowledge and practical experience of operating model design, shared services, process harmonisation, workforce and level-of-effort optimisation, finance transformation, and organisational effectiveness initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working across both headquarters/global teams and decentralized country operations.
• Experience in Lean Six Sigma, continuous improvement, or operational excellence methodologies.