Portfolio Manager

The DNDi Strategy and Operations Department manages the DNDi corporate infrastructure globally across its 8 locations. The Department plays a central role in DNDi’s compliance and performance and is the custodian of its Strategic Plan, its IST strategy, People Strategy, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Strategy, and Code of Conduct. 

The Portfolio Manager is a key member of the PMO (project management office) team. They support Disease programs and Project Teams and ensure that project management practices are applied consistently and strategically, contributing to the successful delivery of project objectives. A key member of the PMO, this role involves working on both R&D and non-R&D projects, supporting project management excellence across DNDi’ s entire portfolio.

The Portfolio Manager partners with disease leadership and cross-functional teams to provide operational and strategic support across all project management components (planning, budgeting, grant management, resources, risk, and performance monitoring). This role also contributes to the continuous improvement of PMO tools and processes and may take on direct project management responsibilities.

Project Management Office

• Contribute to the PMO strategic plan, initiatives, and positioning within the organization
• Contribute to the growth of the collaboration and synergies between the PMO, Finance, and External Relations departments to enhance project efficiency
• Mentor junior team members, when requested by the Portfolio & Strategy Leader or other leadership

Portfolio Management

• Act as the PMO Partner to assigned R&D disease area(s) and provides strategic and operational support across the following project management components:
  • Strategic fit: Support the Head of Disease in refining disease strategy, managing disease portfolio, and aligning projects scope accordingly.
  • Planning: Develop and maintain project timelines (e.g. Gantt charts); coordinate planning cycles; ensure milestone alignment with strategic goals.
  • Grant Management: Collaborate with External Relations to track grant deliverables and compliance; coordinate reporting with transversal and External Relations team.
  • Project Finances: Collaborate with Finance and support the development and monitoring of budgets/spending; ensure alignment with funding allocations and donor requirements.
  • Risk Management: identify and track project risks; support mitigation planning; escalate critical risks as needed.
  • Resources Management: Support resource planning and allocation; monitor availability and contribute to workload balancing.
  • Project information management: ensure up-to-date project documentation, support use of PM tools and promote knowledge sharing.
  • Project reporting and compliance: track progress against key milestones and indicators; support performance reviews and portfolio-level reporting; ensure compliance with DNDi and funders’/stakeholders’ policies.
• Serve as project manager for both R&D and non-R&D projects, as required
• Play a key coordinating role between all contributing functions such as Procurement, Business Development, Legal, External Relations, etc.
• Drive, with support from the Portfolio & Strategy Leader, project efficiency and adherence to deadlines through supporting teams in best project management practices and processes
• Escalate critical project issues to the functional leads, as appropriate

Additional /specific/projects responsibilities

• Conduct all tasks in accordance with applicable DNDi Policies, Guidelines, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Working Instructions (WIs), and other Guidance and Standards

• Job title reports to Portfolio & Strategy Leader, PMO
• Works with other teams within the PMO and collaborates across the organization on both R&D and non-R&D projects, as needed.
• This role has a representational role through the promotion of programs and maintain productive relationships by projecting the image of a credible partner

• Minimum 6 years' relevant experience in which at least 4 years at Senior Officer level
• Experience in R&D in the pharmaceutical or other drug development setting
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment and matrix structure
• Experience of working in public and private sector is highly desirable
• Advanced post graduate degree or graduate degree with equivalent in experience to reach Master level

• Strong ability to use initiative, prioritize, multi-task, and work well under pressure to meet deadlines
• Clear and systematic thinking that demonstrates good judgment and problem solving competencies
• Strong communication skills in multicultural, multi-lingual environments
• Strong ability to work effectively as part of a multicultural team
• Well organized and structured
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong ability to provide high level support in project/program delivery
• Strong ability to manage medium/large projects with budget management
• Strategic thinking and leadership abilities
• Strong management, negotiation, and advocacy skills
• Has autonomy for taking actions and decisions
• Strong ability to interact with external stakeholders
• Lead and motivate a small team for optimum performance, supervising junior staff

Technical Skills

• Exposure to projects at various stages in the lifecycle, beginning with initiating a proposal through project closure
• Able to manage multiple projects concurrently and see how they fit into a broader disease and/or organizational strategy

• Fluency in English
• Proficiency in local languages desirable
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Suite

DNDi is committed to building a diverse, equitable and truly inclusive organization. Our success and global reach are dependent upon our ability to encourage diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We particularly welcome applications from those who are underrepresented in at DNDi and across the sector, especially women, and including, but not limited to, black and minority ethnic candidates, and those with other protected characteristic.