Project Management Expert

Background

Revenue for Growth (R4G) activity targets helping Zambia improve domestic revenue mobilization (DRM) and expand the fiscal space for public spending and investments in service delivery and poverty reduction. The activity will engage both government and non-government stakeholders to build capacity in tax policy analysis, improve tax compliance and administration, and strengthen the tax culture in a manner that facilitates private sector growth and accountability relationships between taxpayers and the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ).

Objectives and Scope

The primary objective of this assignment is to enhance the ZRA’s project management capabilities and consequently improve its ability to efficiently and effectively implement key strategic initiatives. To include the management of projects ranging from information technology (IT), construction, business process improvement, cultural change management, etc.

Specific Activities:

• Review the current ZRA project management framework and identify opportunities for optimisation thereof.
• Develop a revised project management framework which will significantly improve the ZRA’s ability to efficiently and effectively implement key strategic initiatives contained in its CSP.
• Pilot the revised project management framework on a selected project(s).
• Train the ZRA on the revised project management framework (on a train-the-trainer basis).
• Develop IT user requirements for the automation of the project management framework (or selected elements of it, as agreed with the ZRA and R4G).

Deliverables:

• Diagnostic report (in Microsoft PowerPoint) outlining the key strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of the current ZRA project management framework. To include benchmarking against global best practice.
• Document (in MS Word) containing a revised project management framework (including its operating model & governance, reporting, project prioritization, benefits realisation, project monitoring and evaluation, change management and automation) which will significantly improve the ZRA’s ability to efficiently and effectively implement key strategic initiatives contained in its CSP, resulting in improved taxpayer compliance and an increase in revenue collected.
• Implementation report (in MS Word) containing the results of a pilot of the deliverables on two projects selected by the ZRA and R4G.
• Development and documentation (in MS Word) of user requirements for an IT system to automate the project management process and enable the efficient and effective management of the project portfolio (including management information system reports).
• Training to the ZRA on the revised project management framework to be utilised by the ZRA (up to 40 participants). To include training materials in Microsoft Word and / or PowerPoint.

Place of Performance

The Advisor will provide the services in Lusaka, Zambia.

Qualifications, work experience and competencies

• At least 10 years of professional experience in project management. To include at least 5 years of project management experience in IT projects.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Economics, Public Finance, Information Technology or Business Administration or other related areas. A relevant Master’s Degree is required.
• Project Management Institute or PRINCE2 Agile practitioner and / or certification.
• Demonstrable experience in the successful management of large projects, including IT projects.
• Experience consulting in Zambia or other emerging market to government institutions and/or regional bodies.
• Project management experience in a revenue authority will be an advantage.
• Professional proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Excellent team player and strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to deliver high-quality work within deadlines