Senior Project Manager – Critical Minerals Support Facility Design

Allied Talent Partners seeks a Senior Project Manager for the Critical Minerals Support Facility Design, a fixed-term contract role based in Africa. The position involves overseeing the design phase of a multi-stakeholder initiative aimed at enhancing Africa's critical minerals sector through project planning, coordination, and reporting. The role requires collaboration with various stakeholders to develop operational models and governance frameworks for climate-smart development.
Senior Project Manager – Critical Minerals Support Facility DesignDepartment: Management Consultants

Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract

Location: Africa

Reporting To: Head of Programmes


DescriptionAllied Talent Partners is a talent marketplace, connecting experienced professionals with climate-related projects and businesses in Africa.

High-Level Overview

Client:
The client is a philanthropic organisation dedicated to addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development in Africa. They collaborate with governments (national, and sub-national), regional bodies, civil society, labour, research institutions and the private sector to implement innovative solutions that foster low-carbon development and climate resilience. Through grant making and fiscal hosting the client supports an ecosystem of actors across the continent working at the nexus of climate and development.

Project:
The client is supporting the establishment of the Critical Minerals Support Facility (CMSF) to respond to the growing demand among African critical mineral producer countries for targeted support in navigating the opportunities and risks of the global energy transition. The Facility will offer technical assistance (rapid response and long term technical assistance) to help governments enhance domestic value addition, improve ESG performance, foster South–South collaboration, and support investment mobilisation. The CMSF will be incubated by the client (or another partner organisation) with the goal of spinning off as a standalone institution.
The client seeks an experienced Senior Project Manager to oversee the design phase of the CMSF. The role involves managing a complex, multi-stakeholder initiative to ensure the facility is designed to promote value addition, just development pathways, and climate-smart governance for Africa's critical minerals sector. The project requires coordination with consultants, partners, and internal teams to deliver a robust operational model, governance framework, and implementation plan.
Role and Responsibilities
Role: Senior Project Manager – CMSF Design
Direct Report: Head of Programmes
Candidates Required: 1

Key Responsibilities:



1. Project Planning & Coordination
Develop and manage a consolidated workplan and milestone tracker for the GMSF design phase.
Coordinate timelines, deliverables, and dependencies among consultants, internal teams, and external partners.

2. Steering Committee (SteerCo) Facilitation
Support establishment of the SteerCo, including drafting and validating terms of reference.
Coordinate meeting schedules, prepare agendas and briefing materials, and synthesize deliberations into clear action points.
Maintain validated records (minutes, action logs, and follow-ups).

3. Integration & Synthesis
Review and integrate consultant deliverables into a single coherent draft business plan.
Ensure alignment between consultant outputs, stakeholder inputs, and strategic priorities.
Draft synthesis notes summarizing SteerCo deliberations, key decisions, and recommendations.

4. Reporting & Handover
Produce periodic progress reports capturing milestones, risks, and emerging issues.
Deliver a final, validated Steering Committee business plan and an end-of-assignment integration report, including lessons and recommendations for Phase II.

RequirementsExperience Required:
Minimum 10 years’ experience in programme or project management, with demonstrated success in African development contexts.
Background in institutional design, governance frameworks, or natural resource/energy transition policy.
Experience managing multi-stakeholder processes involving governments, MDBs, and civil society.
Proven ability to synthesize consultant outputs into actionable frameworks.
Technical Requirements:
Advanced degree (Master's or higher) in public policy, development economics, natural resource governance, or related field.
Expertise in project management methodologies with ability to develop comprehensive workplans and monitoring frameworks.
Financial acumen to oversee budget development and operational costing for new facilities.
Proficiency in collaborative tools (e.g., MS Teams, SharePoint) and project management software.
Strong research and analytical skills to synthesize technical inputs from diverse consultants.
Other Skills:
Exceptional stakeholder management capabilities, with proven ability to navigate political sensitivities and build consensus among senior leaders.
Self-directed working style with ability to drive progress amidst ambiguity and evolving priorities.
Superior written communication skills for developing high-quality briefs, reports, and presentations for executive audiences.
Fluency in English (written and spoken) is mandatory; professional proficiency in French or other African languages is strongly preferred.
Cultural awareness and adaptability to work effectively across diverse African markets.
Fluency in English (written and spoken) is mandatory; professional proficiency in French or other African languages is strongly preferred.
African nationals based on the African continent are strongly preferred
Cultural awareness and adaptability to work effectively across diverse African markets.

Terms of agreement:
Required start date: April 2026
Contracting period: 6 months (part-time; ~10–15 hours/week, approx. 40–50 days).

Working Arrangement
Location: Remote, with occasional travel for SteerCo or partner meetings.