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Senior Project Manager – Bangladesh

The Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) is looking for a NIMD Senior Project Manager to support our work in Bangladesh

Senior Project Manager – Bangladesh
Full time (consultancy)

The Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) works to promote peaceful, just, and inclusive democracy worldwide. We believe that democracy can only thrive when all voices are heard, and that inclusive and respectful dialogue between politicians, political parties, civil society, and citizens is crucial to achieving that goal.

We build all our democracy support programmes around that core belief, ensuring we help empower everyone – from traditionally marginalized groups to established politicians – to play their role in political life and work for the common good of their country. We do this by promoting dialogue, strengthening the capacities of political actors, and training young and established leaders in our Democracy Schools. Currently, NIMD runs programmes in around twenty countries in Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. For more information on what we do and where NIMD works, see www.nimd.org/where-we-work.

NIMD is headquartered in the political heart of the Netherlands, The Hague. The position shall be based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with limited in-country travel. The Senior Project Manager will be responsible for the implementation of NIMD’s work in Bangladesh.

The Position

NIMD is looking for a Senior Project Manager in Bangladesh, to coordinate the successful implementation of the Support to political parties programmatic cluster of the Action for a Holistic Electoral Approach for Democracy (AHEAD-Bangladesh) project. Funded by the European Commission, AHEAD Bangladesh aims to support civil society and political actors before, during, and after the electoral period through three main activity clusters:

Citizen election observation
Civic and voter education; and
Support to political parties

The initiative is implemented by a consortium comprising (but not limited to) the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) as Consortium lead, Bangladesh-based JAAGO Foundation Trust and NIMD.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

As NIMD’s Senior Project Manager, your key responsibility will be to successfully implement the political parties cluster of the AHEAD Bangladesh project, and building effective relations with key stakeholders. You will lead NIMD’s work within the consortium and manage the performance of two support staff (to be recruited) towards agreed annual targets. You will work closely together with relevant members of the NIMD team in The Hague to ensure high-quality programming, effective project implementation and smooth financial administration.

Project Management

Implement the support to political parties cluster of the Action for a Holistic Electoral Approach for Democracy (AHEAD-Bangladesh) project.
Lead on strategic planning and programmatic and institutional learning within the NIMD-led project cluster.
Coordinate all project implementation and financial management of the NIMD cluster in line with project cycle management requirements, and in collaboration with the consortium partners. This includes preparing annual plans/budgets, ensuring financial accountability, adhering to reporting requirements, and risk management and mitigation.
Analyse political developments and perform stakeholder mapping to facilitate effective project implementation.
Ensure compliance to EPD and EU reporting and financial guidelines.
Ensure NIMD project office staff perform their tasks in a high quality manner, including timely planning, implementation, communications, monitoring, and reporting of the programme.
Ensure an effective line of communication and coordination between the Dhaka and The Hague team.

Representation

Represent NIMD towards Bangladeshi political actors, democratic institutions, civil society actors and other stakeholders relevant to the political parties activity cluster.
Promote NIMD’s core principles of impartiality, inclusiveness, diversity, local ownership and long-term commitment in every interaction with stakeholders as well as in every external communication.
Function as the main point of contact towards partners (including consortium partners), beneficiaries and the media with respect to the political parties cluster.
Liaise with political and civil society actors to foster the political participation of currently under-represented groups, in particular women, youth and people living with disabilities.
Establish, maintain and actively expand key partnerships and networks in Bangladesh with a view to strengthening and sustaining NIMD in Bangladesh.

Strategic management and stakeholder engagement

Establish and maintain relations with key beneficiaries in Bangladesh, including political parties, political associations, parliament, government offices, civil society organizations and other relevant stakeholders and develop strategies for engagement and support together with these partners.
Support the facilitation of the political actor dialogue processes and capacity development of key stakeholders.
Ensure timely and quality inputs from advisors and consultants contracted for the implementation of the political party cluster of the project.

Office management/ line management

Provide line management for other project office staff (to be recruited).
Implement NIMD HR policies where applicable according to internal procedures and carry out performance assessments.
Ensure an open and transparent working environment and build staff capacity in line with NIMD’s mandate.
Function as a focal point for the office’s safety, security and well-being.

Profile

You are an impartial trust-builder that is able to engage with all the relevant political actors in Bangladesh. You have strong interpersonal, diplomatic and dialogue skills, and are seasoned in leading successful project implementation in challenging conditions. You work transparently and in a structured way. You have proven managerial and project-implementation skills, including in leading and developing project teams. You are discreet and can maintain confidentiality while working with political actors.

This position requires an ability to control and mitigate conflicts and risks, and handle stressful and complicated situations. Sharp skills in political economy and power analysis are therefore indispensable. For the impartiality of NIMD and its Bangladesh office, the selected candidate must not be conspicuously aligned with any Bangladeshi political party or movement.

Requirements

A Master’s degree or higher from a reputable academic institute in a subject relevant to NIMD’s work.
At least 10 years’ experience working with international development programmes, in particular governance programmes, of which at least three years in a leading/management role.
Deep knowledge of the Bangladesh political context and system and experience working with Bangladeshi political actors
Experience with (the facilitation of) political and multistakeholder dialogue, political party capacity development, adult education programmes, and/or working with democratic institutions such as the Legislatures and Electoral Management Bodies.
Experience, both theoretically and in practice, in project cycle management, monitoring, reporting and evaluation, and financial accountability and reporting, especially related to the European Union.
Strong analytical skills and capacity for strategic planning.
Experience in leading, coaching, motivating, coordinating and supervising a team.
Ability to bring people together and facilitate trust and relationship building between different stakeholders.
Ability to guide and facilitate complex processes in a neutral, supportive manner, without dominating or advocating.
Committed to NIMD’s core values regarding gender equality, integrity and diversity.
Bangladeshi nationality (strongly preferred), permanent residency or valid work permit for Bangladesh.
Fluency in both Bengali and English language.

What We Offer

We offer a full-time position at our office in Dhaka, initially for one year, with the intention of extension. NIMD offers a consultancy contract with a competitive remuneration package. In addition, we provide a flexible work environment with good secondary benefits.

How To Apply

Interested candidates should submit their applications, in the form of a motivation letter (maximum 2 pages) and a CV (maximum 4 pages) to recruitment@nimd.org no later than 15 September 2025.

Please indicate in your letter your salary expectations. Interviews will be held shortly thereafter.

For additional information, please contact Tayuh Ngenge, Programme and Knowledge Adviser tayuhngenge@nimd.org or Heleen Schrooyen, Head of Positioning, heleenschrooyen@nimd.org

Only replies by individual candidates for this job will be considered; no agencies please.