Project Management, Senior Associate

Role: Project Management, Senior Associate

Start Date: Immediate 

Employment Type: Full time, 1 year contract (renewable)

Location: Kuala Lumpur and Johor (Travel involved)

Mission for the Role

The Project Management Senior Associate will assist the Head of Project in the successful implementation and monitoring of Project KALIS, a nationwide initiative aimed at addressing learning recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The role requires a highly independent and strategic individual with experience in programme /project delivery, capable to coordinate, liaise and support the Head of Project with the overall planning, coordination and governance ensuring sound project management and implementation in line with the project, TFM’s policy and strategies.

About Project KALIS

The learning loss of the COVID-19 Pandemic has had a significant impact for student learning especially in the area of foundational literacy and numeracy. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 results reported that 40% of Malaysian 15-year olds do not meet international standards in reading, mathematics and sciences. In the same report, Malaysia also ranked top 5 in experiencing the biggest decline in PISA Scores globally. Furthermore, SPM attendance rates have also dropped at an alarming rate with over 10,000 students being registered but not showing up for their exams. 

The Malaysian government has tasked a project team within the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Yayasan Hasanah to lead a nationwide initiative aimed at tackling learning recovery issued particularly in the area of foundational literacy and numeracy at a primary school level as well as improving SPM passing rates through working with various public universities, civil society organizations (CSO), and private educationally invested organizations. 

Teach for Malaysia is one the many Civil society organizations identified to be involved and deliver a solution towards addressing the issue of learning recovery and foundational literacy and numeracy across the country. Project KALIS is an 18 month programme aimed at developing and utilizing high quality toolkits, enhancing the capacity of teachers as well as engaging the broader community in supporting the mastery of foundational literacy and numeracy skills among primary school students.

Key Measures of Success

The Project Management Senior Associate is crucial in driving the following: 

Project Monitoring and Reporting:

• Provide substantive inputs to assist the Head of Project in the preparation of project reports and documents.
• Maintain accurate project records and documentation.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Work with the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager (MEL) to collect data relevant to the project

Programme Operations:

• Support overall operations and coordination of the project team to ensure smooth execution of project activities.
• Contribute to the setup and operational needs of the Johor office.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the general guidance and supervision of the Head of Project, the Project Management responsibilities include the following:

1. Project Monitoring and Reporting:
2. Progress Reporting:

• In consultation with the Head of Project, contributes to setting of delivery targets and monitoring of project expenditures.
• Assist the Head of Project in compiling and drafting comprehensive progress reports.

1. Documentation and Project Finance Reporting:

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date project records.
• Ensure all project documentation is organised and accessible.

1. Monitoring and Evaluation:

Data Collection:

• Work closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager (MEL) to collect relevant project data.
• Ensure data collection methods are robust and consistent.

1. Operations and Coordination:

• Support overall operations and coordination of the project team to ensure smooth execution of project activities.
• Contribute to the successful setup of the Johor office, ensuring that logistical and operational needs are met.

1. Stakeholder Engagement:

• Foster good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate with diverse partners to ensure collaborative efforts towards project goals.
• Facilitate clear and consistent communication of the project impact
• Represent the project in meetings and discussions as needed.

Note: While this role will mainly support this project, there may also be a need to support other efforts within TFM as we collectively work towards ending education inequity.

Required Competencies/ Experiences

Organisational and Management Skills:

• Demonstrated excellence in organisational abilities, with a keen attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proactive and independant with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and prioritise effectively.
• Strong budget and cost management skills.

Adaptability and Flexibility:

• Ability to thrive in an entrepreneurial, fast-paced, and dynamic environment.
• Must be able to travel independently and work on weekends or outside regular hours as needed.

Communication and Relationship Building:

• Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with diverse stakeholders and project beneficiaries. 
• Excellent proficiency in both written and verbal Bahasa Malaysia (BM) and English. Proficiency in both languages is preferred.

Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills:

• Strong reasoning and problem-solving capabilities, with a focus on process-based thinking.
• Proficient in tracking and analysing data to monitor progress and report on impact.

Technical Skills:

• Proficient in MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and/or G Suite Applications.
• Computer literacy and typing skills.

Professional Growth and Passion:

• Strong desire to continuously learn and grow professionally.
• Genuine passion for Teach For Malaysia’s mission and commitment to the education sector.

Previous Experience

• Preferred: A minimum of 3 years experience in supporting project implementation and/or programme management.
• Minimum qualification of a Bachelor’s Degree in any field.