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*** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008 *** *** | VII The Daily Telegraph GLOBAL ASSIGNMENTS CAREERS IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT TIME FOR A CHANGE? Searching for a career change that reflected her own ethical values, Wooster’s first experience of charity work was when she volunteered in Turkey after the 1999 earthquake. “I was pleased to find my project management skills were in demand,” she recalls. “I was quickly offered a more permanent, paid position, working in the area of disaster preparedness. My overall goal was to train individuals and strengthen the search and rescue team at a local level. “All stages of a charity project need close management. From gathering data about a disaster situation on the ground and assessing the needs of a community, through to developing a project proposal, and budget planning, there’s a lot of report writing. You also need to be in constant communication with the groups involved.” But it’s not always a smooth transition moving from the private arena to the charity sector. Whitlam has run workshops specifically for those wishing to do just that. “There’s an important learning curve for people coming from a profit-led organisation. Most charities can’t afford the addons often taken for granted in the private sector. When you’re abroad, for instance, you might be working in the most challenging environment, but you’re expected to overcome a lot to get up and do a full day’s work.” For those looking to make the jump into the not-for-profit sector, structured internships offered by some of the biggest charities can provide a much-needed foot in the door. Justin Derbyshire has recently completed a year-long internship scheme with British medical charity, Merlin. “After graduation I moved into business development, working as a national account manager for a large firm before project managing a team of account managers. But my passion lay in international development and I wanted to put my commercial experience to good use in this area. “I soon realised I needed further training and completed a diploma in humanitarian assistance before being accepted onto Merlin’s internship scheme. I worked on their East and Central Africa desk in the UK as the East Africa assistant. I then took advantage of their six-month overseas placement project and became programme assistant in the Central African Republic (CAR). Now, as Merlin’s regional programmes officer for East and Central Africa, I’m responsible for 11 projects in four countries, such as the rebuilding of health centres in CAR. This project also involves providing training for local staff and organising drug supplies. “The software we use to keep track of every part of each project, to ensure we’re on schedule and within budget, is similar to that we would use in the corporate sector. So my project management background provided a good foundation, particularly for the planning and organisational side of the job.” But, as Justin points out, that doesn’t mean you can go in knowing it all. “There’s a lot to learn. You have to respect the skills and experience of your colleagues and it’s important that you serve your time as an apprentice.” GEOFF SAYER, RAJENDRA SHAW, OXFAM CAUSES ANDEFFECTS GETTING INVOLVED IN AN INTERNATIONAL CHARITY INITIATIVE COULD TURN OUT TO BE A HIGHLY REWARDING CAREER MOVE, SAYS ESME McAVOY KNOW YOUR WORTH Charitable organisations are also under increasing pressure to provide “evidence of worth” demonstrating their achievements using concrete, charitable organisation. The use of interim managers — something that’s long been a feature of private companies — is now being adopted by charities, too, where high-level project managers are taken on for short periods to oversee specific projects.” Kelly Wooster is a consultant who coordinates training programmes for charities such as RedR. Her previous experience, working in corporate project Project managers are key to disasterrelief efforts: lives can depend on their skills ‘‘ Moving forward: children with their new maths textbooks in Swahili ‘‘ Making a difference: from top, well-organised relief plans are crucial in disaster programmes; children studying with textbooks provided by Oxfam; commercial experience is at a premium in the not-for-profit sector ‘‘ W hether it is in earthquake-hit China, or wartorn Darfur, skilled project managers are crucial to disaster relief efforts, and charities increasingly rely on their skills and expertise. Distributing food aid and setting up emergency shelter and medical care can involve managing large numbers of volunteers and partner groups, often in conflict zones or areas with little or no infrastructure. Lives depend on getting it right. “Over the last decade or so the not-for-profit sector has become more professionalised,” says Lucinda Shaw, external communications director for the humanitarian training organisation RedR. “Charities no longer send inexperienced volunteers abroad to dig wells or plant trees. Most prefer to do what is called ‘capacity building’ and train up local people for such roles instead.” In general, this means that there are more opportunities to work in the international development sector at a greater strategic, management level. And it’s here that skilled project managers can fill an important gap. measurable outcomes. To this end, project management expertise is now very important. Mike Whitlam, a former Red Cross CEO who now recruits interim managers for charities, is seeing a trend in them hiring project managers with corporate backgrounds. “Project management covers some of the crucial skill sets needed in a management, has proved invaluable. “Before I worked for charities, I was a project manager in Washington DC in the US Justice Department. I then moved into a business environment, project managing in San Francisco. Working in the private sector at this level means I developed a range of highly transferable skills.” ‘‘ There’s a lot to learn in the development sector: you have to respect the skills and experience of your colleagues ON YOUR DOORSTEP Those who are interested in joining the public sector but who are nervous about severing ties with the private arena could look to their current firm for opportunities. Forward-thinking companies now work with charities to offer expertise, be it seconding engineers to water projects in Africa or training young entrepreneurs in South Africa. Accenture Development Partnerships (ADP) is a charitable arm of global management consultancy Accenture. Run in partnership with Voluntary Service Overseas, it allows Accenture staff to work for charities and non-governmental organisations without putting their careers on hold. Staff with at least three years’ management experience can be matched to relevant projects and work abroad for organisations such as Oxfam, the World Bank and ActionAid. “Clients are offered our top performers at a massively reduced rate, while staff experience new challenges of working in a completely different environment and culture,” explains Gib Bulloch, director of ADP. “It’s not about painting schools or planting crops. We offer strategic business management that will improve organisational efficiency, whether that’s in the distribution of malaria nets or bringing emergency relief.” Despite participants having to take a 50 per cent salary drop, the scheme is popular and Bulloch aims to place 300 staff in the coming year. “It’s a unique model in consultancy: everyone gives and everyone benefits.” JOBS ONLINE: jobs.telegraph.co.uk/ careers-insider @ *** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH *** *** Magic moments THE SPECIAL SKILLS IT TAKES TO GET THE JOB DONE page 2 History repeating LEADING TACTICS FROM PAST BATTLES page 5 Healing hands MANAGING GLOBAL RELIEF EFFORTS page 7 ILLUSTRATIONS THROUGHOUT BY MARK LAZENBY Project management CAREERS IN THURS *** II *** *** THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH | *** PROJECT MANAGEMENT OVERVIEW The Daily Telegraph MODERN WIZARDS today, some as consultants; others employed as “in-house” staff. All need to be eminently flexible and ready to take on fresh challenges. “The job can change *** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008 *** *** | III The Daily Telegraph PEOPLE CAREERS IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT Xlang Jing’s “Your Body” is currently on show at the Saatchi Gallery TAKING A BROAD NIGEL HURST DIRECTORANDCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFTHE SAATCHIGALLERY PERSPECTIVE FROM *** IV *** *** THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH | *** *** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008 *** *** | V The Daily Telegraph SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CAREERS IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT LEARNINGFROMPAST MASTERS ALAMY, CORBIS, GETTY THE TACTICS EMPLOYED BY FABLED LEADERS OF THE PAST CAN PROVIDE VALUABLE TIPS TODAY. THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS IS A *** VI *** *** THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH | *** CAREERS IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT AWARDS AND TRAINING THE PRIZE WINNER JIMMY ZAMMER, OF UK CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS DAVIS LANGDON, WAS AWARDED THE ASSOCIATION FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT’S YOUNG PROJECT MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN 200 *** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008 *** *** | VII The Daily Telegraph GLOBAL ASSIGNMENTS CAREERS IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT TIME FOR A CHANGE? Searching for a career change that reflected her own ethical values, Wooster’s first experience of charity work was when she volunteered *** VIII *** *** THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH | *** PROJECT MANAGEMENT TRANSPORT Rail finders: the Docklands Light Railway The Daily Telegraph TRANSPORT TO THE 2012 LONDON OLYMPICS WILL NEED TO BE AS PRECISELY PLANNED AS THE EVENTS THEMSELVES, SAYS GABRIELLE COLLETT-WHITE C