Senior Project Manager & Operations Coordinator.

Senior Project Manager & Operations Coordinator

• Location: Based in Europe with occasional missions to Somalia.
• Position Type: Senior Operational & Institutional Strategic Support.

Position Overview

Strago is seeking a Senior Project Manager & Operations Coordinator to ensure the strategic and operational management of a complex base life project and its associated operations in Somalia. The chosen candidate will ensure all operations strictly comply with European Union standards. Concurrently, this role provides structured strategic support to the organisation for accessing NSPA (NATO Support and Procurement Agency) markets, specifically focusing on identifying, analysing, and positioning the company for institutional opportunities.

This role uniquely combines a high-level operational position on an EU project within a complex environment with an institutional strategic support function.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Overall Management of the EU Project (Somalia)
  • Lead the comprehensive planning, coordination, and monitoring of the base life project.
  • Ensure absolute compliance with all contractual commitments, deadlines, budgets, and conformity requirements.
  • Act as the primary point of contact, facilitating communication between field teams, headquarters, and EU institutional stakeholders (including the EEAS, EU Delegation, and relevant missions).
• Coordination of Europe / Field Operations
  • Coordinate and manage local teams and service providers operating on-site in Somalia.
  • Organise and supervise field missions, including occasional travel to the region.
  • Safeguard and ensure operational continuity within a highly constrained and sensitive environment.
• Risk Management, Security, and Compliance
  • Enforce strict adherence to all applicable EU project security, logistics, and compliance standards.
  • Work in close coordination with EU security services and relevant specialized providers.
  • Actively participate in detailed risk analyses, the implementation of mitigation plans, and duty of care arrangements.
• Reporting and Institutional Communication
  • Provide regular, structured, and comprehensive reporting to project management and institutional stakeholders.
  • Prepare official progress reports, alerts, decision points, and detailed monitoring documents.
  • Maintain smooth, transparent communication channels between the field and teams based in Europe.
• Administrative, Budgetary, and Contractual Management
  • Monitor the project budget closely and optimize resource allocation.
  • Oversee all contractual aspects, procurement processes, and project-related human resources.
  • Ensure full traceability and administrative/financial compliance in strict accordance with EU rules.
• Strategic Support – Access to NSPA Markets
  • Provide structured, complementary strategic support to the organization regarding NSPA markets in parallel to managing the EU project.
  • Identify and analyse NSPA opportunities that are compatible with organizational capabilities.
  • Develop a deep understanding of NSPA procurement patterns, contractual frameworks, and qualification requirements.
  • Contribute operational and institutional perspectives to internal GO/NO GO analyses.
  • Support strategic positioning on targeted NSPA calls for tender.
  • Contribute to institutional qualification, partner mapping, and building operational credibility.
  • Ensure total alignment with NATO/NSPA compliance, ethics, and governance standards.
  • Interface directly between operations, legal, compliance, and management teams.
  • Help translate operational field experience into credible institutional arguments.

Key Skills and Competencies

Experience and Technical Skills

• Professional Experience: Minimum of 15 years of experience in complex project management or the coordination of international operations.
• Logistics Expertise: Proven track record in international logistics and base life management.
• Institutional Knowledge: Strong experience working within institutional contexts (EU, EEAS, NGOs, or international organisations).
• Procedural Compliance: Deep knowledge of EU administrative, financial, and compliance procedures.
• NATO/NSPA Exposure: Prior exposure to NATO / NSPA environments is considered a strong asset.

Behavioural Skills

• Proven leadership capabilities and high institutional credibility.
• Excellent ability to coordinate teams remotely and operate effectively in a multicultural environment.
• High level of stress resilience and the capacity to operate under heavy pressure.
• Strong sense of organisation, rigour, and professional responsibility.

Languages

• French: Fluent (main working language).
• English: Professional proficiency is essential.

Other Requirements

• Nationality: Citizenship of a European Union member state is mandatory.
• Mobility: Full availability for occasional missions to Somalia, conducted within a secure and supervised framework.

Working Conditions

• Position is physically based in Europe (with options in Paris, Brussels, or Poland).
• Requires regular interaction with European and international institutions.
• Offers direct exposure to high-stakes projects with significant operational, security, and institutional implications.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Strago is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.