SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER/CHIEF OF STAFF

About the Role At International Facilities Services (IFS) Group, we are on an ambitious and already-proven journey to become Nigeria's — and Africa's — pre-eminent manager of the built environment, infrastructure maintenance and facilities management. We are managing some of the most complex and high-profile facilities on the continent. And we are just getting started. To support the next phase of that journey, we are looking for a rare, high-calibre professional to serve as our Chief of Staff & Senior Project Manager — the operational backbone of a fast-scaling organisation. This person will sit at the intersection of strategy and execution: translating vision into action, keeping projects moving without being chased, and holding the organisation to the highest standards of delivery. The ideal candidate is a self-directed operator who thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments. They are equally at home in a spreadsheet and a boardroom. They understand and use technology efficiently and possess an unwavering commitment to integrity, accountability, and quality. Key Responsibilities 1. Strategic Execution & CEO Support • Translate the CEO's vision and priorities into structured plans with clear owners, timelines, and accountability systems. • Attend key meetings, capture decisions, and ensure follow-through across all stakeholders. • Prepare high-quality briefing documents, presentations, and reports for internal and external audiences. • Serve as a trusted thought partner to the CEO on business strategy, organisational decisions, and growth. 2. Project Management • Own the end-to-end delivery of multiple simultaneous projects across departments — from scoping to completion. • Build and manage project trackers (Airtable, Notion, Excel, or similar) ensuring full visibility on milestones, blockers, and risks. • Drive accountability across cross-functional teams without requiring escalation or hand-holding. • Proactively identify and resolve blockers before they become problems; no task is ever left undone. • Develop standardised project management frameworks and templates for consistent delivery. 3. Operations Management • Oversee daily operational workflows, ensuring processes are efficient, documented, and consistently followed. • Design and implement SOPs, internal tools, and quality assurance checkpoints. • Manage vendor and third-party relationships, ensuring deliverables and SLAs are met. • Monitor operational KPIs and produce dashboards and reports for leadership review. 4. Tools, Data & Systems • Build and maintain operational systems using Airtable, Canva, Excel, Google Workspace, Notion, Trello, or equivalent tools. • Produce polished visual materials (decks, trackers, dashboards) that communicate clearly to senior stakeholders. • Analyse data to surface insights, identify inefficiencies, and support evidence-based decision-making. • Rapidly learn and adopt new tools and platforms as business needs evolve. 5. Team Coordination & People Operations • Coordinate and follow up with internal teams, ensuring everyone is aligned and performing to expectations. • Support onboarding of new hires and manage HR-adjacent operational tasks. • Foster a culture of accountability, excellence, and continuous improvement across the organization. Requirements Person Specification We are not looking for a generalist job-seeker. We are looking for a very specific type of person. Please read carefully. Essential — You Must Have These ✔ Demonstrable experience in a Chief of Staff, COO, Operations Lead, or Senior Project Manager role ✔ Background in fintech, tech startup, or high-growth company — you understand the pace and the language ✔ Mastery of at least 3 of: Airtable, Excel/Google Sheets, Canva, Notion, Trello, Asana, ClickUp, Slack ✔ Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously without dropping the ball — ever ✔ Exceptional written and verbal communication; you write clearly and communicate with authority ✔ Proven ability to work directly with and support a CEO or Founder at an executive level ✔ A track record of picking up new tools, workflows, and responsibilities quickly and independently ✔ Absolute, non-negotiable commitment to integrity, honesty, and professional ethics ✔ A bias for action: you do not wait to be chased, reminded, or micromanaged Highly Desirable — Strongly Preferred ✔ Founding team, co-founder, or COO experience at a startup or early-stage company ✔ Experience managing or coordinating distributed or cross-functional teams ✔ Exposure to business development, client management, or revenue operations ✔ Familiarity with project management methodologies (Agile, Scrum, OKRs, etc.) ✔ Experience building internal operational systems and documentation from scratch ✔ Strong data analysis skills — comfortable building dashboards and working with complex datasets Core Competencies Candidates will be assessed against the following competency framework during the recruitment process: Competency What We Are Looking For Execution Excellence Completes every task assigned, to the highest standard, without needing to be chased. Has a zero-backlog mindset. Integrity & Trust Acts with complete honesty and transparency at all times. Can be trusted with sensitive information, relationships, and resources. Does not cut corners. Strategic Thinking Understands the bigger picture. Connects operational decisions to business outcomes. Anticipates issues before they arise. Tools Mastery Picks up new software within days. Uses tools proactively to create visibility, efficiency, and quality. Comfortable building systems, not just using them. Communication Writes and speaks with clarity, confidence, and professionalism. Adapts tone for different audiences. Initiative & Drive Does not wait for direction. Identifies problems and solves them. Brings energy and full ownership to every responsibility. Adaptability Thrives in ambiguity. Navigates changing priorities without losing momentum. Learns fast in new domains. Stakeholder Management Builds strong relationships at every level. Manages expectations proactively. Resolves conflicts constructively. Detail Orientation Nothing slips through the cracks. Catches errors before they matter. Produces work that is clean, accurate, and professionally presented. What 'Excellent' Looks Like in This Role The right person will not need to be told what excellent looks like — they will already live it. But for clarity: • Projects are delivered on time, every time — not because they were chased, but because the candidate anticipated and resolved every obstacle in advance. • The CEO feels fully supported: briefed, represented, and able to trust that the operation is running smoothly without constant oversight. • Trackers are always up to date. No one ever wonders what the status of a project is. • New tools and workflows are adopted within days, not weeks. • Colleagues describe this person as the most reliable, trustworthy, and capable operator they have ever worked with. • Integrity is never in question — not once, not under pressure, not ever. A Specific Note on Integrity This role requires full access to sensitive business information, financial data, client relationships, and strategic plans. Candidates must demonstrate — not just claim — an unblemished record of professional integrity. We conduct thorough reference checks. We verify employment history. We ask hard questions. We are looking for someone whose reputation for honesty and trustworthiness precedes them. If integrity is a value you hold only when it is convenient, please do not apply. Benefits Competitive