Special Project Manager - Department of Special Projects

The Special Project Manager operates as a high-trust execution proxy for the CEO, responsible for leading high-stakes, non-routine initiatives that carry strategic and reputational significance. The role exists to convert high-uncertainty ideas into disciplined, de-risked, and execution-ready initiatives, ensuring speed without compromising governance, credibility, or institutional integrity.

This role is inherently time-bound by project, not operational. Success is defined by the ability to structure ambiguity, enable executive decisions, and transition initiatives cleanly into operational ownership.

Authority & Decision Rights

• Independently structure initiatives, pilots, and execution plans
• Engage and coordinate internal teams and external stakeholders within approved mandates
• Recommend go / no-go decisions, escalation paths, and transition readiness
• Final approvals on strategic direction, external commitments, and scope changes remain with the CEO

Career Path / Role Evolution

This role is a launchpad for senior leadership, transformation leadership, or general management roles. Exposure to complex, CEO-level initiatives provides accelerated strategic maturity and executive visibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Take end-to-end ownership of CEO-sponsored initiatives from Exploration → Build → Pilot → Transition
• Translate ambiguous ideas into structured initiatives with defined objectives, success criteria, sequencing, and risk logic
• Ensure initiatives progress rapidly while maintaining governance discipline and institutional credibility
• Act on behalf of the CEO in high-stakes internal and external environments
• Coordinate across internal functions including Legal, Finance, HR, Operations, PMO, and Executive Office
• Engage directly with external stakeholders such as ministries, regulators, and international partners
• Protect the CEO’s authority, positioning, and intent in all engagements
• Break down complex, unstructured problems into clear workstreams and decision paths
• Produce Initiative One-Pagers, executive briefs, and decision packs that reduce CEO cognitive load
• Anticipate second- and third-order implications before escalation
• Operate as a digital power user, leveraging advanced proficiency in documents, slides, trackers, and research tools
• Apply AI-assisted analysis and synthesis frameworks to improve speed, accuracy, and quality of outputs
• Maintain control over logic and judgment while using AI as an execution accelerator, not a substitute
• Design and lead Build & Pilot phases to test assumptions in real-world conditions
• Generate decision-grade evidence to determine whether initiatives should scale, iterate, or stop
• Ensure pilots are intentionally designed to answer strategic questions, not just “try things out”
• Prepare comprehensive SOP packs, governance models, role definitions, and training materials
• Ensure initiatives are handed over cleanly into operational departments or long-term structures
• Exit projects deliberately once transition criteria are met
• Handle sensitive initiatives with absolute confidentiality
• Exercise sound judgment in politically, financially, or institutionally sensitive contexts
• Uphold the credibility of the Office of the CEO at all times

• Bachelor’s degree required; postgraduate qualification is an advantage
• Background in strategy, transformation, consulting, special projects, or CEO office environments preferred
• Proven experience leading high-ambiguity, cross-functional initiatives
• Direct exposure to senior leadership or CEO-level decision-making
• Experience engaging external institutions or senior stakeholders
• Exceptional structuring and synthesis capability
• Strong written and verbal executive communication
• Outcome-driven, disciplined, and highly reliable
• High discretion and professional maturity