Mobolaji Babalola
Summary
Results-oriented Project and Programme Manager skilled in managing project lifecycles to optimise portfolio management and achieve strategic objectives. Strong organisational and communication skills ensure smooth project execution and stakeholder satisfaction. Focused on delivering impactful results and enhancing team collaboration.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
7
7
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Senior Project Manager
ODI
2025.04 - 2026.07
- Managed complex projects to meet programme goals and deadlines.
- Coordinated overall programme management to ensure successful delivery of objectives.
- Managed strategic portfolio and partnerships to enhance programme effectiveness. and business development
- Managed programme project portfolio and key partnerships to drive business development.
- Coordinated business development plans and processes, collaborating with team members to identify funding opportunities and oversee high-quality proposal submissions.
- Identify and explore potential new funders and other partners for the programme.
- Oversee management of the programme’s funding to ensure its use is optimised and managed in-line with programme priorities and funder expectations.
- Supported Programme Director in developing and monitoring the programme’s business strategy and financial targets to ensure alignment with organisational goals.
- Provide monthly, quarterly and annual analysis to Programme director and senior management of the programme’s portfolio through monitoring and ensuring portfolio information is updated.
- Support the Programme director to develop and manage relationships with funders and other strategic partners to strengthen their long-term support of the programme and including active engagement throughout the year and coordination of meetings at strategic and operational levels.
- Support the Programme director to maintain strong internal relationships, including liaison with other central services departments (HR, Finance, Comms, IT, etc) and communications across the programme team.
- Oversaw financial management processes to maintain budget compliance and efficiency.
- Capture and share lessons learnt at the end of projects to support continuous improvement of proposal development and budgeting.
Project Manager
ODI
2015.04 - 2025.03
- Facilitate and coordinate inputs from key stakeholders concerning scope, schedule, budget, risk and quality for each project.
- Coordinate and contribute to the development of project workplans with the project team (covering research, communications, Global Security and other activities, as relevant), establishing and monitoring project controls related to scope, schedule, budget, risk and quality.
- Set up internal milestones and monitor project deliverables against contractual requirements and invoicing schedules. Negotiate delivery schedules with partners, in collaboration with the Technical Lead.
- Identified financial impacts of delays or changes in delivery schedules on project performance and collaborated with Technical Lead to adjust workplans in consultation with partners and donors.
- Identified, managed and mitigated project risks. Escalated complex issues to Senior PMs, Strategic Operations Managers, and Director of Project Management for resolution.
- Oversaw project planning and execution to meet objectives.
- Managed financial resources and budgeting processes effectively.
- Ensure adherence to ODI’s project management methodology, including the accurate set up and management of projects through FocalPoint and in accordance with donor requirements.
- Facilitated information sharing and problem solving among project team and relevant stakeholders to enhance project implementation.
- Coordinate the production and dissemination of project deliverables in collaboration with the project team and other ODI colleagues as necessary.
- Coordinated production and submission of donor narrative reports, integrating contributions from partners.
- Liaise with the donors on contractual matters, ensuring both compliance with donor requirements and the safeguarding of the interests of ODI, demonstrating a good understanding of the organisation’s needs and ‘red-lines’.
- Identify consultants and partners in collaboration with the project team and manage contracting process, including negotiations of terms and conditions; liaise with the consultants and partners on contractual matters.
- Create and maintain project worksites on the intranet (SharePoint).
- Lead and manage the project’s compliance with ODI procedures, particularly in relation to establishing and maintaining safeguarding frameworks, travel & security.
Programme Officer
ODI
2010.01 - 2026.07
- Identify and monitor potential new funding opportunities and support the development of group fundraising strategies
- Assisted project leads in preparing bids and proposals, enhancing documentation quality and alignment with funding requirements
- Collaborated with project accountants to establish accurate financial setups; supported timely financial reporting to donors and facilitated project closures
- Carry out administration for all of the programme’s donor contracts and draw up subcontracts with partner individuals and organisations
- Liaise with project partners and subcontractors on financial and contractual matters
- Budget monitoring and processing of all supplier and contractor invoices and expense claims
- Monitor the progress of project deliverables, particularly where related to invoicing schedules
- Support the finance team with the reconciliation and consolidation of financial year-end.
- Managed and organised project documentation for easy access and retrieval
- Support the production of project deliverables such as ODI publications, working in coordination with communications team colleagues
- Create and maintain project worksites on the intranet (SharePoint) and contribute to other sites and portals
- Provide General project support such as organising and supporting meetings and events in the UK and abroad
- Support researchers with travel arrangements including flights, accommodation and visas, ensuring compliance with ODI and donor policies
- Researched and identified potential business opportunities and partnerships to expand funding avenues and strengthen organisational networks
- Oversaw team performance and provided guidance to enhance productivity
Administrative Officer
Action for Children (Westgate and Newburgh Children’s Centre)
2008.07 - 2009.12
- Maintaining and updating confidential filing systems daily using excel, access database and the in house system.
- Maintained daily communication with departments and teams to ensure seamless information flow.
- Liaising with different teams to develop and update the centre’s work-plan.
- Addressed various administrative queries to ensure smooth operations.
- Providing regular updates to service users.
- Updating potential and existing users of the centre to inform them of available services.
- Provided welcome packs and addressed new users’ enquiries to enhance user experience.
- Collated items and placed purchase orders with registered suppliers to meet operational needs.
Programme Support Officer
Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre
2005.09 - 2007.09
- Developed work plans for projects and adhered to project timelines and objectives.
- Ensuring that projects are carried out in line with set out objectives and organisation' policies.
- Monitoring and evaluation of projects.
- Producing progress reports for management as well as project funders.
- Coordinate and analyse information to support the director of programmes.
- Facilitated coordination for a coalition of 200 members to improve collaboration and communication.
- Planning and executing project activities such as workshops, meetings and Seminars.
- Facilitating workshops and focused group discussions.
- Established and organised project files, enabling efficient access and retrieval of information.
- Establishing and maintaining contact and correspondence with project partners, beneficiaries and funders.
- Tracked project issues, mitigation strategies, and outcomes, ensuring comprehensive documentation.
- Scheduling meetings and maintaining the organisation’s diary for different projects.
- Providing the organisation' website administrator with information for uploading.
- Coordinating production process of project publications.
- Representing the organisation at meetings, conferences and workshops.
- Attending project review and evaluation meetings.
- Provided administrative support and served as primary contact for multiple projects to enhance communication and organisation.
- Fully involved in various research work for the research centre.
Education
PMD Pro -
APMG International
United Kingdom 2012.12 - 2012.12
Prince 2 Foundation -
APMG Group
2009.11 - 2009.11
Certificate in Project Management -
Coventry University
Coventry 2008.03 - 2008.03
M.A - Peace and Reconciliation Studies
Coventry University
2007.09 - 2008.07
B.A - Theatre Arts
University of Ibadan
1999.09 - 2004.03
Diploma of Higher Education - Secretarial Studies
The Polytechnic Ibadan
1998.09 - 2000.05
Skills
Project lifecycle management
Portfolio Management
Budget management
Financial forecasting
Contract management
Gantt chart creation
MS Project knowledge
Microsoft office suite proficiency
SharePoint
Business Central
CRM (Sage 1000)
Access Focal Point
Time management system
Multitasking capabilities
Capable of delegation
Timeline
Senior Project Manager
ODI
2025.04 - 2026.07
Project Manager
ODI
2015.04 - 2025.03
PMD Pro -
APMG International
2012.12 - 2012.12
Programme Officer
ODI
2010.01 - 2026.07
Prince 2 Foundation -
APMG Group
2009.11 - 2009.11
Administrative Officer
Action for Children (Westgate and Newburgh Children’s Centre)
2008.07 - 2009.12
Certificate in Project Management -
Coventry University
2008.03 - 2008.03
M.A - Peace and Reconciliation Studies
Coventry University
2007.09 - 2008.07
Programme Support Officer
Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre
2005.09 - 2007.09
B.A - Theatre Arts
University of Ibadan
1999.09 - 2004.03
Diploma of Higher Education - Secretarial Studies
The Polytechnic Ibadan
1998.09 - 2000.05