Duration: Fixed contract, 3 months probation
Location: Remote
Reporting to: Nduduzo Nyanda (Head of Business Development, Partnerships + Project Management)
About Umuzi + the Experience Lab
Umuzi works to address inequality in Africa, by connecting talented youth to high value learning and career opportunities. Working with learners, funders, employers and learning opportunity providers, we create opportunities to skill, reskill or upskill talented young people and accelerate them on their career pathways.
We are constantly trying to create innovative new ways to reduce inequality and provide young marginalised talent with opportunities to thrive and significantly change their lives. We have thus developed an innovative programme entitled the Experience Lab - an innovative last-mile experience incubator which seeks to overcome the experience gap that exists in South Africa’s labour market.
The Experience Lab will bolster the experience of mid and high-skill learners by providing them with access to the following types of experience within the Full Stack Web Developer pathway:
Experience projects: Providing learners with real-world, practical experience. Learners will complete projects and their experience will be credentialed and uploaded onto their learner CV’s on the Learner Portal.
Impact Gigs: Impact gigs are short-term, freelance employment opportunities designed to connect learners with immediate earning opportunities, aligned to their career ambitions, that offer participants valuable experience and potential income
Further, learners in the Experience Lab will be provided with holistic support including coaching, mentoring, wellness support, soft skills training, and employability training.
The Experience Lab is underpinned by a data platform that once learners have gained sufficient experience through projects or impact gigs, efficiently and rapidly connect learners to full-time earning opportunities.
The Experience Lab has three overarching goals:
Bolster experience of young marginalised youth, providing them with experience stepping stones aligned to their overaging career objectives
Reduce youth unemployment by providing mid-skilled learners with practical experience to secure long-term employment
Reduce the time taken for high-skill and aptitude learners to secure earning opportunities by efficiently matching them to impact opportunities to gaining career-aligned experience
Overview of the role
We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to oversee the planning, implementation, and tracking of the Experience Lab.
The ideal candidate will be responsible for ensuring that project milestones are delivered on time, within scope, and budget.
This role requires a dynamic individual who can manage multiple stakeholders, drive operational efficiency, and contribute to the growth and success of the Experience Lab.
Key Responsibilities:
Project Planning and Execution: Lead the planning and implementation of Experience Lab, including defining project scope, goals, and deliverables. Develop detailed project plans, including timelines, milestones, budgets, and resource allocation.
Stakeholder Management: Engage with various different stakeholders including funding and corporate partners, senior and middle-level tech teams, subject matter experts, learners, alumni and other stakeholders to ensure alignment and collaboration throughout the project lifecycle.
Team Coordination: Work closely with the various teams involved in the execution of the Experience Lab to ensure all aspects of the project are well-coordinated and executed.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Work closely with the Data and M&E team to implement monitoring and evaluation systems to track project progress, learner outcomes, and overall impact to ensure we are meeting key milestone indicators to release additional funding. Ensure that project milestones are met and any risks are proactively identified and mitigated.
Reporting: Prepare regular progress reports for Umuzi senior management, funding and corporate partners highlighting key achievements, challenges, and recommendations for improvement.
Scaling and Growth: Contribute to the development and execution of the sustainable scaling strategy for the Experience Lab, including marketing, onboarding, training, and partnership growth. Work towards specific goals such as learner targets, placement fees, and expanding the partnership network.
Risk Management: Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies. Maintain the project risk register and ensure that residual risks are managed effectively.
Continuous Improvement: Foster a culture of continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance project management processes, tools, and systems.
Qualifications and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
5+ years of experience in project management, preferably in the education, technology, or social impact sectors.
Strong understanding of project management methodologies and tools.
Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work under pressure.
Experience with monitoring and evaluation systems.
Familiarity with scaling strategies and business development is a plus.
Skills and Personal Attributes
We are looking for a self-starter who is motivated and passionate about making an impact. You should be highly organised, process-driven, and detail-oriented with excellent time management and multitasking skills.
Problem-solving mindset: You should have strong research, analytical, and problem-solving abilities, always thinking ahead to anticipate potential challenges and working to overcome them.
Forward-thinker: We are looking for someone who can think outside the box and help shape the future of the Experience Lab with innovative ideas and approaches.
Motivated by impact: You are driven by the desire to make a real difference, both in the organisation and in the lives of the young people we serve.
Adaptable and resilient: Comfortable working in uncertain or ambiguous environments, you will need to be flexible and willing to adapt to changing project requirements or priorities.
Ownership mentality: You should have the ability to take ownership of tasks, drive projects forward independently, and "pull work" towards yourself while maintaining a collaborative approach.
Strong interpersonal skills: You will be interacting with various stakeholders, both internal and external, and need to navigate these relationships with professionalism and diplomacy.
Tech-savvy: Strong communication skills, tech literacy, and a willingness to learn new systems to drive efficiency are essential.
Passionate about our purpose: You should be excited about our core purpose and values, aligning your work with our vision and bringing energy to the role.
How To Apply
If this role appeals to you, please apply with your CV and cover letter using the link below. Please upload your Cover Letter to the Skills Test / Portfolio section of the form.
Applications missing key documentation will not be considered.
References will only be contacted after a first interview.