Duration: Permanent contract, 3 months probation
Location: Remote
Reporting to: Andrew Levy (Founder and Chief Innovation Officer) and Megan Joscelyne (Innovation Special Projects Manager)
About Umuzi
Umuzi works to address inequality globally, 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.
Overview of the role
The purpose of the Innovation team is to support the growth and sustainability of the organisation, experiment with discovery of, and divergence into new opportunities and promote the ongoing further enablement of young people.
Our day-to-day involves prioritising strategic initiatives within the business, taking them from inception to completion - ultimately ensuring alignment with organisational goals and objectives.
We are looking to hire an Innovation Associate to support the team and create additional leverage to execute on more of our strategic special projects.
This role will work closely with Umuzi’s Innovation Special Projects Manager and Chief Innovation Officer.
Your Responsibilities:
Support with the execution of special projects from inception to completion
Assist with conducting thorough research, analysis and feasibility studies to evaluate project scope, resource requirements and potential risks
Proposal research, writing and development for grants and innovation funding
Support with the development of comprehensive project plans, timelines, and budgets and regularly monitor progress against milestones
Contribute to facilitating effective communication and a collaborative working environment to drive project success
Proactively identify and resolve issues, conflicts and barriers that may impede project progress, proactively implementing mitigation strategies as needed
Support in driving continuous improvement initiatives
Qualifications and Experience
2-3 years of experience in either management consulting, software development, education or project management
Strong verbal and written communications skills are a must, as well as the ability to work effectively with multiple stakeholders internally and externally.
Strong proficiency for research and analysis
Degree or diploma in Commerce, Finance, Sustainable Development, Economics, Education or Project Management
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 thorough with excellent attention to detail.
You must possess excellent research, analytical, and problem-solving abilities, as well as strong interpersonal skills to interact with Umuzi colleagues across all pillars, projects and levels
Strong communication skills, tech literacy, and a willingness to learn new systems to drive efficiency are essential.
A strong ownership mentality is crucial, with the ability to "pull work" towards yourself and take safe, detailed hands-on execution of tasks. We are looking for someone to serve as a co-pilot to innovation special projects, you should have a forward-thinking view on how to shape the organisation's future.
Additionally, you should be excited about our core purpose and values, be a creative, out-of-the-box thinker, and be self-motivated with a drive for excellence in both strategy and execution.
Most importantly, we want you to believe in what we do and believe your work makes a difference. We want you to feel that the projects you create will leave an everlasting impact and have fun while doing it all.
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 the first interview.