Timeline for recruitment: Immediate
Duration: 1 year contract, 6 months probation
Location: Remote, meeting periodically in Johannesburg with the team
Reporting to: Senior Partner and Business Development Manager: SA
Overview
Umuzi works to address social inequality at a global scale through our learning ecosystem. We work to incubate in-demand skills for digital, entrepreneurial and green career pathways. Working with learners, funders, employers and learning opportunity providers, we select talented young people, connect them to learning opportunities and support the acceleration and growth of their careers.
Umuzi is looking for a Partnerships and Project Manager to work in our Partnerships and Project Management function in South Africa. In this role, you will be the implementing project manager on key partners locally. You will be paired with a Senior Partner and Business Development Manager and work with them to leverage Umuzi’s integrated project management strategy and our team to deliver on key projects for our partners. You will work with multiple internal teams to ensure that the selection, onboarding, training, acceleration and placement of learners participating in your projects is delivered in line with the proposal and within budget.
Key Roles and Responsibilities:
As a Partnerships and Project Manager at Umuzi, you will be responsible for the end-to-end partner life-cycle, from lead generation to project renewals. Your key role is successfully implementing and delivering projects sold to our partners. You will be responsible for:
Business Development:
Supporting the development of concept notes and proposals
Project Planning:
Work closely with stakeholders to define project scope, concept notes, goals, and deliverables.
Develop detailed integrated project plans outlining tasks, timelines, and resource requirements.
Team Coordination:
Assemble project teams and assign tasks based on team members' strengths and project requirements.
Foster collaboration and effective communication among team members.
Risk Management:
Identify potential risks and issues that may impact project timelines or outcomes.
Develop and implement mitigation strategies to address risks proactively.
Timeline Management:
Track project timelines and milestones, ensuring that deadlines are met.
Implement adjustments to project plans as necessary to accommodate changes.
Stakeholder Communication:
Regularly communicate project status, updates, and potential issues to stakeholders.
Facilitate meetings and presentations to keep stakeholders informed.
Quality Assurance:
Establish and maintain quality standards for project deliverables.
Conduct regular reviews to ensure that project outputs meet the organisation's standards.
Documentation:
Maintain comprehensive project documentation, including project plans, reports, and post-project evaluations.
Ensure that documentation is organised and easily accessible.
Continuous Improvement:
Evaluate project outcomes and identify opportunities for process improvement.
Implement lessons learned from previous projects to enhance future project success.
Qualifications and Experience
This is a mid-level position, requiring 4+ years of experience in a similar role. Management consulting experience would be advantageous. Demonstrable experience in managing multiple complex projects is critical. A proven record of project management and relationship building success is an advantage, as is knowledge of the tech education landscape.
Skills and Personal Attributes
At Umuzi, you will need to be a team player in this role, building internal relationships and focussing on processes to get things done and delivered for impact. You must be tech-literate, process-driven, highly organised, articulate, personable and authentic. We are a team - taking both collective and individual accountability for delivering on our purpose. You will need to be an excellent communicator, have convincing team-wrangling and collaboration skills and be able to manage a high degree of product complexity. We focus on impact, not profit and remain learner-centred in all that we do. Your alignment to this key value will need to show throughout the implementation of your projects. Agility, a high tolerance for ambiguity, personal confidence and a willingness to take ownership of your relationships, team and projects is critical.
How to Apply:
Complete this Application Form and the Skills Test, which needs to accompany your application.
Please also include the following as supporting documents:
CV and 3-minute video stating why you are interested in the role and how you possess or meet the knowledge, skills, and criteria.
Include the contact details of a reference if not included in your CV.
Note: We will not contact references until after the interviews