Junior Project Manager

About GDI Hub

The Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) is a research and practice centre driving disability innovation for a fairer world.

Our vision is of a world without barriers to participation and equitable opportunity for all. We believe disability innovation is part of a bigger movement for disability inclusion and social justice. More than a product, a service or policy, disability innovation is a way of thinking to address disability challenges by co-designing solutions and sharing knowledge. We are solutions-focused experts in, Assistive & Accessible Technology, Inclusive Design, Inclusive Education Technology, Climate & Crisis Resilience and Cultural Participation. We stimulate entrepreneurship by developing bold approaches, partnerships and ecosystems to accelerate change.

We work across 5 domains, disrupting current ideas and practice by bring together new partnerships to overcome the barriers that exclusion and poverty creates in relation to disability.

• Research: creating new knowledge, solutions and products
• Innovation: growing inclusive innovation ecosystems
• Programmes: testing what works
• Teaching: learning and sharing knowledge
• Advocacy: evidence-based outreach

Based in East London and a legacy of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, we deliver world-class research, ideas and inventions, creating new knowledge, solutions and products, and shaping policy through co-creation, participation and collaboration. GDI Hub is composed of an Academic Research Centre (ARC) led by University College London (UCL) and a Community Interest Company (CIC) and is guided by an Advisory Board of disabled people. We currently have a diverse portfolio of work with a value of around £50million, are operational in 35 countries having reached 21 million people since launching in 2016.

GDI Hub values inclusion as a core business success factor. We actively seek to attract employees from diverse backgrounds and particularly welcome applications for this role from disabled people and people from all cultural and faith backgrounds. The role is offered on flexible terms, including location and hours of work (though right to work in the UK is required), and the accommodation of reasonable adjustments is business as usual for us.

Role Purpose

This role will provide project management support to drive forward delivery under GDI Hub’s portfolio of work, substantively including the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) funded ‘AT2030’ programme and other significant GDI Hub projects.

‘AT2030 – Life Changing Assistive Technology for All’, is GDI Hub’s flagship programme and aims to test ‘what works’ to improve access to Assistive Technology supporting solutions to scale with a focus on innovative products, new service models, and building global capacity. AT2030 is composed of 12 ‘sub-programmes’ of which this role will manage approximately half. These ‘sub-programmes’ include implementation projects as well as challenge funds and research vehicles.

The post holder will be responsible for supporting the Senior Project Manager who currently leads AT2030 management, to deliver to the project: to quality expectations (internal and client), to scope, within budget, and in line with timelines, managing challenges and change as these emerge. The post holder will work with delivery partners (including members of the GDI Hub team) to ensure projects maximise their positive impact.

Responsibilities

Project Management

• Provide operational and project management support within the GDI Hub CIC in the delivery of major projects, working proactively and taking initiative.
• Provide administrative support to Senior Project Manager to help perform duties effectively and efficiently.
• Support the management of day-to-day relationships with delivery partners.
• Support the planning and management of workplans, including emergent risks, challenges, change requests, budgets, schedules and scope.
• Track contracts attached to projects to ensure dates and resources are appropriate to delivery timelines.

Project Reporting

• Support the collection and review of programme reporting requirements, liaising with downstream partners to ensure reports are delivered in time, and prepared to a standard for circulation.
• Support the development of project report and presentations for the Project Board and FCDO.
• Maintain effective knowledge management systems based on project reporting and management activities – updating systems to reflect current delivery status’
• Support financial monitoring and reporting.

Communications and Engagement

• Support the development and delivery of communication materials with the Comms Team, identifying opportunities to profile the work of GDI Hub.
• Support the Comms Team to deliver events, webinars and other public facing projects.
• Support the oversight of the production, quality assurance and promotion of project outputs.

Other

• Support GDI Hub’s Senior Project Manager, Director of Operations and Directors in developing new opportunities to drive forward disability innovation, including new funding opportunities.
• Offer cooperative support across the organisation as capacity allows

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list. The need for flexibility, shared accountability and team working is required and the role-holder is expected to carry out any other related duties that are within the employee’s skills and abilities whenever reasonably instructed.

This is a description of the role as it is at present. It is the practice of GDI Hub to review role profiles regularly to ensure that they relate to the role being performed. These reviews will be carried out by the line manager in consultation with the role holder.

Experience and Qualifications

• 2-3 years’ experience working within international development, disability, social development, public policy, research and/or the consultancy sector.
• Experience with administrative and logistical tasks with excellent competency in organisation, time management and prioritisation of tasks.
• Knowledge of the project management cycle and financial management as part of the project cycle.
• Knowledge and experience supporting the management of challenging projects, particularly related to international development, disability, research or grants management.
• Demonstrable experience of donor reporting with institutional donors such FCDO (formerly DFID) etc.
• Experience of working with delivery partners including procurement and contract management, ideally with ODA, public sector grants and/or private sector engagement.
• An ability to support the building, development and maintenance of relationships with a variety of stakeholders, showing diplomacy, sensitivity and decisiveness.
• Experience of supporting communications and partnership management.
• Experience relating to supporting operational and financial management, including contracting, compliance, due diligence and risk management.
• Experience working with international partners and stakeholders is desirable.

Role Competencies

Skills and abilities

• Project Management
• Administration
• Minute taking
• Planning and organising work
• Results and achievement focused
• Support to operational management and financial reporting
• Support in stakeholder management
• Analytical skills and comfort working with data
• Proactive, self-motivated, committed and enthusiastic
• Sound communication skills
• Sound ICT skills (Office365, incl. Excel, SharePoint, Teams, etc.)

Personal style and behaviour

• Pro-active problem solver
• Practical and pragmatic
• Likes working as part of a small, energetic team
• Creative and organisational leadership
• Integrity and inclusive behaviours
• Able to work independently, prioritise and work to tight deadlines
• High degree of professionalism
• Excellent presentation and communication skills
• Approachable and amiable