Project Manager - Inclusive Economic Empowerment Programme

Project  Manager - Inclusive Economic Empowerment Programme

Location: Lagos

Reports to: The Head of Foundation

Description

• The Project Manager will lead the day-to-day delivery of LIFE Africa's Youth Connect - Inclusive Economic Empowerment programme, supported by an international development partner.
• This is a six-month project appointment covering implementation from September 2026 to February 2027, with responsibility for work planning, team coordination, participant delivery, stakeholder management, budget discipline, risk management and reporting.
• The role will coordinate the Project Management Unit, facilitators, career counsellor, local delivery personnel, Finance and Compliance Officer, MEL team, Safeguarding/EDI focal point and communications support.
• The post holder will serve as the operational link between LIFE Africa, the funding partner, participants, employers, MSMEs, mentors, attachment hosts, disability organisations and other approved delivery contacts.
• The role is based in Lagos, with travel to approved project locations, including Rivers State where required.
• Routine oversight should remain virtual where physical presence is not needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the integrated six-month workplan, delivery calendar, responsibility matrix, issue log and risk register; keep activities, dependencies and decisions on schedule through close-out.
• Coordinate the Project Management Unit and delivery team, set weekly priorities, run implementation meetings, follow up agreed actions and escalate material issues promptly to the Head of Foundation and funding-partner contact.
• Manage programme start-up, including the funding-partner-led facilitator training, delivery-team onboarding, venue and learning-system readiness, curriculum familiarisation, safeguarding preparation and approval of implementation tools.
• Oversee transparent participant recruitment, eligibility checks, funding-partner review and approval of the proposed list, informed consent, baseline and accessibility assessments, onboarding and retention support, while working towards at least 50% women and 5% persons with disabilities in the approved cohort.
• Deliver the eight-week Foundation phase for all enrolled participants using the approved programme curriculum, locally relevant examples and at least one face-to-face learning day each week; monitor attendance, learning quality and completion closely.
• Ensure every Foundation completer receives individual career counselling and independently chooses Employment or Enterprise without a predetermined pathway quota; maintain a clear counselling and referral record for each participant.
• Manage the Employment pathway: eight weeks of work-readiness training followed by a minimum six-week paid or unpaid internship, apprenticeship or attachment with a screened host, supported by host briefings, participant check-ins, feedback and transition plans.
• Manage the Enterprise pathway: sixteen weeks of weekly face-to-face learning, mentoring and business shadowing, leading to customer and market evidence, a workable business model, basic unit economics or cash flow, an investor-ready pitch and a 90-day action plan. The programme will not promise cash awards or business finance.
• Maintain safeguarding, EDI, data-protection, health and safety, procurement and financial-control standards across all activities; review expenditure and evidence with the Finance and Compliance Officer and act quickly on incidents, variances or delivery risks.
• Maintain the programme dashboard and evidence files; submit accurate narrative and financial inputs, coordinate the employer/investor showcase and alumni activation, complete close-out by 28 February 2027, and support the three-month post-implementation tracer and learning update.

Required Skills

• Bachelor's Degree in project management, development studies, education, social sciences, business administration or a related field; a recognised project-management qualification is an advantage.
• At least 5 years' relevant experience managing youth skills, employability, enterprise, non-formal education or workforce-development programmes, including responsibility for delivery from start-up to close-out.
• Demonstrable experience coordinating donor-funded programmes and meeting workplan, budget, evidence and reporting requirements; experience working with an international development organisation or donor-funded programme is desirable.
• Practical experience managing facilitators and multi-functional teams, preferably across more than one location or through a mix of physical and virtual delivery.
• Strong employer, MSME, mentor and placement-host engagement skills, including the ability to establish clear scopes, screen hosts and resolve delivery problems professionally.
• Working knowledge of safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, disability accommodation, informed consent and responsible handling of participant data.
• Strong budgeting, procurement, documentation and compliance discipline, with the ability to review expenditure, supporting evidence and variances in partnership with finance colleagues.
• Ability to use monitoring data for decisions and to produce clear, accurate reports, trackers, meeting notes and presentations for senior management and funders.
• Excellent written and spoken English, sound judgement, strong stakeholder-management skills and the ability to work calmly under tight deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office or Google Workspace and online learning/collaboration tools; willingness to travel to project locations when required.

Application Closing Date

30th August, 2026.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should:

Click here to apply online