Assistant Project Manager, Innovation Fund
Assistant Project Manager, Innovation Fund

Assistant Project Manager, Innovation Fund

London Full-Time 28800 - 48000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead operational processes and support grant management for the Innovation Fund.
  • Company: Join GSMA, a leader in mobile development, fostering digital innovation globally.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible work options, professional development, and generous holiday allowances.
  • Why this job: Be part of a mission-driven team supporting local entrepreneurship and making a global impact.
  • Qualifications: Experience in operations, project management, and effective communication skills required.
  • Other info: Must have the right to work in the UK; diverse applicants encouraged.

The predicted salary is between 28800 - 48000 £ per year.

About the Team

The GSMA Innovation Fund (GIF) team was established in March 2020 and have the responsibility of planning and executing all Innovation Fund rounds on behalf of the GSMA Mobile for Development (M4D) programme. Leveraging on 10 years of M4D experience running Innovation Funds on a multitude of topics, the team are responsible for setting up the processes and managing all rounds from design to grantee selection to grant completion and post grant follow up. This is done in collaboration with the relevant subject matter experts within GSMA as determined by the thematic focus of the funding round. The GSMA Innovation Fund teams’ mission is to be a centre of excellence that will ensure M4D continues to support local entrepreneurship and digital innovation through grant funding and technical assistance. This is a skilled and diverse team represented in UK, Kenya, India, Pakistan and Indonesia.

About the Role

Within this role you will be empowered to lead on critical processes that enable the Innovation Fund to achieve its objectives. As an operational focal point, you will have the opportunity to liaise directly with senior stakeholders across several Mobile for Development departments, including topic experts, compliance, and operation managers from other programmes, providing you constant opportunities to learn and develop new skills.

This role is critical to the success of the overall operational management of the GSMA Innovation Fund. You are expected to be a partner to the round leads and the GIF managers – from an operational perspective. Be able to support the Innovation Fund team in meeting our donors’ reporting requirements, procurement processes, and support with the set up and implementation of overlapping funding rounds by working in proximity with subject matter experts, compliance/finance, legal, HR and marketing.

As an Assistant Operations Manager for the GSMA Innovation Fund team, you will have the following responsibilities:

  • Assist monitoring the operational elements of each round – planning, launch, pitch, proposal, panel, contracting and implementation phases
  • Support the grant management teams based in Africa & Asia from an operational perspective and ensure efficiency & collaboration for tasks where needed
  • Identify, monitor and escalate risks and issues specific to your areas of responsibility, providing input on resolution and mitigation plans
  • Support on internal and external reporting in line with donor targets
  • Manage relationship with suppliers (procurement), ensure timely delivery, quality and reporting is on track
  • Make sure that the Innovation Fund adheres to the compliance rules of the GSMA Foundation, especially, where relevant, compliance rules related to sub-grants
  • Support the documentation and standardisation of the Innovation Fund process as it continues to evolve
  • Support the configuration, guidelines documentation and team adoption of grant management platform
  • About You

    The ideal candidate will display the following skills and qualifications:

    Hard skills

  • Demonstrable operations and project management experience with donor-funded projects, innovation funds or an interest in socio-economic development
  • Demonstrable experience in managing programmes within a complex compliance environment
  • Proven experience in managing procurement processes
  • Proven experience of managing project level activities focused on achieving results
  • Strong escalation management skills, to ensure that issues receive attention and mitigation support from senior stakeholders
  • Ability to absorb complex information and communicate effectively at all levels to both expert and non-expert audiences
  • Proficiency using Office (i.e. Excel and PowerPoint) and MS teams is required, experience setting up and managing project management platforms is a bonus
  • Soft skills

  • Demonstrable emotional intelligence skills and influencing skills
  • Demonstrable experience in various stakeholder management, strong presentation and speaking skills desirable
  • Strong ability to drive collaboration between various departments to drive a common objective
  • Ability to manage overlapping activities and prioritise
  • Experience of working internationally and cross-cultural environments
  • Demonstrable structured and methodical thinking
  • Must have the existing right to work in the UK.

    Contract type

    Fixed Term Contract (Fixed Term)

    Worker type

    Employee

    What We Offer

    Working at the GSMA offers you unparalleled access to the mobile industry. We offer a chance to truly shape the direction of mobile, whatever your role. By joining the GSMA, you will be exposed to a fast-paced rapidly evolving environment, working on global solutions, genuinely fascinating and industry-changing projects and a stimulating and dynamic environment designed to enable you to flourish.

    In addition to architect-designed offices and competitive compensation, our benefits include fantastic learning & development opportunities, generous holiday allowances, four additional days off for professional development and many others.

    To learn more about the GSMA, visit our career site, our LinkedIn page and our Twitter page.

    Being You at the GSMA

    We are one of the most diverse companies you will ever come across, we care deeply about equality and inclusivity and aspire to be the best at it. Your well-being and work/life balance is important so if you prefer to work flexi-time or a day from home, just ask. We’re keen to ensure everyone is equal, represented and connected so we particularly encourage applications from all demographics. The success of the GSMA year on year will continue to be contributed by people from all walks of life.

    GSMA Values

    Our values not only drive our culture – they shape how we work and interact inside and outside our global organisation.

    Passionately driven

    We approach everything we do with unparalleled capability, tenacity and commitment, knowing that the challenging scale, pace and complexity of our work is what leads to its world-changing impact.

    Insightful leaders

    We continually develop and engage our expertise, insight and creativity so that we’re always ready to respond to the changing landscape with authority, agility and nuance.

    Stronger together

    We lean on each other so the industry can lean on us, embracing our diversity by actively seeking out perspectives and skill sets beyond our own, fuelling each other’s successes and constantly asking how we can help.

    Underpinning our values is our collective mindset to show up purposefully as good human beings every day, in every situation. When we’re at our best – we are collaborative, considerate and compassionate to others, and we create a safe space for one another to thrive, assuming positive intent in our colleagues. And if we aren’t at our best and the pressure is on – we feel free to be ourselves but still remain curious, lean into the tough stuff and we are always respectful to others and accountable for the part we play.

    Assistant Project Manager, Innovation Fund employer: GSMA

    At GSMA, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, particularly for the Assistant Project Manager role within our Innovation Fund team based in London. Our dynamic work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, offering generous holiday allowances, professional development opportunities, and flexible working arrangements. We are dedicated to diversity and inclusivity, ensuring that every employee feels valued and supported in their career growth while contributing to meaningful projects that drive digital innovation globally.
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    Contact Detail:

    GSMA Recruiting Team

    StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

    We think this is how you could land Assistant Project Manager, Innovation Fund

    ✨Tip Number 1

    Familiarise yourself with the GSMA Innovation Fund's mission and recent projects. Understanding their goals and the impact of their funding will help you articulate how your skills align with their objectives during discussions.

    ✨Tip Number 2

    Network with professionals in the field of project management and donor-funded initiatives. Attend relevant events or webinars to connect with individuals who may have insights into the role or the organisation, which could give you an edge.

    ✨Tip Number 3

    Prepare to discuss your experience with compliance and procurement management in detail. Be ready to provide examples of how you've navigated complex environments and managed stakeholder relationships effectively.

    ✨Tip Number 4

    Showcase your emotional intelligence and cross-cultural communication skills. Given the international scope of the role, demonstrating your ability to work with diverse teams and adapt to different cultural contexts will be crucial.

    We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Project Manager, Innovation Fund

    Project Management
    Operational Management
    Grant Management
    Procurement Management
    Stakeholder Management
    Risk Identification and Escalation
    Compliance Knowledge
    Effective Communication Skills
    Cross-Cultural Awareness
    Emotional Intelligence
    Structured Thinking
    Proficiency in Office Tools
    Experience with Project Management Platforms
    Results-Focused Approach
    Documentation and Process Standardization

    Some tips for your application 🫡

    Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to grasp the responsibilities and requirements of the Assistant Project Manager position. Tailor your application to highlight relevant experiences that align with the role.

    Highlight Relevant Experience: Emphasise your experience in operations and project management, especially with donor-funded projects. Use specific examples to demonstrate your skills in managing complex compliance environments and stakeholder relationships.

    Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for supporting local entrepreneurship and digital innovation. Mention how your skills and experiences make you a perfect fit for the GSMA Innovation Fund team.

    Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your CV and cover letter for any errors or typos. A polished application reflects your attention to detail and professionalism, which are crucial for the role.

    How to prepare for a job interview at GSMA

    ✨Understand the GSMA Innovation Fund

    Familiarise yourself with the mission and objectives of the GSMA Innovation Fund. Knowing how they support local entrepreneurship and digital innovation will help you align your answers with their goals during the interview.

    ✨Highlight Relevant Experience

    Be prepared to discuss your experience in operations and project management, especially with donor-funded projects. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to manage complex compliance environments and procurement processes.

    ✨Showcase Communication Skills

    Effective communication is key for this role. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely, and be ready to demonstrate how you've successfully communicated with diverse audiences in previous roles.

    ✨Prepare for Stakeholder Management Questions

    Expect questions about your experience managing relationships with stakeholders. Think of examples where you've effectively escalated issues or risks and how you navigated those situations to achieve positive outcomes.

    Assistant Project Manager, Innovation Fund
    GSMA
    Location: London

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