Project Manager – Emerging tech and AI in Education in Liverpool

Founded 23 years ago, Theirworld has grown to become a leading global children’s charity committed to the best start in life for children and young people by ending the education crisis and unleashing the potential of the next generation. If you care about issues like climate change, gender equality, inclusion, helping refugees and ensuring the voices of young people are represented at all levels of decision-making, then education is the key to unlocking big change in these areas. If you want to make change happen, join us!

We believe in unlocking big change from a supportive and inclusive environment. This is why we now have an innovative 4-day-working-week which sees all employees working Monday to Thursday with the office closed on most Fridays. This is in addition to hybrid working with most staff taking at least one day a week based in the office.

Other benefits include:

• Regular in-house training
• Travel
• Central London location: 5 mins from Liverpool St Station and Shoreditch High Street
• Highly competitive salaries, plus more
• Cycle to work scheme
• Home office expense allowance
• Life Insurance
• Season ticket loan scheme

About the role

We are seeking a dynamic and technically astute Project Manager to join our Projects team. This role will oversee projects that use artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to improve education access, equity, and outcomes across the three pillars of Theirworld’s work: Best Start in Life, A Safe Place to Learn, and Skills for the Future. The successful candidate will support the development and delivery of innovative pilots, including projects that explore how AI and technology can equip children and youth with the competencies, digital fluency, and adaptive skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. You will manage local partnerships, steer experimentation, and ensure robust learning cycles that contribute to Theirworld’s pilot-to-scale strategy. This role is ideal for someone who seeks greater depth of knowledge, impact-driven, and excited to shape how emerging technologies can accelerate educational equity in low-resource settings. This role is for maternity cover but with the possibility of extension.

Main responsibilities

• Manage a diverse portfolio of education projects across Theirworld’s three pillars – Best Start in Life, A Safe Place to Learn, and Skills for the Future, with an emphasis on those leveraging AI and emerging technologies.
• Oversee programme planning, budgeting, delivery, reporting and learning for projects, ensuring milestones are met, partners are supported, and learnings are captured.
• Lead on the implementation of projects that apply digital or AI driven solutions to improve learning outcomes, particularly within the Skills for the Future pillar.
• Ensure all projects are inclusive and aligned with Theirworld’s cross-cutting vital areas: gender, inclusion, climate, health & nutrition, and peace & security.
• Identify and manage projects that apply AI tools to build transferable, digital, and job-relevant skills for youth.
• Explore and test the potential of AI to personalise learning, support educators, and close skills gaps in marginalised communities.
• Ensure ethical, context sensitive, and inclusive use of AI in education projects, especially for girls, children with disabilities, and crisis-affected learners.
• Lead relationships with local delivery partners, edtech companies, and civil society organisations to co-deliver impactful projects.
• Draft and manage contracts and reporting templates; support partners with MEL frameworks aligned with pilot-to-scale goals.
• Conduct partner check-ins, manage grants, track spending, and ensure timely reporting and adaptive learning.
• Document and disseminate learnings and emerging insights on AI in education.
• Contribute to Theirworld’s knowledge assets and participate in knowledge sharing platforms and global convenings.
• Support scale strategies by contributing to replication toolkits and packages based on pilot results.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues across Theirworld, including development, campaigns, advocacy, communications, and research teams, to ensure alignment, maximise impact, and foster shared learning.
• Actively contribute to cross-organisational initiatives, helping integrate projects into wider strategic objectives.
• Engage with our Development and Fundraising team to identify and support the cultivation of potential funders and supporters for the project pipeline.
• Provide additional support to the Director of Programmes and other team members as required to ensure the smooth delivery of projects and organisational priorities.

Experience, skills and character

• 5 – 7 years of experience in education, edtech, or AI-for-development projects.
• Proven project management experience delivering initiatives in partnership with local organisations, NGOs, or tech providers.
• Strong understanding of education systems, future skills development, and how technology (especially AI) can support them.
• Confident managing project budgets, reporting cycles, and monitoring frameworks.
• Deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and ethical innovation in education.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, agile, and mission-driven environment.

Starting at £45,000 based on qualifications and experience.

Please submit your CV and cover letter to jobs@theirworld.org, including the name of the role of interest in the subject line of your email. Only open to applicants with the right to work in the UK. Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is successfully filled. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format or would like us to make any reasonable adjustments to enable you to apply or attend any interview, please let us know.