Junior Project Manager (gn)

As

Junior Project Manager/Consultant (gn)

you will be part of YSI's mission to make social innovation a standard business practice. In this role, you will work closely with the Programme Manager, our corporate partners, and local implementing partners (national intermediaries, social economy representatives) to drive the delivery and coordination of high-impact social innovation programs. Your primary focus will be on delivering a flagship programme supporting a multinational retail company to make its supply chains more sustainable and inclusive by sourcing from social enterprises. These enterprises empower vulnerable communities- such as refugees, migrants, and people with disabilities - and/or drive environmental impact through circular economy models. This programme will be your main responsibility and the core reason for the role. However, a part of your time may also be dedicated to contributing to other exciting YSI initiatives, offering you the opportunity to broaden your experience and exposure within the organisation. This is a unique opportunity to gain deep insight into the sustainability agenda of a global brand, collaborate with stakeholders across all continents, and help embed social and environmental impact into everyday business operations- while also connecting with passionate social entrepreneurs and changemakers.

The programme is focused on helping a large corporation identify and collaborate with high-potential social enterprises as potential suppliers, creating impactful partnerships that drive innovation and social impact. Within this programme, your primary responsibility will be managing the “Lab” stream - a hands-on innovation pathway where you will coordinate multiple pilot projects. You will work closely with local corporate teams to identify suitable social enterprises, initiate partnerships, and provide guidance and support to both corporate managers and entrepreneurs throughout the collaboration. This includes structuring pilot journeys and embedding strong incubation and acceleration methodologies to ensure successful outcomes.

Program Delivery & Workstream Leadership

1. Supporting the design of the Lab stream (entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs journeys)
2. Leading operational coordination of a programme workstream across multiple international markets. Owning and driving program cadence: organise and facilitate meetings, prepare documentation, track action items, and ensure follow-ups
3. Coordinating across internal team, local partners, corporate clients’s stakeholders, and social entrepreneurs to ensure smooth and timely execution
4. Track pilots' progress, measure impact outcomes, and collect insights to inform future program design
5. Serve as the operational backbone for the program, working directly under the Program Manager and
6. Providing guidance and hands-on support to social entrepreneurs, leveraging expertise in partnership acceleration to maximise the impact and success of collaborations

Organisational & Strategic Contribution

1. Support internal YSI operations with a focus on process improvement, internal knowledge sharing, and resource management
2. Collaborate on consulting assignments related to social innovation and corporate impact strategies as opportunities arise
3. Act as a cultural ambassador, embodying and amplifying YSI’s values in interactions across teams, clients, and partners

1. Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Social Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Development, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Studies or a related field; or equivalent practical experience in consulting or program/project delivery
2. 2–4 years of experience in: Innovation labs, Incubators or accelerators, Venture building programmes, Startup support organisations, Corporate innovation / intrapreneurship programmes (Impact or social innovation experience is a strong plus, but not mandatory.)
3. Demonstrated ability to drive project execution with solid planning, coordination, and follow-up skills
4. Experience with stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration across diverse teams or regions
5. Exposure to client interactions and a strong sense of professionalism in external-facing contexts
6. Confidence in taking ownership of specific workstreams, with a proactive mindset and strong sense of accountability
7. Understanding of incubation and acceleration processes (venture support, milestones, pilot structuring)
8. Experience supporting entrepreneurs and/or intrapreneurs in structured programmes
9. Comfortable supporting senior consultants and program leads with research, preparation of deliverables, and operational excellence
10. Clear and effective communicator (written and verbal), with English at a business fluent or native level
11. Alignment with our values - Care, Optimism, Determination, Trust - and motivation to drive social impact at scale

1. Impact: Working with YSI means being part of an impact-first organisation where every project contributes to a larger mission. You'll have the opportunity to explore the dynamic space of social innovation, empowering both social entrepreneurs and corporate intrapreneurs to turn business into a force for good. Every step of your journey with YSI is rooted in creating meaningful, measurable change.
2. Value-driven culture: We cherish and nurture our value-driven culture. We put our people first and create moments for everyone to connect and reflect.
3. Personal Growth: We are proud to work as part of a brilliant team of individuals with diverse backgrounds and bold future aspirations. Join us to learn alongside each other - we're committed to accompanying you in your personal and professional growth every step of the way.
4. Exposure: We’re part of a vast global ecosystem that guarantees on-the-job growth, exposure to some of the largest brands globally and, most importantly, to inspiring changemakers.
5. Life fit: We thrive to create a truthful work-life balance for everyone in our team. We are open to adjusting the ways of working and roles to cater to new life phases and challenges as they come so that the job supports our lives - not the other way around.
6. Fair and competitive compensation with benefits that support your personal growth and health