Purpose of the Role: 

 The primary purpose of the role is to build strong relationships between project stakeholders from different sectors and backgrounds.  Our projects are about bringing people together – Pilotlighters (Partner Business people) and Partner Charities – to tackle the challenges our Partner Charities face.  As Project Manager, you will act as facilitator, coach, and administrator of our projects, with a strong emphasis on relationship building and enabling mutual understanding. You will work as part of the Delivery Team to deliver projects from a range of programmes that strengthen and develop charities and their leaders to better tackle some of society’s biggest issues and to help them help people more effectively.

You’ll manage a portfolio of projects focused on all aspects of organisational development including purpose, strategy, governance & leadership, impact measurement, people, funding and operations.  Coaching and mentoring are central to the way we work, strengthening our impact for both Partner Charities and Pilotlighters alike.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

 You will deliver an exceptional project experience for Partner Charities and Pilotlighters by:

• Managing several Pilotlight projects simultaneously, enabling Pilotlighters and Partner Charities to collaborate effectively (in- person, virtually, and hybrid)

• Building strong relationships with and among Partner Charities and Pilotlighters

• Ensuring mutual understanding among project participants of the Partner Charity’s needs and challenges

• Managing Pilotlighter and Charity Partner engagement, communication and participation to create a participatory environment inside and outside meetings, including

• Effective diary management

• Collaborative planning and facilitation of meetings (in person, virtual, and hybrid) of various lengths and depths

• Coaching participants to be effective and to grow in their roles

• Capturing project documentation (e.g., meeting notes, Salesforce data) in a conscientious and accessible way

• Proactively identifying potential barriers to outcomes (including interpersonal ones), and addressing them in a constructive and timely manner

• Drawing on personal, project participants’ and Pilotlight’s expertise in strategy & impact, (charity) finance & funding, governance & risk, and people & change to maximise effectiveness of our projects

• Manage the overall logistics of your charity portfolio, including setting the project schedule within agreed timeframes and diary management.

• Work with our Partnerships and Charity Experience teams to provide feedback on levels of engagement and effectiveness of contribution and contribute to the evaluation of Pilotlight’s work. 

 Experience and Competencies:

• At least 3 years’ experience in a client-facing role – experience of dealing with senior people is advantageous

• Strong experience of facilitating/leading meetings, planning days or other activities 

• Exceptional organisational skills, with experience of working to tight deadlines on multiple projects/tasks

• A strong communicator (verbal and written) who is personable, calm and dependable

• Confident in day-to-day administrative tasks and using any of the Microsoft office package 

• Comfortable with taking the initiative, and able to self-manage

• An affinity with Pilotlight’s mission and values and excited about working with organisations tackling some of society’s biggest issues  

• Team oriented, with a ‘can do’ and ‘hands on’ approach to helping the wider Pilotlight team wherever necessary

• An understanding / familiarity with the not-for-profit sector and/or organisational development is desirable but not essential. Above all we are looking for someone that is keen to continuously learn and improve their understanding of the sector and its needs.

• Commitment to Pilotlight’s mission and work.