Assistant Project Manager, Innovation Fund

gsma; London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading telecommunications organization in London is seeking an Assistant Project Manager for their Innovation Fund. The role involves overseeing operational processes, ensuring compliance, and collaborating with various stakeholders. Ideal candidates will have experience in project management with donor funds and strong communication skills. This fixed-term position offers competitive compensation and various benefits.

Benefits

Competitive compensation

Learning opportunities

Generous holidays

Flexible work options

Qualifications

• Experience in operations and project management with donor-funded projects or innovation funds.
• Experience managing programmes within complex compliance environments.
• Procurement process management experience.
• Results-focused project activity management experience.
• Strong escalation management skills.
• Ability to communicate complex information effectively.
• Proficiency in Office (Excel, PowerPoint) and MS Teams.
• Emotional intelligence and influencing skills.
• Stakeholder management and presentation skills.
• Ability to foster cross-departmental collaboration.
• Experience working internationally and cross-culturally.
• Structured and methodical thinking.

Responsibilities

• Monitoring operational elements of each round – planning, launch, proposal, panel, contracting, and implementation.
• Supporting grant management teams in Africa & Asia to ensure efficiency and collaboration.
• Identifying, monitoring, and escalating risks and issues, providing input on resolutions.
• Supporting internal and external reporting aligned with donor targets.
• Managing relationships with suppliers to ensure timely delivery and quality.
• Ensuring adherence to GSMA Foundation’s compliance rules, especially regarding sub-grants.
• Documenting and standardizing the Innovation Fund processes.
• Supporting configuration and adoption of grant management platforms.

Job description

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Assistant Project Manager, Innovation Fund, London

Location: London, United Kingdom

Job Category: Other

EU work permit required: Yes

Job Reference: a7081d650fce

Job Views: 6

Posted: 12.08.2025

Expiry Date: 26.09.2025

Job Description:

About the Team

The GSMA Innovation Fund (GIF) team was established in March 2020 and is responsible for planning and executing all Innovation Fund rounds on behalf of the GSMA Mobile for Development (M4D) programme. Leveraging 10 years of M4D experience, the team manages all rounds from design to grantee selection, grant completion, and post-grant follow-up, collaborating with relevant GSMA experts. The team’s mission is to support local entrepreneurship and digital innovation through grant funding and technical assistance, with members based in the UK, Kenya, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia.

About the Role

This role empowers you to lead critical operational processes, liaising with senior stakeholders across various departments, including topic experts, compliance, and operations. You will support the team in donor reporting, procurement, and managing overlapping funding rounds by working closely with subject matter experts, compliance, finance, legal, HR, and marketing teams.

As an Assistant Operations Manager, your responsibilities include:

• Monitoring operational elements of each round – planning, launch, proposal, panel, contracting, and implementation
• Supporting grant management teams in Africa & Asia to ensure efficiency and collaboration
• Identifying, monitoring, and escalating risks and issues, providing input on resolutions
• Supporting internal and external reporting aligned with donor targets
• Managing relationships with suppliers to ensure timely delivery and quality
• Ensuring adherence to GSMA Foundation’s compliance rules, especially regarding sub-grants
• Documenting and standardizing the Innovation Fund processes
• Supporting configuration and adoption of grant management platforms

About You

The ideal candidate will have:

• Experience in operations and project management with donor-funded projects or innovation funds
• Experience managing programmes within complex compliance environments
• Procurement process management experience
• Results-focused project activity management experience
• Strong escalation management skills
• Ability to communicate complex information effectively
• Proficiency in Office (Excel, PowerPoint) and MS Teams; experience with project management platforms is a bonus
• Emotional intelligence and influencing skills
• Stakeholder management and presentation skills
• Ability to foster cross-departmental collaboration
• Experience working internationally and cross-culturally
• Structured and methodical thinking

Must have the existing right to work in the UK.

Contract type: Fixed Term Contract

Worker type: Employee

What We Offer

Working at GSMA offers access to the mobile industry, global solutions, industry-changing projects, and a dynamic environment. Benefits include competitive compensation, learning opportunities, generous holidays, and flexible work options.

Learn more on our career site, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Our Values

Passionately driven: We approach our work with capability, tenacity, and commitment.

Insightful leaders: We develop expertise and respond with agility and nuance.

Stronger together: We value diversity, collaboration, and mutual success.