Regional Project Manager - Eastern Partnership and Central Asia

Zinc Network; London; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization for societal impact in London is seeking an experienced Project Manager to coordinate local activities across the Eastern Partnership and Central Asia. This role involves engaging stakeholders, overseeing programme activities, and managing grants. The ideal candidate has over 5 years in project management, strong negotiation skills, and fluency in English and Russian. A hybrid or remote work option is available.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in project management.
• Fluent in English and Russian.
• Proven ability to work with or advise civil society organisations.

Responsibilities

• Shape strategy and onboard partners for the region.
• Lead regional delivery and ensure alignment with programme objectives.
• Produce regular updates summarising activities and achievements.

Skills

Project management

Civil society engagement

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation skills

Context analysis

Job description

Overview

Introducing Zinc Network

Zinc Network's mission is to nurture open societies and protect them from threats such as disinformation, violent extremism, and malign influence. Zinc conceptualises and creates programs, interventions, and strategic communications campaigns around some of the world’s most complex problems – from disinformation to extremism, media capture to authoritarianism. We are headquartered in London with 60+ team members from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds. Zinc works with a broad range of governmental, NGO, and private sector clients, including the UK Home Office (HO); the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO); UN agencies and missions; and foundations.

Outline of the job

The Project Manager for the Eastern Partnership and Central Asia will coordinate all local activities, outputs, and stakeholder engagement across the region. They will develop and support programme activities, helping local organisations deliver impactful interventions, while also overseeing functional tasks such as grant administration and monthly reporting.

The Project Manager will report on activities and outputs to inform strategic decisions for the funds and will play a key role in identifying what is working (and what is not) and recommending adjustments accordingly. This position is based in the region, with regular in-country travel and occasional travel to events or strategic workshops in Europe or elsewhere. We are seeking individuals who are passionate about information integrity and its real-world impact, and who have a deep understanding of the Eastern Partnership and Central Asia.

Remuneration is dependent on experience and location. Successful candidate can be based in the UK or working Remotely.

What you’ll be doing

• Shape strategy and onboard partners: Identify context-appropriate approaches, engage, and onboard local organisations across the Eastern Partnership and Central Asia.
• Lead regional delivery: Provide day-to-day management and coordination for your region and offer technical direction to ensure activities align with the programme’s mission, objectives, and Theory of Change.
• Maintain situational awareness: Track political dynamics, the disinformation landscape, and regional/international context to inform adaptive delivery.
• Be the primary point of contact: Serve as the key liaison for local organisations in your region, facilitating timely communication and problem-solving.
• Guide implementation quality: Maintain close oversight of partner activities; hold constructive discussions that help partners refine approaches and increase impact.
• Strengthen partner capacity: Monitor the organisational capacity of local civil society groups; identify gaps and organise targeted support to improve results.
• Manage specialist support: Source and manage consultants to assist organisations with delivery, overseeing workplans and ensuring outputs meet quality standards.
• Report on progress: Produce concise, regular network updates summarising activity, achievements, risks, and lessons from the region.
• Administer grants: Track grant implementation and compliance; ensure partners submit timely, high-quality narrative and financial reports, following up as needed.
• Contribute to M&E: Monitor results and learning from partners’ activities; input into quarterly client reports with evidence-based progress and insights.
• Represent Zinc Network: Attend conferences, workshops, and events to share learning, build relationships, and represent the programme professionally.

What we need from you…

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in project management.
• Proven ability to work with or advise civil society organisations.
• Experience coordinating multi-agency or cross-sectoral initiatives.
• Strong understanding of political and media landscape.
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the ability to manage high-level stakeholders.
• Fluent in English and Russian.

Area of Selection

We’re committed to hiring a diverse workforce from different professional and cultural backgrounds, and to that end we encourage a variety of people to apply to join our company to represent the diverse range of subjects associated with our projects.

Conditions of Employment

Candidates who receive a job offer will be required to:

• Disclose any previous disciplinary action against them resulting from a substantiated safeguarding (including any breaches involving trafficking- related activities) or workplace investigation.
• Undergo background checks including employment verification, sexual offender registry (as available), identity confirmation, and anti-terrorism vetting.

How to apply

Please include a cover letter stating how you meet each of the requirements.

If you require an accommodation to be made at any point throughout the recruitment process, please advise us when contacted.