Project Manager, Poland

International Justice Mission; Warszawa; Hybrid; PLN 121,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Medical Service Plan

24 days paid leave

Staff care resources

Job summary

International Justice Mission (IJM) is seeking a full-time Project Manager based in Warsaw with a hybrid work setup. You will lead project delivery across Poland and the region, manage budgets, and ensure donor compliance.

You will collaborate with M&E, program staff, finance, and external partners, preparing timely reports and supporting new proposals. Strong English/Polish, 5+ years of management experience, and willingness to travel within Europe are required.

Qualifications

• Higher education in international development, project management, human rights, public policy, or related field.
• 5+ years of project and program management experience in complex development programs, including grants.
• Proven success managing projects and budgets.
• Strong technical writing skills.
• Knowledge of program design, monitoring and evaluation standards, and ability to use M&E tools.
• Experience working across cultures and time zones.
• Excellent English and Polish written and spoken skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Strategic, analytical thinker with ability to learn quickly.
• Organized, able to manage multiple projects with tight deadlines.
• Professional communicator, calm under pressure.
• Creative, proactive problem solver, diplomatic and flexible.
• Honest, humble with service mindset and team spirit.
• Genuine commitment to IJM’s mission and values.
• Ability to travel within Bulgaria and Europe as required.
• Right to work in Poland.
• Not necessary but preferred: Partnership and subgrant management experience.
• Not necessary but preferred: Driver’s license (Poland or international).

Responsibilities

• Lead project delivery from planning to closing, including budgets and donor requirements.
• Draft internal and donor reports with program teams.
• Coordinate with M&E and program staff to ensure data collection and results.
• Support proposal development and project design.
• Collaborate with country director, finance, and partners to ensure successful implementation.

Skills

English proficiency

Polish proficiency

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Strong writing

Education

Bachelor's or higher in international development or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Who We Are

International Justice Mission (IJM) is the global leader in protecting vulnerable people from violence around the world. IJM has implemented a collaborative approach to combating violence against those vulnerable for the last 29 years in 44 offices and 28 countries around the world, including Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America, collecting international best practices in tackling human trafficking. The capacity building model of criminal justice system transformation implemented by IJM includes individual support for survivors, support for government initiatives and jointly proposing policy changes to strengthen Criminal Justice Systems (CJS) to respond effectively to human trafficking.

The Need

The European Anti-Trafficking Program (EATP) works across Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, and other European contexts to strengthen criminal justice systems, improve protection for survivors, increase accountability for offenders, and support sustainable government ownership of anti-trafficking responses.

The Project Manager is charged with managing and implementing various projects, achieving objectives in support of the larger goal of combatting human trafficking across Poland and the region. This position will prepare timely submissions of reports, will monitor implementation progress, will support with data collection and will ensure that teams meet project objectives and budget requirements in accordance with IJM policies and donor requirements. The Project Manager will collaborate and work with M&E and program staff, finance staff, the IJM casework team, and partner organizations. The Project Manager will regularly collaborate and communicate with Global and Regional staff in order to ensure successful implementation of projects in line with IJM requirements.

This position is based in Warsaw and reports to the Country Director.

This position involves a hybrid working arrangement of three days per week in the office and two days working remotely.

Scope Of Role

To lead project delivery from planning to closing, manage budgets, work with internal teams and external partners, and help shape new proposals.

Responsibilities

Project delivery

• Create and update implementation plans, and manage day-to-day delivery so scope, timelines and budget stay on track and comply with IJM policies and donor requirements;
• Lead regular project review meetings to assess progress, identify challenges and agree on next steps;
• Monitor risks, dependencies and scope changes, and coordinate corrective actions with colleagues;
• Work with M&E colleagues to collect accurate data on time, and use it to assess project health and results;
• Draft internal and donor reports, and work with the Program Manager for the European Anti-Trafficking Program (EATP) to finalize them for timely submission;
• Advise the Country Director of IJM Bulgaria on strategic and practical aspects of implementation; and
• Lead project closing: run debriefs, capture lessons learned and make sure documentation is complete.

Budget management and forecasting

• Work with the Country Director and finance team to monitor budgets, review monthly pipeline and budget-versus-actual reports, and flag underspend, overspend or other variances;
• Turn planned activities, timelines, staffing and procurement needs into realistic expenditure forecasts;
• Recommend changes to plans or spending when variances arise; and
• Contribute to budgets and revisions for existing and new projects.

Coordination and partnerships

• Coordinate with program, finance, M&E, operations and regional/global teams, keeping responsibilities, timelines and dependencies clear;
• Follow up on agreed actions and help resolve issues that affect delivery;
• Build and maintain good relationships with external partners, including government and criminal justice actors and civil society organizations; and
• Organize project meetings, consultations and workshops.

Learning and adaptation

• Facilitate regular reflection on progress, results and challenges, and help teams turn learning into adjustments;
• Work with M&E and program colleagues to check whether interventions are delivering the intended results;
• Document and share lessons, results and success stories with internal teams and partners, across IJM Poland and the EATP; and
• Feed evidence, stakeholder feedback and lessons into future project design.

Proposal development and project design

• Support proposals for private and government donors, working with program, finance, M&E, regional and IJM Global colleagues;
• Help define project interventions: the problem, intended results, activities, assumptions and approach;
• Develop design components such as theories of change, logical and results frameworks, indicators and workplans;
• Gather input from subject-matter experts, then write and edit narrative proposals and grant applications;
• Make sure budgets are realistic and consistent with proposed activities, timelines and staffing; and
• Keep up to date on IJM’s programs and priorities so proposals reflect our work accurately.

Qualifications

• Higher education, with degree in international development, project management, human rights, public policy, public administration or a related field;
• 5+ years of project and program management experience in complex development programs, including grant acquisition and management;
• Proven success managing projects and budgets;
• Strong technical writing skills;
• Knowledge of program design, monitoring and evaluation standards, and the ability to use M&E and data analysis tools;
• Experience working across cultures and time zones;
• Excellent written and spoken English and Polish, with a keen eye for detail;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office;
• Strategic, analytical and critical thinker who learns complex subject matter quickly;
• Organized, able to prioritize, handle multiple projects at once and work to strict deadlines in a dynamic environment;
• Professional communicator, positive under pressure;
• Creative, proactive problem solver, diplomatic and flexible;
• Honest, humble and kind, with a service mindset and a team-player attitude, including willingness to contribute beyond your core responsibilities;
• Genuine commitment to IJM’s mission and values;
• Ability to travel within Bulgaria and Europe as required;
• Right to work in Poland;
• Not necessary but preferred: Experience managing partnerships and subgrants; and
• Not necessary but preferred: Driver’s license (Poland and/or international).

Application Process

• Initial interview in English
• Technical Interview in English
• Final Interview
• Reference Check
• Job Offer

Annual Remuneration

121.000 – 144.000 PLN gross / Initial 2-years fixed-term employment contract, with the possibility of transition to a permanent contract.

What does IJM have to offer?

• Comprehensive Medical Service Plan
• 24 days paid leave
• Daily, quarterly, and annual community spiritual formation
• Robust staff care resources

IJM holds strict safeguarding principles and a zero tolerance to violations of the Safeguarding Policy, Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy, and Code of Conduct. Parallel to technical competence, recruitment, selection, and hiring decisions will give due emphasis to assessing the candidates value congruence and thorough background, police clearance, and reference check processes.