Project Management Intern (1 year fixed-term contract)

Upstream; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 111,600 - 167,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid internship program

Mentorship from experienced professionals

Opportunity for long-term career growth

Job summary

Upstream in Johannesburg is seeking a Project Management Intern to support project delivery in a fast-paced environment. Responsibilities include assisting project managers, coordinating stakeholder communications, and facilitating user acceptance testing.

This position is suitable for recent graduates and offers hands-on experience in managing real-world digital projects with international clients. The internship provides mentorship and opportunities for long-term career growth as a Project Manager.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a qualification related to Project Management or IT.
• Positive attitude, willingness to learn, and proactive problem-solving approach.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Assist Project Managers in planning, coordinating, and tracking project activities.
• Coordinate communication between clients, business teams, developers, and QA teams.
• Support operational teams during project launches and deployments.

Skills

Strong written and verbal communication skills in English

Excellent organizational and time-management skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

Education

Bachelor’s degree, Diploma, or Certification in Project Management, Computer Science, or IT

Tools

JIRA

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Who we are

Upstream is a global leader in mobile marketing automation and digital service innovation, enabling Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and brands to grow revenue, improve customer engagement and succeed in the digital economy. With over two decades of experience and operations spanning 45+ markets across Africa, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, we are a trusted partner to more than 60 MNOs worldwide.

Headquartered in Athens, Greece, and with regional hubs in London, Dubai, Johannesburg, Lagos, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Upstream combines global expertise with deep local insight. Our end‑to‑end approach encompasses strategy, creative development, technical deployment, campaign execution, and ongoing optimization, ensuring seamless, scalable, and performance‑driven service delivery.

About the Role

We are looking for a motivated and detail‑oriented Project Management Intern to join our Project Management (PMO) team. This role provides an excellent opportunity for an ambitious individual to gain hands‑on experience managing digital, mobile, and technology projects in a fast‑paced international environment.

The successful candidate will work closely with Project Managers, Product Team, Technical Teams, Commercial Teams, and extended clients to support the planning, execution, monitoring, and successful delivery of projects. The role requires strong communication skills, organizational abilities, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn project management methodologies and tools.

This position is ideal for recent graduates or individuals looking to build a career in Project Management, with exposure to Telecommunications, Mobile Services, Digital Marketing, and Technology Operations.

What you will do...

1. Project Coordination & Delivery Support

• Assist Project Managers in planning, coordinating, and tracking project activities.
• Support the delivery of multiple projects simultaneously while ensuring timelines and priorities are maintained.
• Monitor project progress and follow up on action items with internal and external stakeholders.
• Help identify project risks, dependencies, and potential blockers, escalating issues where necessary.
• Create, update, and maintain tasks, status and project boards in JIRA.
• Monitor project tickets and ensure accurate status updates.
• Maintain project documentation, project plans, and status reports.
• Ensure project documentation remains organized and up to date.
• Assist in creating process documentation, user guides, and project closure reports.

2. Stakeholder Communication

• Coordinate communication between clients, business teams, developers, QA teams, and other stakeholders.
• Participate in project meetings, workshops, and status calls.
• Prepare meeting agendas, capture minutes, and follow up on actions and decisions.
• Maintain professional communication with clients and internal teams.

3. Testing and Operational Support

• Coordinate User Acceptance Testing (UAT) activities.
• Track testing progress and assist with defect management internally and with client.
• Support operational teams during project launches and deployments

What you’ll bring:

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a bachelor’s degree, Diploma, or Certification in: Project Management, Computer Science, or Information Technology
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Excellent organizational and time‑management skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to multitask.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and within a team environment.
• Positive attitude, willingness to learn, and proactive approach to problem‑solving.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Any prior exposure to telecom, IT, or mobile technologies is a bonus

What’s in It for You

• Paid internship program with practical experience managing real‑world technology and digital projects.
• Exposure to international clients and cross‑functional teams.
• Hands‑on experience with project delivery and Jira.
• Mentorship from experienced Project Managers and industry professionals.
• Opportunity for long‑term career growth as a Project Manager.

We offer a competitive base salary and benefits, directly dependent on the candidate’s qualifications and skills. The real excitement comes from working closely with a dynamic, smart, agile, and highly motivated team in a competitive and fast‑paced environment.

Upstream is an equal‑opportunity employer. The Company does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, pregnancy, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital, or any other legally protected status. The Company also makes reasonable accommodations for disabled employees. Finally, the Company prohibits the harassment of any individual based on their protected status. This policy applies to all areas of personnel actions including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, transfer, and social and recreational programs.