Project Management Consultant

ABOUT YLABS

YLabs is a leading global design and research organization designing technologies that amplify youth power, agency, and opportunity. Founded in 2014 at the Harvard Innovation Lab, YLabs partners with young people to co-create inclusive digital products and services that improve their lives. Our design process opens spaces where young people’s ideas can become a reality – where they are the architects of the solutions to their most pressing challenges. 

YLabs multidisciplinary team delivers youth-driven innovation and impact at scale. Our team combines expertise in youth-driven design with adolescent health, climate, livelihoods, digital product design, behavioral science, and epidemiology. Based in Rwanda and the USA, we’ve worked in 18 countries to date on projects spanning three focus areas: optimum health and wellness, improved economic opportunity, and increased climate resilience. 

Find out more about our projects here: https://www.ylabsglobal.org/work

JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking a Project Management Consultant to support our Innovation Labs project. The successful candidate will assume day-to-day responsibility for project management and operational functions, ensuring continuity across a complex and growing program. 

The ideal candidate brings proven project management expertise and can hit the ground running. A strong command of budget management and the ability to track multiple fast-moving deliverables in parallel will be essential. As the project team is in a period of rapid growth, this role will also play a key part in supporting the recruitment and onboarding coordination of new hires throughout the hiring phase. The consultant will sit within the Programs department and should be equally comfortable operating across HR and recruitment functions.

JOB TYPE

This is an independent contractor (consultancy) position based in Africa. The anticipated contract duration is up to 4 months, with an anticipated start date at the end of July. 

LOCATION

This role can be based anywhere in Africa. The successful candidate must be willing to travel for field work within the Africa Region.

Depending on the candidates’ location and position, from time to time, it may be necessary to travel to the nearest YLabs office for in-person meetings or other miscellaneous events. This travel is fully reimbursed by YLabs.

ABOUT YLABS’ COMPENSATION

YLabs adheres to Project Fair’s principles and standards  to establish equity in pay with the overriding principle of “equal pay for work of equal value” outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals. All salary ranges are based on level within the organization and are competitive to regional and national salary benchmarks, based on the respective office location. 

PAY RATE

The pay range for this position is $136 - $215 USD per day, commensurate with experience. This range is regionally benchmarked for a senior level position in the YLabs Kigali office. YLabs pays all full-time staff salaries in the local currency of the staff member’s permanent work location. 

YOU WILL:

Project Management - 65%

• Manage the project budget, including expense tracking, variance analysis, and reporting to relevant stakeholders in line with organizational and donor requirements.
• Develop, maintain, and update project resourcing plans, ensuring appropriate staffing and resource allocation to meet deliverables.
• Oversee project timelines and maintain a live deliverable tracking system; proactively identify risks, delays, or gaps and propose mitigation strategies.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal stakeholders on project planning, progress, and reporting.
• Coordinate logistics, vendors and consultants, manage procurement, contracting, and deliverables, and oversee field financial operations, including cash advances, participant payments and per diems, and timely fund reconciliation in line with finance and donor requirements.

Talent Recruitment & Scaling Operations - 35%

• With support and guidance from the Operations team, manage the project-specific hiring pipeline for an influx of new roles, including coordinating timelines, tracking applicants, and communicating with candidates.
• Support hiring managers in drafting job descriptions that are clear, inclusive, and aligned with organizational grading and compensation frameworks.
• Screen applications against defined criteria and provide shortlists with documented assessments to hiring panels.
• Schedule and coordinate interviews between candidates and hiring teams, managing logistics across multiple time zones as needed.
• Prepare and execute contracts for project hires, in coordination with Operations.
• Ensure all recruitment practices adhere to organizational policies and best practices, including equity, diversity, and inclusion principles.

YOU ARE:

• A skilled organizer with strong time management and the ability to handle competing priorities under tight deadlines.
• An effective communicator with excellent written and verbal English skills.
• Detail-oriented, with a commitment to data accuracy across both project and budget tracking systems.
• Discreet and sound in judgment, with the ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality.
• Collaborative and solutions-oriented, with a talent for building relationships across diverse teams.

YOU HAVE:

• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in project management, operations, or a related field, preferably within an international development or NGO context.
• Demonstrated experience managing project budgets, work plans, and multi-stakeholder coordination in complex or fast-paced environments.
• Experience working in non-profit and grant-funded organizations

DESIRABLE:

• Experience supporting or leading recruitment processes, including job description development, application screening, and interview coordination.
• Familiarity with applicant tracking systems (ATS) and HR information systems is an asset.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply, please visit our careers page at ylabsglobal.org/careers and submit your application through the online portal. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

YLabs recognizes the time and effort that goes into submitting an application and reviews every submission carefully. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we will contact candidates whose qualifications most closely match the role's requirements to discuss next steps in the hiring process. Thank you for your interest in joining our team. All YLabs offers of employment are conditional on satisfactory background checks and criminal record clearances. All your information will be kept confidential in accordance with EEO guidelines.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

YLabs is committed to building teams and policies that promote equity, justice, and belonging at work.  We strongly encourage people from all cultures, races, educational backgrounds, socio-economic classes, sexual orientations, age, gender, and physical abilities to apply. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, familial status, marital status, caregiver status, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.