Role: Project Manager
Location: Home-based, with minimal CET working hours overlap
Type of contract: Part-time Self-Employed Contract (12 - 16 hrs per week)
Duration: 3 months initial contract
Compensation: $280 per day (hourly rate $35)
Reports to: Director of Operations and Finance, Tech Lead

Open Knowledge Foundation

Open Knowledge Foundation (OKFN) is a global non-profit organisation focused on realising open data’s value to society by helping civil society groups access and use data to take action on social problems. Through teaching, creating and campaigning, it works for a fair, sustainable and open future for all. The wide range of projects we work on all aim to give people access to data, the knowledge to understand it, and the power to use it in our everyday lives.

Role

We are looking for a professional and dynamic hands-on project manager to manage a portfolio of projects at Open Knowledge Foundation. The project management style should fit within our creative and innovative atmosphere, and should help us retain organisational flexibility and agility, while delivering with the highest quality standards. Some projects will involve substantial software design and delivery, requiring good technical understanding and the ability to manage a technology delivery project.

The Project Manager role is to ensure planning, delivery, tracking and reporting occur reliably and to a good standard. They will focus on providing effective communication, clear task prioritisation, and timely delivery, in close coordination with the Tech Lead and the Director of Operations. 

Responsibilities

• Project Coordination. Coordinate the relationship with external clients and partners, ensuring alignment on requirements and deliverables. 
• Planning and tracking. Maintain a work plan covering development, testing, and delivery milestones.
• Provide a weekly progress report.
• Facilitate regular check-ins to ensure transparency on progress, risks, and blockers.
• Documentation & Handover: Ensure that technical and operational documentation is collected and delivered to clients by project closure.
• Risk Management: Identify and escalate any risks (including delays or technical issues) that could impact timely delivery, especially during short-term projects. 
• End-of-project completion report (with lessons learned and confirmation of deliverables).
• Alert the CEO of potential delays, problems or other difficulties in project delivery.

Required Skills

• Excellent English skills, both oral and written. 
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• At least two years of experience as a project manager of technical projects. 
• Understanding of technical terminology related to data projects. 
• Familiarity and experience managing projects on GitHub. 
• Familiarity and experience working across time zones and cultures. 
• Ability to deliver in low-resource environments and small team settings.
• Ability to manage projects in a time-efficient, transparent and accountable manner.

Desired Skills

• Adaptability, problem-solving skills, and effective communication.
• Previous experience providing services to or working with governments, public administrations or international organisations. 
• Knowledge of other languages. 
• Familiarity with general open knowledge, open data principles, technology standards, and free software communities, or willingness to learn more about them. 
• Previous volunteer experience in non-profit organisations.

The Organisation

Open Knowledge Foundation is a distributed team, based all over the world, so experience or strong understanding of what is required to work in a global, multicultural, highly transparent, remote team is a distinct advantage. 

This is a part-time consultancy contract of 1 ½ to 2 days per week, with an initial contract length of 3 months. Consultants need to have good internet connectivity and conduct the activities with their own equipment, including video conferencing equipment. 

Closing date: 12th September 2025

If you’d like to apply, please send your CV and a cover note highlighting why you are interested in the role and outlining your suitability for it to jobs@okfn.org.

Open Knowledge Foundation is committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace and aims to cultivate and sustain a diverse, equitable, and inclusive team. Diversity is valued and encouraged because a range of experiences and perspectives enriches our work and strengthens our ability to address complex challenges. Applicants from communities that are under-represented in our workplace - ethnic minorities, women, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ individuals are encouraged to apply.

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