Junior Project Manager – AFRICARENA

AfricArena is an African tech accelerator that runs Corporate Open Innovation challenges throughout the African continent. AfricArena has the privilege of operating in three key spheres that underpin Africa’s economic landscape. These being: tech startups, corporations, and investors (i.e. angel investors, VCs, CVCs and other institutional investors). Through open innovation challenges, in partnership with corporations, we aim to bring together these 3 spheres, to foster co-investment and collaboration that can move the economies and people of the continent forward. More on africarena.com We are searching for a detailed-oriented Project Manager who would play a pivotal role in planning, organizing, and executing successful events within the AfricArena tech ecosystem event circuit.

This position requires a combination of excellent organizational skills, strong leadership abilities, and a keen eye for detail. The Project Manager will be responsible for all aspects of event planning and execution to ensure that projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget. This role demands a unique blend of project management expertise, creativity, and communication skills to deliver memorable and impactful experiences for sponsors, partners and attendees

Key Responsibilities:

Project Planning:

• Define project scope, objectives, and deliverables.

  
  

• Develop comprehensive project plans, including timelines, budgets, and resource allocation.

• Collaborate with clients (sponsors) or stakeholders to understand their event requirements and expectations.

  
  

Team Management:

• Assemble and lead cross-functional teams, including event coordinators, vendors, and contractors.

  
  

• Delegate tasks and responsibilities to team members and provide clear guidance.

  
  

• Foster a collaborative and efficient work environment.

Budget Management:

• Create and manage event budgets, tracking expenses and ensuring cost-effectiveness.

  
  

• Negotiate contracts with suppliers, venues, and service providers to optimize financial outcomes.

• Venue Selection and Logistics: Research and select suitable event venues based on client preferences and event requirements.

• Oversee logistics, including transportation, catering, audiovisual equipment, and accommodations.

Timeline Management:

• Develop and maintain a detailed project timeline.

• Monitor progress and ensure that milestones are met.

• Identify and address potential delays or issues proactively.

Risk Assessment and Mitigation:

• Identify potential risks and develop risk mitigation strategies.

Implement contingency plans to address unforeseen issues during events.

Stakeholder Communication:

• Maintain clear and regular communication with clients, vendors, and stakeholders.

  
  

• Provide updates on project status, changes, and developments.

• Manage client expectations and ensure satisfaction.

Marketing and Promotion:

• Collaborate with marketing teams to create promotional materials and strategies for events.

• Monitor ticket sales or attendance numbers and adjust marketing efforts accordingly.

Post-Event Reporting:

• Compile post-event reports, including financial summaries and key performance indicators (KPIs).

  
  

• Evaluate the success of events and identify lessons learned for future improvements.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in event management, business, or a related field

• Proven experience as a project manager in Tech Innovation Ecosystem or event manager

• Strong project management skills,

• software tools experience (Click Up/Canva/Google Suite/Basic Adobe suite- advantageous)

• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.

• Negotiation and vendor management skills.

• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

• Attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality events.

• Creative problem-solving skills.

• Knowledge of event technology and trends in the event industry.

• 50% travel required