As the Project Manager - Data Programmes, you’ll work closely with our Head of Data Science and Head of Volunteer Programmes to triage, scope, and manage our projects and to ensure we deliver impactful, responsible data science solutions for our partners. This includes leading and managing some of our key support programmes.

You’ll be part of a kind and collaborative five-person staff team, and will work closely with our talented community of volunteer data scientists. This is an exciting and unusual opportunity to shape how the third sector uses data. Join us!

About DataKind UK

DataKind UK is a small infrastructure charity with a vision of a strong, thriving third sector that embraces data science to become more impactful. Effective data use has the potential to transform an organisation’s impact by improving decision-making, maximising operational efficiency, and ensuring service delivery is evidence-based. A lack of access to responsible data science skills and techniques in the third sector means it isn’t having the impact it could.

We provide a variety of free and contracted support services to help third sector organisations achieve their missions, encourage innovation, and improve decision making, problem solving, and practices.

Since 2013, more than 2,200 DataKind UK volunteers have supported over 300 charities—from large organisations like St John Ambulance and Action for Children to local food banks and campaigning charities—helping them better understand their users, evaluate what’s working, streamline routine tasks, and ultimately better tackle society’s biggest challenges.

Who we’re looking for

We are looking for an experienced, people-oriented project manager who is excited to help us deliver and scale innovative data programmes. You will work directly with organisations from across the third sector to understand their missions and translate their challenges into well-scoped projects. You will also support teams of volunteer data experts to scope projects and deliver impactful data science solutions.

You don’t need to write code or run analysis yourself, but you should be comfortable working alongside technical experts, asking the right questions to scope data projects, and translating between technical and non-technical stakeholders. You’ll need to hold conversations with data scientists about what’s feasible, help charity partners understand what’s possible with their data, and know when to bring in additional technical expertise.

If you don’t have all the experience and skills listed below, please still consider applying. We don’t expect a candidate to have 100% of these, but we do want to know that you have relevant experience and an appetite to learn in other areas.

Essential skills and experience

• Project management: You are a skilled project manager, successfully leading projects involving multiple stakeholders from conception to completion. You have experience managing multiple projects at once and can successfully prioritise and juggle competing demands. You can plan ahead, allocate resources, identify and mitigate risks, and bring in additional expertise as required.
• Scoping and needs assessment: You have experience collaborating with clients/stakeholders to assess their challenges, translate them into project plans, evaluate their feasibility, and create delivery plans.
• Volunteer and/or people management: Experience recruiting, training, coordinating, or managing volunteers or managing people over whom you do not have direct authority (eg. contractors/freelancers). Comfortable leading multi-skilled teams in a remote-first environment, fostering collaboration within newly established groups.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and strong active listening skills. You have experience being the main liaison for a project or programme, providing regular updates to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. You’re not afraid to ask clarifying questions in areas that are new to you. You are skilled at distilling the key insights or next steps in project meetings to ensure clarity on the big picture and details.

Desirable

• Experience managing or delivering data-related or social tech projects.
• Experience volunteering or working with volunteers.
• Familiarity with CRMs and/or project management software.
• Experience working or volunteering in the UK nonprofit/charity sector.
• Knowledge of the UK nonprofit/charity landscape and common digital, data, or tech challenges facing third sector organisations.
• Understanding of privacy, ethics, or responsible data and AI.
• Experience with impact measurement or evaluation frameworks.

Qualities

• You are aligned with DataKind UK’s core values: curious, responsible, collaborative.
• You have an interest in data, are willing to work with technical volunteers, feel comfortable asking questions, and are keen to learn more!
• You are self-directed and goal-oriented, and like working independently.
• An approachable, friendly people-person, you enjoy building productive relationships with people from different backgrounds and experience levels, and communicating with a wide range of stakeholders.
• You thrive in an environment where every day is a bit different, and you are happy working flexibly and adaptively.
• You are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. You believe and act in a way that celebrates and encourages a range of experiences, views, and values.
• You like to learn and can quickly absorb and synthesise information from new domains. You know what you don’t know and are comfortable asking questions or for help. You can switch between big-picture and detail-oriented thinking.
• You are a collaborative team player, and happy to jump in and support team members where needed. You care more that good things happen than who gets the credit.

Please download the full job description attachment for more detail about the role.

Working hours and location

This is a full-time role (35 hours per week); however we will consider part-time options (28 or 32 hours per week) for a strong candidate. Working hours are flexible, but we ask that 75% of working time is within the hours of 10am and 6pm, to facilitate team working and real-time collaboration.

The role requires regular out-of-hours commitments - roughly one weekend per quarter and 2-4 evenings per month for volunteer events. This work is part of, rather than additional to, your hours, and you must take time off in lieu for any extra working hours.

Our organisation is remote-first, and this role is hybrid, with access to London office space on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and quarterly in-person commitments in London. There may be occasional national travel within the UK for other events and conferences, with reasonable expenses covered.

You must have the right to work in the UK.

Benefits

• Working in a small, flexible, hybrid team where you are trusted to manage your time and your projects. If you need to take time out of the day to go to a dentist appointment or for your child’s school play, go ahead! We are focused on outputs over time spent at your desk.
• Onboarding and continual development of data science, analytical, and technical knowledge.
• 27 days of annual leave + 8 public holidays.
• 5% employer pension contribution.
• Employee Support plan.

How to apply

The deadline for receipt of your application is 9am GMT, Monday 16 February 2026. Applications received after this time will not be considered.

Please send us your CV and a cover letter of no more than two single-spaced pages addressing the following questions:

1. Why does this role appeal to you?
2. How do you meet the experience, skills, and qualities listed above? (We recommend using the STAR (Situation Task Action Result) approach).
3. How would you approach scoping a project with a new partner or client?
4. How would you approach managing, supporting, and getting the best from a skilled team of volunteers?

All applications will be anonymised before shortlisting.

Timeline & Process

• If successful at the first stage, you will be invited to a 15-minute screening call via Zoom on 19/20/23 February.
• Interviews will be held on 25/26 February or 2 March via Zoom.

Please let us know if you have any accessibility requirements. Questions will be provided in advance. If prior important commitments impact your ability to attend the call/interview at these times, please let us know when you submit your application.

Equity & Diversity Monitoring

We are committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their background, and welcome applications regardless of age, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, religion/belief, race, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, or disability. The data you provide will be used to monitor whether we are receiving applications from quality candidates across the whole of society. If there are differences in application rates it will enable action to be taken to ensure that no group is treated unfairly.

We particularly encourage applications from groups who are underrepresented in data science, tech, and/or the third sector, including people of colour and people with disabilities. We can make reasonable adjustments throughout the application process (both with the application and interview) and on the job. If you have particular accessibility needs, please get in touch and let us know any requirements you may have.