Part-time ESD Project Manager

A growing consultancy specialising in economic impact is seeking an operationally-strong Project Manager to oversee the implementation of various Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) programmes. This role is designed for a systems-oriented professional who excels at managing multiple moving parts and is passionate about driving growth for small businesses. The successful candidate will act as the operational "engine room," coordinating participants, consultants, and administrative support to ensure all initiatives are executed with precision. This is a high-impact, part-time role (8-10 hours per week) for a candidate who can "manage up," ensuring the Principal's time is focused only where it is most needed.

• Programme Oversight: Lead the end-to-end implementation of ESD initiatives, ensuring 15+ participants across various clients meet their development milestones.
• Operational Management: Monitor and track six distinct initiatives simultaneously, managing the specific tasks and timelines associated with each.
• Budget Management & Tracking: Take full ownership of project budgets; capturing, monitoring, and managing all programme-related expenditure.
• Financial Liaison: Collaborate with the internal accounting function to reconcile expenses and ensure financial schedules are maintained accurately.
• Stakeholder Coordination: Facilitate weekly engagements with participants and coordinate with the specialist consultant team to ensure project delivery.
• Process Optimisation: Continually review and improve business systems and workflows to enhance efficiency across all programmes.
• Team Liaison: Collaborate with the Virtual Assistant (VA) to oversee administrative outputs and problem-solve operational bottlenecks.
• Strategic "Gatekeeping": Manage the Principal's involvement, identifying critical points for participation while independently handling routine project tracking and monitoring.
• Reporting & Tracking: Maintain real-time project visibility, providing regular updates on progress, risks, project budgets, and upcoming deliverables.

• Proven experience in Project Management, specifically within the Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) or B-BBEE landscape.
• Demonstrated experience in budget management, including the ability to track expenditure and manage project-related finances.
• Strong operational background, ideally gained within a medium-sized corporate or consulting environment.
• A natural curiosity for systems and a drive to improve business efficiencies.
• Exceptional "people skills" with a genuine commitment to supporting the growth of small enterprises.
• The ability to multitask across diverse projects with varying requirements without losing attention to detail.
• High level of professional maturity and the ability to manage senior stakeholders effectively.

• A degree or diploma in Business Management, Project Management, or a related field.
• Experience in professional services or business coaching environments.

• ClickUp (Advanced proficiency for project tracking and task management)
• Microsoft Excel / Google Sheets (Advanced for budget tracking and financial reporting)
• Google Workspace / Microsoft Office

• High degree of autonomy in a flexible, remote-first working environment.
• Opportunity to work on meaningful initiatives that directly impact the South African small business ecosystem.