Project Lead, UpLink

*This is temporary 12 month role with the possibility of extension*

The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, and other leaders of society to build coalitions, projects, and initiatives – digitally and physically – to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

UpLink is the open innovation platform of the World Economic Forum to crowdsource innovative solutions which can accelerate the delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).​ UpLink’s effort focuses on building bridges within the innovation ecosystem to support entrepreneurs for growth and scale.

Since its launch, UpLink has made significant progress in addressing the world's biggest challenges in different thematic areas (e.g. Longevity, Urban Transformation, Food System, Sustainable Mining, Water, Circular Carbon Economy, etc.) alongside its esteemed partners by specifically delivering in enabling early-stage impact-driven start-ups to accelerate impact, building and strengthening innovation ecosystems and shifting perception around the value and significance of early-stage impact innovations.

Why we are recruiting?

UpLink is growing its presence across new partnerships and thematic areas to identify and surface impact-driven early-stage start-ups, as well as a self-service model of the technology platform for its partners. To support this growth path, we are recruiting a Project Lead whose work will ensure management and delivery of UpLink Innovation Challenges related to the Forum’s Centre of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR). C4IR is a future-oriented global platform for multistakeholder dialogue and cooperation exploring exponential technologies and driving responsible adoption and application, leveraging a global network of independent national and thematic centres.

This role requires a versatile and service-oriented professional with a strong command of project management, and the ability to liaise with UpLink partners and other key members of its community. This position will be part of UpLink’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution unit and strongly collaborate with the different UpLink team members and relevant Forum Initiative teams to ensure excellence in project implementation.

Reporting Lines and Interactions

The role will be based in Geneva, report into the Project Lead, Innovation Ecosystems and work closely across the Growth, Partnerships & Innovation Ecosystems, Technology, Engagement and Marketing units within the team. Across the Forum, this individual will work closely with the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution team.

Main Responsibilities:

PROJECT MANAGEMENT (60%)

UpLink Innovation Challenge implementation:

• Lead, from start to finish, all key stages of the innovation challenge life-cycle for Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution - managing all the steps of the exploration, design, recruitment, review and engagement phases of the challenge.
• Successfully engage and manage all key partners in the process- both internal to the Forum and external.

UpLink Self-Service implementation:

• Lead and manage relationship with UpLink self-service partners, guaranteeing highest-level of costumer success.
• Lead the developmentand continuous improvement of digital platform and methodology playbooks for UpLink’s self-service model.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND IMPACT (20%)

• Lead the engagement of winners of UpLink Innovation Challenge, including:
• dentifying their needs for scale and impact increase.
• Designing the appropriate programme and opportunities for these innovators based on their needs- visibility, connections, capacity building, further investment etc.
• Ensuring they are considered for appropriate engagements in relevant Forum communities, events and opportunities.
• Continuously track impact of innovators and ensure it is being reported through the UpLink platform and the Content and Promotion Teams.
• Identifying possible cross-SDG conversations, and liaising with other UpLink Project Leads in other areas.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams, digital engagement, and other relevant Forum teams to leverage respective networks, expertise and communication opportunities as needed.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT (20%)

• Actively contribute to the continuous development of the UpLink platform and challenge life-cycle process, including its self-service model.
• Proactively suggest and drive improvements based on personal, partner and user feedback.

Preferred Requirements and Skills:

• Genuine passion for scaling impact in the SDG space
• Master’s, sustainability, development, business management, innovation & entrepreneurship, MPA, MBA or equivalent degree in business.
• 8-10 years of relevant professional experience.
• Strong and demonstrated project management skills.
• Several years of work experience in customer success management.
• Experience in impact start-up space and/or with innovation competition frameworks is preferred.
• Experience with digital project management tools such as Salesforce CRM, Airtable.
• Entrepreneurial mind, excellent communicator with high standards of professionalism and integrity.
• Willing to work in a highly demanding environment and able to juggle multiple priorities.

Why work at the Forum:

The Forum believes that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and cooperation, shaping mindsets and agendas, and driving collective action. Join us and become a driver for positive change!