We’re hiring a Project Coordinator to support the next three-year cycle of the Thrive by Five Index (2026–2028). This is a fixed-term role aligned to the project’s funding cycle and is central to ensuring strong coordination across planning, preparation, data collection, and launch.

DataDrive2030 is a rapidly growing social enterprise committed to driving change in the ECD sector through data-informed solutions. DataDrive2030 leads the Thrive by Five Index, a large-scale national initiative generating essential data on early learning programme quality and child development across South Africa. As we prepare for the next round of data collection in 2027, there is a growing need for robust coordination across planning, field operations, communications, partnerships, and data processes.

The Project Coordinator will play a critical role in supporting the Project Lead to ensure seamless implementation across the three-year cycle (planning, preparation, data collection, and launch). This role is central to maintaining project momentum, strengthening communication between multiple partners and service providers, and ensuring that all moving parts align with project timelines and quality expectations.

Reporting to: Project Lead, Thrive by Five Index: Direct reports: None

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

Salary bracket: R30 000 – R40 000 (CTC)

Qualifications & experience

• A relevant qualification in Project Management, Business Administration, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in project coordination or programme support, preferably within the ECD sector, research environment, or a complex multi-stakeholder project.
• Experience working with external service providers, contractors, or implementation partners.
• Demonstrated ability to manage timelines, track deliverables, and support high-volume project workflows.

Skills & attributes

• Project coordination: Strong ability to manage multiple workstreams, track progress, and align stakeholders.
• Operational acumen: Strong understanding of operational principles, process optimisation, and efficiency drivers.
• Communication: Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information clearly.
• Organisation: Highly organised, methodical, and comfortable managing large volumes of documents, schedules, and updates.
• Problem-solving: Proactive in identifying issues early and facilitating solutions collaboratively with internal and external partners.
• Technical proficiency: Competent with project management tools, spreadsheets, online collaboration platforms, and document systems.
• Stakeholder management: Confidently engage with partners, funders, provincial officials, and service providers.
• Adaptability: Able to operate efficiently in a fast-paced, evolving environment with many moving parts.
• Language proficiency: Fluency (spoken and written) in at least one indigenous African South African language (e.g. isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho, Setswana) is required.
• Values alignment: Commitment to DataDrive2030 values, high-quality data, and the mission of the Thrive by Five Index.

Additional Advantageous Skills

• Experience with ELOM tools, ELP assessments, or early learning sector projects.
• Prior involvement in large field operations, training management, or logistics-heavy projects.
• A talent for staying calm and solutions-focused when the universe throws curveballs.
•  

Key Responsibilities

1. Project planning & execution

• Support the Project Lead in developing and managing detailed project workplans for 2026–2028.
• Maintain project trackers, timelines, and dashboards to ensure clear visibility of milestones and risks.
• Coordinate scheduling, agendas, and minute-taking for project meetings with partners, service providers, and internal teams.
• Track follow-up actions and ensure timely progress across all stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities for operational improvements within the project and support refinement of internal processes

2. Coordination of service providers (Training, Fieldwork, and Operations)

• Serve as a central communication and coordination point between the Thrive project team and external service providers responsible for fieldwork and training.
• Support the planning process by tracking training plans, reporting expectations, attendance lists, fieldworker accreditation, and capacity updates shared by the provider.
• Monitor submission of service provider deliverables, escalate concerns, and assist in resolving operational issues in collaboration with the Project Lead.
• Maintain organised documentation relating to training outputs, fieldworker deployment, safety incidents, and weekly progress updates.

3. Fieldwork support & coordination

• Track deployment schedules, regional coverage, and operational challenges reported by the external fieldwork contractor.
• Support logistical and operational planning for fieldwork phases by consolidating information from partners and service providers.
• Document issues raised during fieldwork and track resolutions to ensure accountability.

4. Data support (in collaboration with the Data Team)

(Note: this role does not perform data cleaning or monitoring.)

• Coordinate timelines and version control between the project team and data team.
• Track data deliverables, review cycles, and deadlines.
• Support preparation of summaries, internal briefs, data interpretation and workshops.
• Assist in organising and coordinating review processes for provincial and national-level reporting.

5. Communications support 

• Support the communications team with inputs, content coordination, and logistics throughout planning, implementation, and launch.
• Assist in drafting briefing materials, provincial communication packs, stakeholder updates, and event content.
• Maintain a communications calendar aligned with project milestones (planning updates, fieldwork progress, annual briefings, launch).
• Coordinate with the Project Lead and Comms Lead to ensure messaging is consistent, timely, and informed by project progress.

6. Stakeholder coordination

• Serve as a reliable point of contact for provincial officials, partners, funders, and collaborating organisations.
• Prepare meeting packs, briefing notes, and follow-ups for stakeholder engagements.
• Track and manage stakeholder requests, commitments, and deliverables across the three-year cycle.
• Support coordination for provincial engagements, roadshows, webinars, and partner meetings.

7. Project administration & logistical oversight

• Support procurement processes, contract management, and documentation required for onboarding service providers and suppliers.
• Assist with basic budget tracking by monitoring invoices, financial documents, and expenditure spreadsheets.
• Maintain well-organised filing systems for project documentation, ensuring accessibility, accuracy, and audit readiness.
• Coordinate logistical arrangements for meetings, workshops, and project events.

8. Compliance & risk mitigation

• Support the development and refinement of project procedures, ensuring alignment with organisational policies and POPIA requirements.
• Track risks related to timelines, fieldwork, service provider performance, or documentation, and escalate concerns early.
• Ensure accurate record-keeping of all project-related documents for compliance, reporting, and future audits.

9. Additionally, as a member of the DataDrive2030 team, you will be required to:

• Participate in weekly DD2030 team meetings and twice-yearly strategy sessions and assist as appropriate with ad hoc tasks arising from these discussions.
• Provide relevant input to the communication team to highlight DD2030’s work.
• Ensure work is carried out per the DD2030 values, Ways of Working and internal processes.
• Support the team in the overall delivery of the DD2030 strategy.
• Represent DD2030 at relevant forums and events.

Applying

If you are excited by this opportunity and have the necessary skill set and mindset, please submit an application form here. 

Please note: In line with our Employment Equity and B-BBEE objectives, preference will be given to candidates from designated groups.

Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.

DataDrive2030 reserves the right not to fill this position.