MAKE - Project Manager

About Make

• **MAKE** is a part workshop, lab, studio, and garage, offering a diverse range of programs focused on building creative skills and process learning in making, design, engineering, and art.
• It is supported by a wide range of professional-grade machinery, tools, and facilities.
• **MAKE** is home to a community of entrepreneurs, experimenters, designers, artists, DIY enthusiasts, hobbyists, learners, and creators.
• Our mission is to support and grow a culture of making in Abu Dhabi, providing makers with the resources and knowledge needed to turn ideas into reality.
• Our mission is built on two key pillars:
• Enabling the makers' community through our makerspace and services
• Building community capabilities through educational programs
• We welcome makers of all ages and experience levels - from beginners to professional designers.
• MAKE is a place where people with different creative abilities come together to explore, learn, and create.

Job Summary

Program Planning & Structuring

• Define programme scope, objectives, deliverables, timelines, and success metrics in collaboration with internal stakeholders
• Translate educational goals into structured project plans, schedules, and workstreams
• Develop and maintain programme roadmaps across short-term activations and long-term initiatives
• Align resources (staff, instructors, spaces, equipment) with programme requirements

Delivery & Execution

• Lead the day-to-day execution of assigned educational programmes
• Ensure programmes are delivered on time, within scope, and within approved budgets
• Coordinate across education, operations, marketing, finance, and external partners
• Oversee programme logistics including scheduling, onboarding, facilities readiness, and material procurement
• Maintain high standards of learner experience and programme quality throughout delivery

Stakeholder & Partner Management

• Act as the primary point of contact for internal teams, instructors, consultants, and external partners
• Manage day-to-day expectations, communication flows, and approvals across stakeholders
• Facilitate alignment between educational intent, operational feasibility, and partner requirements
• Proactively flag conflicts, changes, or misalignment for management decision

Budgeting & Financial Oversight

• Develop and manage programme budgets in coordination with finance and leadership
• Track expenditures, forecast costs, and flag variances early
• Ensure contractual scopes, payment schedules, and deliverables are adhered to

Risk & Quality Management

• Identify potential risks related to timelines, resources, quality, safety, or stakeholder dependencies
• Develop and implement mitigation strategies
• Ensure compliance with organisational policies and contractual obligations
• Monitor programme quality through feedback, evaluation tools, and internal reviews

Monitoring, Reporting & Evaluation

• Track programme performance against defined KPIs and objectives
• Prepare status updates, reports, and post-programme evaluations
• Collect and analyse participant, instructor, and stakeholder feedback
• Translate insights into recommendations for programme improvement

Process Improvement & Knowledge Management

• Contribute to the development and refinement of programme management frameworks, templates, and tools
• Document learnings, best practices, and operational insights
• Support continuous improvement of educational delivery systems and workflows

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Education, Design, Architecture, or a related field
• Project management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, Agile, or equivalent) is a plus
• 3–5 years of experience in project or programme management, preferably within education, cultural, creative, or public-facing environments
• Experience working within educational programs, workshops, residencies, or training initiatives is preferred
• Familiarity with design, making, or creative learning environments is an advantage
• Experience coordinating instructors, facilitators, or subject-matter experts is preferred

Skills & Competencies

• Strong organisational, planning, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to manage multiple stakeholders, timelines, budgets, and risks