Hackathons and Project Manager at Rise Networks

Resumption: Immediate
Work Mode: On-site / Hybrid, as required

About the Role

• Rise Networks is seeking an experienced and highly organised Hackathons & Project Manager to lead the planning, coordination, and execution of hackathons, innovation challenges, technology competitions, and related projects.
• The successful candidate will manage projects from concept to completion, coordinate participants and multidisciplinary teams, work with sponsors and partners, manage logistics and timelines, and ensure that hackathons deliver meaningful innovation, learning, and measurable outcomes.

Key Responsibilities
Hackathon & Innovation Challenge Management:

• Lead the end-to-end planning and execution of hackathons, innovation challenges, coding competitions, and technology-focused events.
• Develop hackathon concepts, themes, formats, timelines, work plans, and implementation frameworks.
• Coordinate participant registration, onboarding, communications, mentoring, judging, pitching, and final presentations.
• Develop participant guidelines, challenge briefs, judging criteria, FAQs, schedules, and other programme materials.
• Coordinate mentors, judges, facilitators, technical experts, speakers, and event partners.
• Support the development of prizes, incentives, participant engagement strategies, and post-hackathon activities.
• Ensure a smooth participant experience before, during, and after each hackathon.

Project Management:

• Develop and manage project plans, timelines, milestones, deliverables, budgets, and trackers.
• Coordinate internal teams, external consultants, vendors, partners, sponsors, and other stakeholders.
• Monitor project progress and ensure deliverables are completed on schedule.
• Identify project risks, dependencies, and implementation challenges and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Organise project meetings and maintain accurate records, action points, and follow-ups.
• Prepare project updates, reports, presentations, briefs, and post-project documentation.
• Track project KPIs, outcomes, participant engagement, and impact.

Stakeholder & Partner Management:

• Maintain effective relationships with sponsors, technology companies, government institutions, development organisations, educational institutions, communities, and ecosystem partners.
• Support partnership engagement and coordination.
• Represent Rise Networks professionally in meetings, workshops, events, and stakeholder engagements.
• Support proposal development, concept notes, partnership documents, and funding applications.

Event & Logistics Coordination:

• Coordinate venues, technology infrastructure, equipment, internet connectivity, catering, branding, transportation, accommodation, and other event logistics.
• Work closely with vendors and service providers to ensure timely delivery.
• Develop contingency plans for potential technical, logistical, and operational challenges.
• Coordinate on-site execution and troubleshoot issues during events.
• Post-Hackathon Activities
• Coordinate project demonstrations, judging, winner selection processes, and award activities.
• Support documentation of winning solutions, project outcomes, and lessons learned.
• Coordinate post-hackathon incubation, mentorship, follow-up, or implementation activities where applicable.
• Prepare comprehensive post-event reports and recommendations.

Qualifications & Experience

• Relevant qualifications with 3–5 years of relevant experience in project management, programme coordination, hackathons, innovation challenges, technology events, or related areas.
• Demonstrable experience managing projects from planning through execution and close-out.
• Experience organising hackathons, coding competitions, innovation challenges, tech communities, or similar programmes is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of technology and innovation ecosystems.
• Experience working with developers, designers, entrepreneurs, students, startups, or technical teams is an advantage.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace.
• Familiarity with project management tools such as Notion, Trello, Asana, Jira, Monday.com, or similar platforms.

Key Competencies:

• Excellent project management and organisational skills.
• Strong event and logistics management.
• Stakeholder and partner management.
• Strong communication and coordination skills.
• Problem-solving and critical-thinking ability.
• Ability to work effectively with technical and non-technical teams.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Budget and resource management.
• Risk and contingency management.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and tight deadlines.
• Leadership and team coordination.
• Negotiation and vendor management.
• Adaptability and calmness under pressure.
• Strong reporting and documentation skills.
• Passion for technology, innovation, AI, entrepreneurship, and youth development.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to lead impactful hackathons and technology innovation programmes.
• Exposure to Nigeria’s and Africa’s growing AI, technology, innovation, and startup ecosystems.
• Opportunity to work with developers, innovators, entrepreneurs, institutions, and leading ecosystem partners.
• A dynamic and impact-driven working environment.
• * Opportunity to contribute to programmes that develop Africa’s next generation of technology talent and innovators.