Project Lead – Samsung Mobile Circularity Innovation Project

UNDP Sierra Leone, through the timbuktoo UniPod, is supporting the development of an integrated innovation ecosystem that gives young people, university students, entrepreneurs and innovators access to practical learning, prototyping, experimentation, entrepreneurship support and pathways to market.
Within this platform, the Samsung Mobile Circularity Initiative strengthens youth capacities in circular economy, mobile technology, electronics, e-waste management, repair, reuse, refurbishment and responsible resource recovery. The initiative combines a dedicated Mobile Circularity Innovation Lab at the UniPod with Circular Innovation Clubs and partnerships with universities, technical institutions and other ecosystem actors.
The Project Lead will provide day-to-day programme leadership for implementation of the Samsung Mobile Circularity Innovation Project, ensuring that activities, partnerships, deliverables, budgets, risks and results are coordinated in line with UNDP requirements and agreed commitments with Samsung and other partners.

A. Project Planning and Delivery Leadership

•Translate the approved project document, annual workplan, and partner commitments into detailed implementation plans, activity schedules, milestones, and delivery trackers.
•Coordinate the day-to-day execution of Samsung Mobile Circularity activities across the UniPod, regional Circular Innovation Clubs, and participating academic institutions.
•Ensure clear sequencing of trainings, experimentation activities, innovation challenges, mentorship, prototyping, showcases, and related project interventions.
•Track implementation progress against agreed outputs, indicators, timelines, and budgets, and initiate rapid corrective actions when delivery risks emerge
•Coordinate inputs from UNDP programme and operations colleagues, technical personnel, consultants, vendors, universities, and implementing partners.

B. Team Coordination and Task Management
•Provide day-to-day coordination, work planning, and task prioritization for the project’s Associate-level UN Volunteers and other assigned project personnel.
•Clarify roles, responsibilities, deliverables, and deadlines across the implementation team and maintain a shared action tracker.
•Hold regular implementation check-ins and ensure operational issues requiring management attention are escalated promptly.
•Support team members with continuous guidance, coaching, and collaborative problem-solving while promoting an inclusive, learning-oriented work environment.
•Coordinate closely with the UniPod Manager to ensure project activities are integrated into the wider UniPod operating calendar and facility arrangements.

C. Samsung and Partner Coordination

•Serve as the principal day-to-day project coordination interface between UNDP, the UniPod, and Samsung-supported implementation activities, under the guidance of the UNDP Innovation and Digital Transformation Lead.
•Prepare substantive inputs, implementation updates, and briefing materials for project meetings, monitoring missions, and reviews with Samsung and other partners.
•Coordinate partner visits, technical sessions, reviews, hardware demonstrations, and project showcases.
•Maintain constructive working relationships with universities, government institutions, Circular Innovation Clubs, youth organizations, and innovation ecosystem partners.
•Follow up on agreed partner actions and ensure joint commitments are actively reflected in project delivery plans.

D. Technical and Innovation Programme Oversight

•Oversee implementation of the project’s innovation and experimentation approach, ensuring activities are practical, youth-centred, and aligned with circular-economy principles.
•Work with the Mobile Computing Associate and technical facilitators to maintain a steady project pipeline from problem identification through experimentation, prototyping, testing, and showcase.
•Ensure Circular Innovation Clubs receive structured technical and programme support and that promising solutions are connected to the UniPod for advanced experimentation.
•Support the design and quality assurance of bootcamps, hackathons, innovation challenges, mentoring sessions, and technical learning activities.
•Promote responsible technology use, repair, reuse, refurbishment, sustainable electronics, and safe e-waste practices across all project activities.

E. Monitoring, Reporting, and Quality Assurance

•Maintain an integrated project performance tracker covering activities, deliverables, indicators, risks, expenditure status, and key decisions.
•Review activity documentation and evidence to ensure completeness, accuracy, and consistency before consolidation into project reports.
•Prepare substantive inputs for periodic UNDP and partner progress reports, presentations, briefing notes, and management updates.
•Ensure sex-, age-, and other relevant participant data are captured consistently and that results are documented in line with agreed monitoring requirements.
•Document lessons learned, success stories, innovations, and implementation challenges to support adaptive management and knowledge sharing.
•Support quality assurance of consultant and service-provider deliverables from a programme perspective and flag gaps for corrective action.

F. Budget, Administration, and Operational Coordination

•Work with the Admin and Finance Associate and UNDP programme/operations colleagues to maintain visibility over approved budgets, commitments, expenditures, and outstanding opeational actions.
•Provide timely programme inputs for procurement, contracting, travel, workshops, and other operational processes required for delivery.
•Confirm programme specifications, activity requirements, and delivery timelines before submission through the appropriate UNDP processes.
•Monitor operational dependencies that could affect implementation and escalate bottlenecks for resolution.
•Ensure project assets, equipment, and consumables are planned and deployed in coordination with the Facility Manager and in accordance with UNDP procedures.

G. Risk Management and Compliance

•Maintain a practical project risk and issues log and regularly review delivery, operational, safeguarding, reputational, and partner risks.
•Ensure project activities follow applicable UNDP policies, procedures, safeguarding requirements, safety standards, and partner commitments.
•Escalate material risks, incidents, delays, or compliance concerns to the UNDP Innovation and Digital Transformation Lead.
•Support implementation of corrective and mitigation measures and track their completion.
•Promote safe, inclusive, and respectful participation of young people in all project activities.

4. Expected Results
• Samsung Mobile Circularity project activities are implemented on time and in accordance with agreed workplans and quality standards.
• Clear coordination is maintained among UNDP, UniPod, Samsung-supported activities, participating institutions and the project implementation team.
• Circular Innovation Clubs are active and connected to a structured experimentation and prototyping pipeline.
• Project deliverables, indicators, risks, budgets and operational actions are systematically tracked.
• Partner and management reporting is timely, evidence-based and supported by complete project documentation.
• Implementation challenges are identified early and addressed through coordinated corrective action.
• The project generates documented learning, prototypes and practical youth innovation outcomes that strengthen the wider UniPod innovation ecosystem.