At Yunus Social Innovation (YSI), we are redefining the role of business in addressing global societal challenges. Co-founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, YSI is built on the belief that business can be a powerful force for good. We partner with corporations, philanthropic entities and social enterprises to make social innovation a key driver of business success. We design and implement strategies that align business success with positive societal and environmental impact.
We are currently a team of 15 individuals with experience in corporate innovation, entrepreneurship and consulting. Our team, mainly based in Europe, is a group of dedicated consultants and change makers, all aligned on making our time on this planet count. We are proud to be embedded in a global ecosystem of inspiring organisations and individuals.
As Junior Project Manager/Consultant, you will be part of YSI's mission to make social innovation a standard business practice. In this role, you will work closely with the Programme Manager, our corporate partners, and local implementing partners (national intermediaries, social economy representatives) to drive the delivery and coordination of high-impact social innovation programs. Your primary focus will be on delivering a flagship programme supporting a multinational retail company to make its supply chains more sustainable and inclusive by sourcing from social enterprises. These enterprises empower vulnerable communities- such as refugees, migrants, and people with disabilities - and/or drive environmental impact through circular economy models. This programme will be your main responsibility and the core reason for the role. However, a part of your time may also be dedicated to contributing to other exciting YSI initiatives, offering you the opportunity to broaden your experience and exposure within the organisation. This is a unique opportunity to gain deep insight into the sustainability agenda of a global brand, collaborate with stakeholders across all continents, and help embed social and environmental impact into everyday business operations- while also connecting with passionate social entrepreneurs and changemakers.
Your role will evolve around the following two key areas. The distribution of focus areas will vary according to our jointly developed strategic priorities.
The programme is focused on helping a large corporation identify and collaborate with high-potential social enterprises as potential suppliers, creating impactful partnerships that drive innovation and social impact. Within this programme, your primary responsibility will be managing the “Lab” stream - a hands-on innovation pathway where you will coordinate multiple pilot projects. You will work closely with local corporate teams to identify suitable social enterprises, initiate partnerships, and provide guidance and support to both corporate managers and entrepreneurs throughout the collaboration. This includes structuring pilot journeys and embedding strong incubation and acceleration methodologies to ensure successful outcomes.