Senior Project Manager

Introducing Zinc Network

For over fifteen years, Zinc Network has been helping governments and businesses navigate the world's most complex challenges using communications, technology, and behavioural science. We work on some of the toughest briefs: protecting children online, strengthening democratic resilience, and championing purpose-driven technologies and organisations.

Working in partnership with a global network of media outlets, communities, and influencers, we help clients understand complex issues, design and deliver behavioural interventions, create compelling campaigns, activate trusted grassroots networks, and evaluate impact.

We're now building Kora — our AI-powered platform that systematises this expertise into scalable technology, enabling clients to work faster, more impactfully, and more cost-effectively.

We're looking for people who want to operate at the intersection of geopolitics, security, and technological disruption, and who are committed to building a safer, more secure world.

Outline of the job

Zinc seeks a Senior Project Manager to lead a forthcoming donor-funded strategic communications programme focused on countering violent extremist narratives in Central Asia. The Senior Project Manager will have significant experience in campaign management and provide support to the Project Director including strategic, technical, and operational delivery of the programme, ensuring all activities achieve measurable impact within time, budget, and compliance frameworks. The Senior Project Manager will be a senior manager with a strong background in Counter Violent Extremism (CVE) campaign design and management. They can build and maintain strong relationships with donors, local partners and stakeholders across the region, and will be an essential team member contributing to strategy, relationship management. The ideal candidate will bring a deep contextual knowledge of Central Asia – including social, political, and information dynamics – and be familiar with existing partners and practitioners in the region. It is preferable that the candidate has relevant language skills for working in Central Asia. The role will report to the Project Director.

The Senior Project Manager (Campaigns) will be hybrid and based in UK and be expected to be in our London office at least 3 days per week.

The position is contingent upon funding.

What you'll be doing

- Provide day to day management and contribute to the technical direction for the programme, serving as a key point of contact with donor and partners;

- Support the design and delivery of evidence-based communication interventions to counter violent extremist narratives;

- Support and contribute to the development of strategies, work plans, and results frameworks aligned with donor priorities and regional needs;

- Work closely and manage cross-functional teams - including strategists, researchers, creatives, digital specialists, and regional partners - ensuring effective collaboration and knowledge integration;

- Represent Zinc Network to government counterparts, civil society partners, and international stakeholders across Central Asia;

- Provide senior support to project implementation, budget management, and risk mitigation to ensure timely and compliant delivery;

- Ensure consistent application of safeguarding, security, and ethical communication principles;

- Provide senior oversight on reporting, MEL, and donor engagement, ensuring delivery of high-quality outputs and learning;

- Contribute to thought leadership and knowledge sharing within the broader strategic communications and the CVE community.

All while embodying the values of Zinc Network

What we need from you…

- Bachelor's or master's degree, or equivalent industry experience in communications, international development, security studies, behavioural science, or a related field;

- Proven record in delivering strategic communications, counter-disinformation, or CVE programming, ideally in fragile or sensitive contexts;

- Senior-level experience managing international, donor-funded programmes (FCDO, USAID, EU, UN, or similar);

- Experience applying behavioural science and audience insights to design communication interventions;

- Excellent leadership, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to adapt to rapidly changing operational environments;

- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to donors and high-level stakeholders;

- Strong track record in stakeholder engagement and partnership management, including with governments, civil society, and media organisations;

- Regional knowledge and professional experience in Central Asia, with understanding of political, media, and cultural dynamics;

- Working proficiency in Russian or a Central Asian language is advantageous.

Area of Selection

We're committed to hiring a diverse workforce from different professional and cultural backgrounds, and to that end we encourage a variety of people to apply to join our company to represent the diverse range of subjects associated with our projects.

Conditions of Employment

Candidates who receive a job offer will be required to:

- Disclose any previous disciplinary action against them resulting from a substantiated safeguarding (including any breaches involving trafficking- related activities) or workplace investigation.

- Undergo background checks including employment verification, sexual offender registry (as available), identity confirmation, and anti-terrorism vetting.

How to apply

Please include a cover letter stating how you meet each of the requirements.

If you require an accommodation to be made at any point throughout the recruitment process, please advise us when contacted.