Experienced Project Manager (STEM Background, Freelance)

Job Title: Project Manager (STEM Background, Freelance)Job Description:

We are looking for an experienced Project Manager with a STEM background to join our team on a freelance basis. This role focuses on the successful delivery of projects for clients, many of whom are early-stage deeptech ventures. The ideal candidate combines strong project management expertise with technical literacy and a pragmatic, hands-on approach to execution.

You will play a central role in coordinating and driving projects to successful completion, working with cross-functional teams across Europe and ensuring that complex projects are delivered on time, within scope, and to the highest standards. Industry experience in science, engineering, or technology is highly valued, as it will allow you to bridge the gap between technical teams and business stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Project Leadership: Upfront scope clarification & alignment with clients and the team of DevelopMinded. Managing projects from concept to completion, ensuring alignment with client needs, availability and objectives.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Act as the primary liaison with clients, the DevelopMinded team, and partners, maintaining clear communication and managing expectations throughout the project lifecycle.
• Technical Understanding: Leverage STEM expertise to understand and contextualise complex technologies, enabling you to translate them into actionable project plans that our cross-functional teams can execute.
• Planning & Execution: Develop project charters, detailed work plans, schedules, and budgets, ensuring milestones are met and resources are optimally utilised using Asana as a project management tool.
• Risk & Issue Management: Proactively identify potential risks, dependencies, and obstacles, and implement mitigation strategies to keep projects on track and within scope.
• Monitoring & Reporting: Track progress against KPIs and deliverables, providing transparent status reports and actionable recommendations to stakeholders.
• Team Coordination: Foster collaboration across multidisciplinary teams, ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities, and priorities.
• Continuous Improvement: Capture lessons learned and recommend best practices to enhance future project delivery processes.

Qualifications:

• Experience: Minimum 5 years of project management experience, ideally within STEM-related industries (technology, engineering, or scientific fields).
• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a STEM discipline preferred; relevant professional experience is highly valued.
• Methodologies: Familiarity with Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, or hybrid methodologies; PMP, PRINCE2, or Agile certification is a plus.
• Technical Acumen: Ability to grasp and work with technical concepts in deep-tech or innovation-driven environments.
• Communication: Strong ability to communicate complex issues clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Tools: Proficiency with Asana and other project management software. 
• Autonomy: Self-starter, able to manage multiple projects independently while maintaining high-quality standards.
• Language: Fluent or native English speaker.
• Location: Must be based in Europe; remote work possible.

Desired Competencies:

• Execution-Oriented: Proven track record of successfully delivering complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
• Problem-Solving: Aptitude for identifying market issues and devising effective solutions. 
• Adaptability: Flexibility to adjust to evolving project scopes and priorities in dynamic environments.
• Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams. 
• Commercial Awareness: Understanding of how project execution links to business strategy, particularly within startups or scaleups.

How to Apply: Interested candidates should submit their applications using the application button in this LinkedIn advertisement. The deadline for submitting your application is September 10th. Please note that we review applications on an ongoing basis. Once suitable candidates are identified, the vacancy may be closed earlier. 

Please note that this is a project-based engagement, and we are looking for a freelancer. Although remote work is possible, the candidate must be based in Europe and legally eligible to work. We will only consider candidates who meet these criteria at the time of submitting their application.

We are committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for the freelance assignment without regard to education, race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability or veteran status.