Project Manager_Fugee

JD – Project Manager, Fugee HiEd (2027)

The ideal person for this role

The ideal person for this role is an experienced programme manager who is as comfortable running day-to-day operations as stepping back to see the bigger picture. You are organised, dependable and calm under pressure, with a strong grasp of budgets and reporting.

You lead people well, building your team's skills and confidence rather than doing the work for them. You earn the trust of students, partners and donors alike, and you care deeply about widening access to education for refugee youth. You are keen to grow with the organisation and take on more responsibility over time.

How to apply Please submit your CV and a personalised cover letter telling us why you are interested in this role and how your experience fits it.

Applications close on 30 November 2026. We are reviewing candidates on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply early.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Our recruitment process has several stages, including assignments.

Role at a glance

Job title: Project Manager

Department: Fugee HiEd (Post-Secondary Programmes)

Reports to: Programmes Director

Supervises: Project Officers and interns

Location: Setapak, Kuala Lumpur (hybrid)

Employment type: Full-time

Salary: RM5,000 – RM6,000 per month

Start date: January 2027

Experience

5+ years, including 3+ years in project or programme management and 2+ years supervising staff

About Fugee HiEd

Fugee HiEd is the post-secondary department of Fugee, a non-profit organisation in Malaysia. It supports refugee, asylum-seeking and stateless youth into, through and beyond tertiary education: preparing them to access higher education, funding and supporting them through their studies, and helping them move into work or further study.

Its work includes scholarships, mentoring and peer support, internships and new pilot pathways.

Job purpose

The Project Manager leads the day-to-day delivery of Fugee HiEd's programmes. Working closely with the Programmes Director, you will oversee operations, manage budgets and reporting, keep data and systems accurate, and lead a small team of Project Officers to give students high-quality support.

Key responsibilities Programme delivery

• Plan, manage and monitor all programme activities, timelines and workloads.
• Oversee operations, from student recruitment and selection to onboarding and ongoing support.
• Make operational decisions on student cases in line with programme policies.
• Manage programme budgets, financial projections and payments.

Stakeholder management

• Lead donor and programme reporting, making sure reports are accurate and on time.
• Manage relationships with universities, partner organisations, donors and other stakeholders.

Quality and learning

• Oversee monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) data and keep it accurate and report-ready.
• Manage and improve the team's databases and workflows.
• Review reports and external communications for accuracy, quality and safeguarding.
• Keep programme policies, handbooks and documentation up to date.
• Identify, manage and escalate risks.

Growth and development

• Support fundraising, including proposals and donor engagement.
• Design new programmes and develop standard operating procedures.
• Review partnerships and agreements regularly.

Team leadership

• Lead, coach and supervise Project Officers and interns.
• Run team planning and weekly check-ins.
• Contribute to annual planning and to reporting for senior leadership and the Board.

Working relationships

• Internal: Programmes Director, Project Officers and interns, and colleagues in Finance, Fundraising and Communications.
• External: students and alumni, universities, donors and sponsors, and partner organisations.

Requirements Essential

• Bachelor's degree in education, development studies, social sciences, management or a related field.
• At least 5 years of full-time work experience, including at least 3 years managing projects or programmes end to end (plans, timelines, budgets and reporting), ideally in an NGO, education or development setting.
• Experience managing budgets: forecasts, budget vs. actuals and approving payments.
• Advanced spreadsheet skills and confidence working in databases such as Airtable.
• At least 2 years directly supervising and coaching staff.
• A track record of writing donor or programme reports on time to funder requirements.
• Strong written and spoken English, with the ability to review and edit others' writing.
• Sound judgement on safeguarding and data confidentiality when working with vulnerable young people.

Desirable

• Experience working with refugee, asylum-seeking or stateless communities in Malaysia.
• Experience running scholarships, admissions or student support in higher education.
• Hands-on MEL experience (logframes, indicators, data quality checks).
• Grant writing and fundraising pipeline experience.
• Building database automations (e.g. Airtable) or improving team workflows.
• Bahasa Malaysia, or a language spoken by refugee communities in Malaysia.
• Experience contributing to organisational or programme strategy, or leading a programme review or redesign.
• Experience managing relationships with major donors or institutional funders.
• Experience owning a full programme budget, from planning to year-end.
• Experience presenting or reporting to senior leadership or a Board.

Competencies

Competency

What it looks like in this role

Project management:

Plans, tracks and delivers several initiatives at once, on time and within budget.

Financial management:

Builds projections, monitors spend and approves payments accurately.

Leadership and coaching:

Allocates work, runs one-to-ones and check-ins, and develops Project Officers.

Sound judgement:

Applies programme policies consistently and knows what to escalate and when.

Written communication:

Writes clear donor reports and reviews content for accuracy and safeguarding.

Data and systems:

Keeps data accurate and improves digital workflows.

Stakeholder management:

Keeps partners, donors and universities informed and engaged.

Process improvement:

Turns recurring work into SOPs and keeps documentation current.

Context knowledge:

Understands the education system and the barriers refugee youth face in Malaysia.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: RM5,000.00 - RM6,000.00 per month

Application Question(s):

• Do you need a work visa to work in Malaysia?

Experience:

• project management: 5 years (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Kuala Lumpur