How to apply for Senior Technical Project Manager – GIS (Multi-Sector)

About VIDA.place GmbH

VIDA.place GmbH builds software that helps companies track their climate impact globally. The Data Solutions team leads geospatial projects that decide where infrastructure money goes across energy, climate, health and infrastructure in over 40 countries. The company has offices in Munich and Nairobi and hires remotely across Europe and Africa.

About the role

This is a senior technical project manager role focused on GIS. You lead geospatial client projects from scope to delivery and own the client relationship end to end. You are the primary contact for governments, donors and development partners, mostly in Africa, and you steer Data Scientists' workstreams from data collection to quality. The work directly affects how infrastructure funding is allocated.

A typical day

A typical day might include a call with a government or donor partner to align on project scope, a working session with Data Scientists on data collection or validation, and writing progress reports or presentations. You may also spend time shaping a proposal with the business team. Occasional travel to project countries for workshops is part of the role.

Who VIDA.place GmbH is looking for

• Holds a Master's or equivalent experience in Geospatial Science, Data Science, Engineering, Environmental Science or a related field.
• Has 5+ years delivering technical projects for governments and donors such as the World Bank, EU, AfDB, UN or bilateral donors.
• Is comfortable leading ministry workshops and having technical discussions with Data Scientists in the same week.
• Can translate partner needs into workplans and technical requirements, and report progress with clear reports and presentations.

Tips for this application

• Name the specific donor-funded projects you delivered and the donors involved (World Bank, EU, AfDB, UN, bilateral). The job description calls these out explicitly.
• Quantify your GIS project delivery: budget size, number of countries, team size, timeline. The role owns scope, time and budget.
• Show client-facing experience with governments and development partners in Africa, since the role is primarily focused there.
• State your location clearly. The role is remote from Europe or Africa, or based in Munich or Nairobi. Confirm you can travel occasionally to project countries.
• Mention any experience shaping proposals and scopes with a business team, since that is listed as a responsibility.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your track record delivering technical geospatial projects for governments and donors, with named examples.', 'How you translate partner needs into workplans and technical requirements for data science teams.', 'Your experience as the primary client contact, including workshops and reporting to donors.', 'Why geospatial work that guides infrastructure funding across energy, climate, health and infrastructure interests you.']

Research before applying

• Review VIDA.place GmbH's product and how its climate impact tracking connects to the geospatial work of the Data Solutions team.
• Look up the 40+ countries and sectors mentioned (energy, climate, health, infrastructure) to understand the project portfolio.
• Check the backgrounds of the Munich and Nairobi teams, especially Data Scientists, to understand who you would steer.
• Find public examples of donor-funded geospatial projects (World Bank, EU, AfDB, UN, bilateral) to prepare relevant case studies.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Walk through a geospatial project you led end to end for a government or donor client. What was the scope, budget and outcome?
• How do you translate a partner's needs into technical requirements and workplans for Data Scientists?
• Describe a time you managed a client relationship through a difficult delivery. How did you handle it?
• How do you ensure deliverables meet client requirements and are usable by end-users?
• How would you approach shaping a scope and proposal with the business team for a new donor-funded GIS project?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without naming specific donors or government clients you have delivered for. The role requires 5+ years of this exact experience.
• Focusing only on GIS technical skills and ignoring client relationship management, workshops and donor reporting.
• Being vague about location or travel. The role is remote from Europe or Africa, or in Munich or Nairobi, with occasional travel to project countries.