At YSR, we believe that sport is more than physical activity — it is a powerful tool for connection, empowerment, inclusion, and community building.
Since 2017, YSR has been creating free and inclusive sports spaces for refugees, asylum seekers, locals, volunteers, and people from all backgrounds. What started on the island of Lesvos as a grassroots initiative responding to the lack of access to sports and wellbeing opportunities has grown into an international community operating across Greece and Europe.
Through our gyms and programs in Lesvos, Athens, and Paris, we aim to improve physical and mental wellbeing, strengthen communities, support skills development, encourage integration, and challenge dominant narratives around people on the move.
We are looking for a motivated, organized, community-oriented, and hands-on Project Manager to join our team in Lesvos.
The Project Manager will play a central role in ensuring the smooth day-to-day running and development of YSR’s activities in Lesvos. The position combines project coordination, coach coordination, team wellbeing and safeguarding, partnerships, logistics, administration, and direct involvement in our sports activities. You will also contribute to the strategic development of YSR’s project in Lesvos, helping to define its priorities, direction, and future development, while actively contributing to discussions around broader strategic questions, challenges, and opportunities that are important for the organisation as a whole.
Location
Lesvos, Greece
Starting date
As soon as possible, and no later than 2 November 2026
Commitment
Minimum 1 year
About the role
As Project Manager, you will be one of the key people ensuring that YSR’s activities in Lesvos run smoothly, sustainably, and in line with our values.
You will work closely with the wider YSR team, interns, coaches, partners, and local contacts. The role requires someone who can move comfortably between strategic and practical tasks: one day may involve coordinating a team meeting or supporting an intern, while another may involve organizing coaches, managing logistics, coaching a sports session, or solving an unexpected operational issue.
A strong focus of the role will be people and community coordination. You will support volunteers throughout their time with YSR, contribute to a positive team environment, and help ensure that everyone feels welcomed, supported, and able to contribute.
You will also contribute to the coordination and development of YSR’s projects and activities in Lesvos, maintain communication with key partners, support safeguarding and team wellbeing, and help ensure that the practical infrastructure behind our programs is functioning effectively.
Key responsibilities
Team coordination
- Supervise the coordinator and interns, including regular guidance, communication, administration, and recommendations.
- Support a positive, inclusive, and well-connected team environment
Safeguarding & team wellbeing
- Act as safeguarding focal point for the Lesvos team.
- Support team wellbeing, communication, and the implementation of safeguarding practices.
Project management & strategy
- Lead the day-to-day coordination and strategic development of YSR’s project in Lesvos.
- Plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate activities, while identifying needs and taking initiative to address them.
- Participate in two weekly meetings with YSR’s other managers to align projects, discuss priorities, and strategise on organisation-wide questions and future development.
- Contribute to reports, planning, events, and wider organisational tasks.
Partnerships & communication
- Maintain communication and working relationships with key partners, and build new partnerships
- Represent YSR in relevant meetings and external communication.
Logistics & operations
- Coordinate day-to-day logistics, procurement, rent, maintenance, the gym, and the vehicle.
- Identify operational needs and coordinate practical solutions.
Sports activities
- Coach sports classes when needed.
- Be present in the gym, take on regular shifts, and actively participate in YSR’s sports activities.
- Support a welcoming, inclusive, and community-oriented environment.
Administration & finance
- Support accounting, reimbursements, reporting, documentation, and other administrative tasks related to the Lesvos project.
Coach support
- Serve as the main point of contact for our team of coaches.
- Organise and coordinate regular coach meetings and ensure timely payments.
- Identify learning and professional development opportunities aligned with each coach’s field of interest.
- Support coaches in their local integration and involvement in sports clubs.
- Provide ongoing support, guidance, and feedback to help coaches develop and improve their classes.
Profile we are looking for
We are looking for someone who is organized, proactive, responsible, and comfortable working in a dynamic community-based environment.
You ideally have:
- Strong organizational and coordination skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
- Experience coordinating people, teams, or projects.
- Experience organizing and facilitating team meetings, setting agendas, following up on action points, and ensuring clear communication within a team.
- The ability to take ownership of tasks, coordinate responsibilities, and ensure that agreed actions and deadlines are followed through.
- Experience working in multicultural and diverse environments.
- Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of Arabic, Farsi, Somali, or Amharic would be a welcome bonus
- The ability to manage several different responsibilities and priorities at the same time.
- A practical and solution-oriented approach to day-to-day challenges.
- Flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic organization.
- Good administrative skills and attention to detail.
- The ability to work independently while also being a collaborative team member.
- An interest in sport and community-based activities.
- Experience with safeguarding, volunteer management, project management, or working with people on the move is an asset.
Most importantly, we are looking for someone who shares YSR’s values and is committed to creating spaces where people from different backgrounds can meet, participate, learn, and build community.
What the role requires
This is a hands-on position. The Project Manager should be comfortable taking initiative, identifying what needs to be done, and following tasks through to completion.
The role requires flexibility: priorities can change quickly, and unexpected situations are part of working in a community-based organization. At the same time, the position requires good structure and organization to ensure that important responsibilities, meetings, documentation, and follow-up do not get lost.
You will work closely with an on-the-ground volunteer coordinator, coaches, a diverse group of volunteers, interns, partners, and community members. Respect, openness, reliability, and good communication are therefore essential.
How to apply
Join us!
If you are passionate about sport, inclusion, community-driven work, and creating meaningful spaces for people from diverse backgrounds, we would love to hear from you.
If this role resonates with you and you are excited about taking an active role in the daily life and development of YSR in Lesvos, please fill in the application form until 06/10/2026 and tell us more about yourself, your experience, and why you would like to join YSR.
Starting date: as soon as possible, and no later than 2nd November 2026.
We will carefully review all submissions and get back to candidates regarding the next steps in the process.