People & Culture Manager

Time Commitment: 32 Hours p/Week.

Reports to: COO

Start Date: August 2026

Salary: Gross salary range €900–1,200, paid over 14 months, on an employment contract, plus a meal allowance of €6/day.

About the Lisbon Project

The Lisbon Project is a community-based non-profit that has supported over 8,000 migrants and refugees since 2017, mobilising a network of more than 1,000 volunteers along the way.

We exist to integrate and empower our community through four core programme areas:

•    Education

•    Employability

•    Social Care

•    Community Life

We are now in a new chapter. Through our LP 2030 strategy, we are scaling our impact beyond Lisbon, deepening what we offer our community members and extending our model and influence nationally.

This is a moment to build, not just maintain — and we are looking for leaders who want to help shape what LP becomes next.

The Opportunity

Our people are what make our mission possible — and as we grow, how we hire, support and develop them becomes ever more decisive.

We're looking for a People & Culture Manager who will lead our HR function with vision, not just keep it running — someone who is deeply people-oriented but also systems-minded, who enjoys building the structures, tools and culture that allow a growing team to thrive. This is a role for someone eager to automate and optimise wherever possible, streamlining workflows and freeing our people to focus on what matters most.

This role holds our entire workforce: paid staff, interns and volunteers — around 200 people working together every week, the majority of them volunteers.

What You'll Own

People & Culture Strategy

•    Develop and lead a People & Culture strategy aligned with the Lisbon Project's mission, values and LP 2030 growth goals.

•    Advise leadership on organisational development, workforce planning and talent strategy, including role structuring and change management as we scale.

HR Systems & Operations

•    Oversee all HR functions across paid staff, interns and volunteers — recruitment, onboarding, performance management, employee relations and engagement.

•    Design and implement HR systems, tools and digital platforms that streamline processes, data and reporting, using automation to improve efficiency.

•    Ensure HR policies reflect Portuguese labour law and international NGO standards.

People Development & Culture

•    Champion development across our whole community of workers through training, coaching and career growth.

•    Promote team health, resilience and work-life balance.

•    Build systems for feedback, recognition and internal communication.

What We're Looking For

•    Experience in Human Resources, People & Culture or Organisational Development, ideally including building HR systems and data-informed processes.

•    A strategic thinker who leads teams well and fosters inclusive environments.

•    Fluent in Portuguese and English.

•    Understanding of Portuguese labour law and employment best practices.

•    Comfortable with digital collaboration tools (e.g. Google Workspace, Notion, Trello or similar).

•    Passion for social justice, inclusion and the empowerment of vulnerable communities.

What You'll Gain

•    Real ownership of the function that holds our whole team together.

•    The chance to grow with an organisation expanding its reach and impact.

•    A network of partners, philanthropists and people from all over the world.

•    A purpose-driven job where the work you do changes real lives, every day.

•    22 days of annual leave, plus additional paid leave over the Christmas period (typically around 7 extra days).

•    Flexible, hybrid working schedule to support a healthy work-life balance.

How to Apply

If you are interested in this role, please send your CV and a cover letter explaining why you are interested in the position and why you would be a good fit for the Lisbon Project to: peopleandculture@lisbonproject.org.

We can’t do it without you!

Thank you for being a part of our team.