Carvalho, Amélia OliveiraTeixeira, Jaime David FernandesMelo, Diana Vanessa Freitas2026-01-212026-01-2120252025http://hdl.handle.net/10400.22/31584This dissertation examines the role of project managers within nonprofit social organizations, namely in Portugal IPSS – Private Institutions of Social Solidarity. It investigates how project managers contribute to the maximization of social impact through strategic resource management, stakeholder engagement, and evaluative culture. Structured as two complementary articles, the work combines a systematic literature review with an empirical study conducted among IPSS in the Porto district. The first article maps international research on project management in NPOs, identifying conceptual frameworks, strategic roles, and methodological gaps. The second article explores how project-based work is practiced and institutionalized within IPSS, highlighting the presence, configuration and strategic relevance of project managers. Findings reveal that project managers in the social sector embody multidimensional competencies (strategic, relational, and ethical) that extend beyond technical execution. They operate in contexts marked by limited resources and structural constraints yet play a central role in aligning projects with institutional missions and social innovation goals. The research also uncovers a fragmented adoption of formal methodologies, where adaptive and hybrid approaches prevail, reflecting a balance between technical rigor and social sensitivity. These insights are further developed through a chapter of critical reflections, which examine institutional tensions, cultural barriers, and the strategic potential of intermediary organizations. In response, the dissertation presents a pilot program proposal aimed at testing the role of such entities in promoting project management professionalization across IPSS. By integrating theoretical, empirical and applied dimensions, this dissertation advances understanding of project management as a driver of transformation within the social economy. It aims to contribute to academic discourse by framing the project manager as a strategic actor who bridges operational efficiency with social responsibility, and to practice by identifying context-sensitive pathways for professional recognition, capacity-building, and evaluative maturity within IPSS.engProject ManagerNonprofit OrganizationsSocial Impactmaster thesis204155541