National Program Manager

The National Program Manager at Ipas Burundi will work at a national level to provide technical and managerial leadership for the Burundi program under the direction of the Country Director Ipas DRC and Burundi. This position is responsible for the development and implementation of strategies and work plans to ensure that program goals and objectives are met. This includes providing strategic inputs for annual work plans, proposal development, analysis of programmatic results, identification and resolution of challenges and program performance, application of lessons learned and best practices to improve program performance, donor reporting, financial monitoring, and personnel management. In addition, the National Program Manager works with in-country counterparts to ensure successful implementation of work plans. The National Program Manager will oversee the Health Systems, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Community and Youth engagement functions providing technical support and programmatic guidance to each.

Summary of Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership and Strategy

• Contributes to new program design and strategy integrating lessons learned and best practices, and ensuring alignment with Ipas mission, values, and strategic plan.
• Interacts with National members of other units to meet their objectives, share progress of work, resolve     problems, and find alternate workable strategies.
• Liaises with headquarters Country Impact Team on implementation of program work plans, field-level challenges, budget review, and development of proposals and donor reports.
• Reports to the Country Director in reference to special requests, strategic planning, and program results and progress
• Provides leadership, supervision, support, guidance, and constructive feedback to staff and consultants, including the development and tracking of annual performance objectives.

Financial & Risk Management  

• Provides technical and programmatic inputs into the development of annual country work plans and budgets and ensures spending according to plan.
• Manage and support donor reporting process, including contributing to report documents and soliciting input from various project team members, ensuring quality and timely submission.

Technical or Functional Area

• Responsible for managing the execution of programmatic work, ensuring high-quality project implementation and achievement of objectives.
• Reviews quarterly budgets and expenditure reports and monitors activity budget spending to ensure financial planning is on track.
• Adapt and implement organization-wide initiatives, systems, and policies; monitor for compliance with organizational policies.
• Conducts field visits to program sites in order to provide programmatic oversight and assistance.
• Collaborates with operations/technical leads and the Country Director in reference to allocation of resources, budgetary issues, and program results.
• Leads and facilitates discussions during technical meetings for Burundi team and offers strategic and technical recommendations at quarterly review meetings, following up on issues as necessary.
• Manages the operation of a unit, section, or a major function and typically directs the activities of supervisory personnel and oversees the work of others who do not directly report to the position.
• Promotes a positive work culture, based on Ipas’s core values.

Resource mobilization

• Leads in the preparation of donor reports and externally facing documents.
• Leads on project design and proposal preparation.

Communication & representation

• Supports the Country Director to develop and maintain strong relationships with government officials, partners, and other key stakeholders at the national and state level.
• Works to position Ipas as a sector leader and strong partner.
• Shares learning and expertise with other country programs and the global Ipas network, including through occasional virtual or in-person technical assistance and training.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree but master’s degree or higher (or an International Equivalent) in Public Health or a Related Field is preferred.
• Certification in project management. Qualification in Humanitarian action and/or Project Cycle Management and/or Monitoring & Evaluation.
• A deep commitment to improving women and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights, especially related to SRHR
• Demonstrated capacity to successfully advocate for reproductive health and rights, despite challenges and opposition
• Proven success in program management and good stewardship of funds, including skills in project design, work planning, budgeting, monitoring, and data-driven problem solving
• Proven ability to lead and motivate teams and create a positive work environment, including through supportive supervision, strong communication, and nonhierarchical leadership approaches (For supervisory positions)

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree but master’s degree or higher (or an International Equivalent) in Public Health or a Related Field is preferred.
• Demonstrated skills in leadership, planning, management and technical skills working with health systems and community programs.
• Eight (5) or more years of leading program operations and logistics experience
• Previous supervisory experience of a minimum of three full time technical staff members required.
• Cross-cultural work experience
• Strong consultative and negotiation skills.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills to strategize, plan, and manage resources for successful completion of projects.
• Ability to motivate, influence and collaborate with others.
• Ability to build positive working relationships with district/state/national government officials, UN and other multilateral bodies, NGOs, and donor representatives.
• Must be able to read, write, and speak fluent English and fluent in host country language(s).
• Experience operating in challenging environments.

Working environment:

• Ability to travel up to 30% locally and periodic international trips

Ipas is strongly committed to providing a work environment that is free from all forms of harassment, discrimination, and inequity.  We recruit, employ, train, promote, and compensate our personnel without regard to race, age, sex, religion, national origin, color, creed, ancestry, citizenship, caste, ethnicity, regional identity, tribal identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, transgender status, sexual orientation, or any other personal characteristic protected by law or outlined by Ipas policy. Ipas acknowledges that these personal characteristics may differ in different contexts.