We are seeking a highly motivated professional to join our team in this pivotal role. The successful candidate will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including strategic planning, project management, and cross-functional collaboration. Key qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, at least five years of progressive experience in a similar position, and strong leadership capabilities. Additionally, proficiency in industry-standard software and exceptional communication skills are essential. This role offers an opportunity to make a significant impact within our organization while contributing to its growth and success.
The Head of Program Design and Quality offers strategic and technical guidance to uphold excellence in program design, ensuring all initiatives within Girls Not Brides’ Country Impact portfolio are evidence-based, high-quality, and aligned with funder requirements. Collaborating closely with Regional Heads, the Development team, and other essential stakeholders, this role enhances program quality, refines design methodologies and systems, and facilitates the creation of donor-ready, high-impact programs spanning Africa, Asia, and Latin America & the Caribbean.
This position is responsible for driving cross-regional collaboration, fostering organizational growth through continuous learning and program enhancement, and maintaining robust global member engagement while strategically overseeing coalition grant portfolios to uphold alignment, excellence, and measurable impact.
ABOUT YOU
As a seasoned program design and quality specialist, you possess extensive experience in crafting high-caliber, donor-funded international development initiatives. Your proficiency spans program design, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL), theory of change development, proposal formulation, and program quality assurance. Additionally, you have a proven ability to operate effectively across diverse countries and regions.
As a visionary and results-driven leader, you adeptly convert organizational strategy into actionable, fundable initiatives, while enhancing operational frameworks and workflows. Offering hands-on technical expertise, you empower cross-functional teams and partners to achieve their objectives. Known for your persuasive communication skills, your ability to forge strong relationships and resolve challenges fosters a culture of collaboration. Driven by a passion for measurable outcomes, you champion evidence-based decision-making, foster a culture of learning, and prioritize ongoing enhancement to maximize impact.
As a member of our globally distributed team, you may occasionally need to adjust your working hours to facilitate collaboration across different time zones, including early mornings or evenings. It is important to note that this is not a frequent requirement but rather an occasional adjustment to ensure seamless teamwork.
The position might entail occasional international travel, as required by circumstances.
We offer a competitive salary range of $75,000 to $100,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Candidates must possess a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience and hold a Bachelor’s degree in a related field. Proficiency in industry-standard software and tools is essential, along with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. The role requires the ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment while managing multiple priorities independently. Additionally, excellent communication skills and a commitment to continuous learning are expected.
Compensation will be determined through a market analysis conducted by the Birches Group, comparing salaries of similar national non-governmental organizations in select locations. Remuneration will be disbursed in the local currency of the assigned duty station.
We are seeking a motivated professional to undertake contractual duties, requiring a strong commitment to fulfilling obligations within specified terms. The ideal candidate will possess a proven track record in managing contractual agreements, ensuring compliance with all stipulated conditions, and addressing any arising discrepancies with diligence. Responsibilities include drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts, as well as monitoring performance and resolving disputes in a timely manner.
This position is offered on a fixed-term basis, with a contract duration of two years.
The ideal candidate must possess the legal authorization to work in Kenya, India, Mexico, or the UK at the time of application and throughout the entirety of the initial two-year contract term.
KEY RESPONSIBILTIES
Provides strategic technical direction and oversees program quality to ensure alignment with organizational objectives and industry standards. Maintains high technical standards throughout project lifecycles, guiding teams in best practices, innovation, and efficient delivery. Identifies and mitigates risks, resolves complex technical challenges, and fosters collaboration across departments to enhance overall program performance. Ensures adherence to compliance requirements, quality benchmarks, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Spearhead the enhancement and oversight of program quality management for our Country Impact initiatives spanning Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
Spearhead the creation, alignment, and implementation of program tools, frameworks, and processes throughout every stage of the project lifecycle, including country analysis, project design, theories of change, and grantee selection.
Offer expert counsel and uphold stringent quality standards to deliver cohesive, impactful programs across Accelerator and Strategic Engagement (SE) countries, ensuring full alignment with the organization’s strategic ambitions and established quality benchmarks.
Enhance the capability of both the organization and its team members to oversee larger, more intricate restricted programs, thereby improving the quality of delivery across all portfolios.
Coordinate and deliver comprehensive technical support packages—including tools and training—to member coalitions, focusing on project design and management, as well as strengthening organizational capacity at the coalition level to guarantee high-quality execution.
Collaborate effectively with the MEAL team to enhance theories of change, strengthen results frameworks, and refine results-based design approaches, ensuring they effectively inform implementation and reporting efforts.
Program design and the creation of fundable initiatives involve crafting strategic frameworks, setting clear objectives, and ensuring alignment with funding criteria to secure financial support for impactful projects.
Serve as the Program Lead, responsible for crafting concept notes and proposals that meet the highest standards of quality, competitiveness, and alignment with donor priorities. In this role, collaborate closely with the development team (DOT) and Regional Heads to produce strategically sound submissions.
Lead program design efforts across multiple regions with a focus on maintaining consistent standards and methodologies, while ensuring alignment with the organization’s strategic objectives and donor priorities.
Collaborate with regional teams to translate organizational strategy into well-defined, financially viable program designs within Accelerator and Strategic Engagement countries.
Design and implement practical tools for program design while leading participatory processes in collaboration with regional teams, coalitions, partners, and other key stakeholders as appropriate.
Enhance the organization’s and its team members’ ability to develop intricate and highly regulated programs, thereby elevating both program quality and preparedness for securing funding.
Offer expert recommendations regarding the implementation of consortium-based strategies in program development initiatives.
Cross-regional coordination, portfolio alignment, and global membership oversight are essential responsibilities of this role. The position requires meticulous management of diverse initiatives to ensure seamless collaboration across regions. Additionally, it demands strategic alignment of portfolios to optimize resource allocation and maximize organizational impact. Maintaining and expanding global membership networks is also a critical component, fostering engagement and driving collective growth.
To systematically document learning and evidence and integrate it into program guidance and practice across regions, thereby supporting the ongoing enhancement of the Girls Not Brides’ Accelerator and Strategic Engagement country models.
Strengthen and coordinate cross-regional initiatives by integrating shared methodologies, frameworks, and tools to maintain consistency across regions, while enabling necessary contextual adaptations.
Responsible for overseeing Girls Not Brides’ grant portfolio to coalitions, with a focus on ensuring alignment with organizational objectives, established timelines, and allocated budgets. This role entails maintaining consistent, high-quality grant management through strategic guidance, rigorous oversight, and direct line management of the Senior Grants Officer.
Oversee the worldwide member engagement strategy, maximizing the value derived from tools and learning initiatives developed across the organization and ensuring their effective dissemination to members. Additionally, manage global membership communications, systems, and processes, with direct line management responsibility for the Senior Officer for Membership and Partnerships.
Consolidate and deliver strategic coherence and rigorous quality assurance across diverse regional inputs—including planning, methodologies, and narrative reporting—to ensure alignment and consistency, thereby facilitating informed decision-making and seamless collaboration with relevant teams.
Seeking a candidate with a minimum of five years’ experience in a related field, complemented by a bachelor’s degree or higher in a pertinent discipline. The ideal applicant will possess strong analytical skills, proficiency in industry-specific software, and a track record of delivering measurable results. Exceptional communication abilities, both written and verbal, are essential for collaborating across teams and stakeholders. Knowledge of regulatory standards, project management methodologies, and continuous improvement initiatives will be advantageous. Prior supervisory or leadership experience is preferred but not mandatory.
Essential
Accomplished professionals with a strong track record in crafting sophisticated, high-impact programs and projects are sought, along with the ability to guide and refine intricate concept notes and donor proposals for initiatives valued at multi-million dollars.
Demonstrates a strong track record of successfully delivering program design, management, and quality initiatives while effectively applying harmonized methodologies, frameworks, and tools throughout the entire project lifecycle. Possesses the capability to champion and facilitate the adoption of these standards across diverse teams or geographical regions.
With a proven track record of optimizing organizational systems, processes, and operational frameworks to elevate program design, ensure superior quality, and drive scalable implementation, you bring extensive hands-on experience to the role.
Demonstrates extensive expertise in collaborating across diverse international markets or geographical zones, adept at guiding and synchronizing cross-border operations to uphold uniformity and strategic coherence.
Demonstrates a proven track record of effectively supporting program development for funded initiatives, coupled with a deep comprehension of donor requirements, competitive funding landscapes, and the essential factors that contribute to project findability.
Proficiency in collaborating with coalitions, civil society organizations, and membership-based networks, along with expertise in capacity development and provision of support.
You must demonstrate a strong track record of delivering expert technical advice and practical assistance to cross-functional teams, partners, and stakeholders, with the capacity to thrive in a matrix organizational structure while operating without direct line management oversight. Additionally, you should have the ability to shape and drive key decisions across various levels of the company.
Desirable
Proficiency in implementing initiatives aimed at eradicating child marriage, advancing gender equality, and promoting girls’ rights, or in comparable fields, is required.
Demonstrated expertise in developing expansive, cross-border initiatives that influence systemic structures or shape policy at a high level.
Demonstrated expertise in designing and executing high-caliber programs within coalitions, alliances, consortia, or other multipartner delivery frameworks is essential.
Experienced in designing and leading collaborative program design initiatives, such as Theory of Change development and program development workshops.
Proven ability to leverage learning, knowledge management, and evidence to shape and enhance program design.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
