INTRODUCTION TO THE ROLE
The Head of Program Design and Quality leads the strategic and technical direction 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. In close collaboration with Regional Heads, the Development team, and other critical stakeholders, this role advances program quality, enhances design methodologies and systems, and facilitates the creation of compelling, donor-ready proposals with measurable impact across Africa, Asia, and Latin America & the Caribbean.
The position facilitates cross-regional collaboration, fosters organizational learning and programmatic excellence, manages global member engagement, and ensures strategic oversight of coalition grant portfolios to maintain alignment, quality, and impact.
ABOUT YOU
You bring a wealth of experience in program design and quality assurance, with a proven ability to develop high-impact, donor-funded international development initiatives. Your expertise spans program design, MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning), theory of change, proposal development, and program quality assurance. Additionally, you have demonstrated success working across diverse countries and regions.
As a visionary and collaborative leader, you adeptly convert organizational strategy into actionable, fundable initiatives, enhance operational systems and workflows, and offer hands-on technical expertise to multidisciplinary teams and partners. With exceptional communication skills, a knack for fostering strong relationships, and a results-driven approach to problem-solving, you are dedicated to maximizing impact through data-driven evidence, ongoing learning, and relentless pursuit of improvement.
As part of a globally distributed team, all employees at Girls Not Brides may occasionally need to adjust their schedules to accommodate early mornings or early evenings, ensuring seamless collaboration across varying time zones. While such adjustments are not routine, they may be required on occasion to support effective cross-border teamwork.
Occasionally, this position may entail international travel as required.
Compensation spans from $85,000 to $115,000 annually, contingent upon qualifications and experience. Candidates must possess a minimum of five years in a relevant field, along with a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline. Proficiency in industry-standard software and tools is essential, and prior leadership or project management experience is highly valued. The role requires strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams. Responsibilities include developing strategic initiatives, overseeing daily operations, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
Market-competitive compensation has been established through a comprehensive Birches Group survey of comparable salaries for national NGOs within the selected location. Compensation will be disbursed in the local currency of the designated workplace.
We are seeking a highly motivated Contract Manager to oversee and administer contracts from inception through execution and completion. The ideal candidate will possess a minimum of five years of relevant experience in contract management or a related field, with a strong understanding of legal and regulatory requirements. Responsibilities include negotiating terms, ensuring compliance, and mitigating risks, as well as managing vendor relationships and resolving disputes. Proficiency in contract lifecycle management software and Microsoft Office Suite is required, along with exceptional communication and organizational skills. This role demands the ability to work independently, prioritize tasks effectively, and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
This position is offered on a fixed-term basis, with a predetermined duration of two years.
The ideal candidate must possess the legal authorization to work in Kenya, India, Mexico, or the United Kingdom, both at the time of application and throughout the entirety of the two-year initial contract.
KEY RESPONSIBILTIES
We are seeking a seasoned professional to provide technical leadership and drive program quality, ensuring projects meet stringent standards and deliver exceptional results. The ideal candidate will oversee technical teams, mentor junior engineers, and implement robust quality assurance processes to uphold consistency and reliability. Responsibilities include establishing best practices, fostering innovation, and collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders to align technical strategies with business objectives. Proficiency in system architecture, risk management, and performance optimization is essential, along with a track record of successfully guiding complex initiatives from inception to completion. Strong communication skills and a customer-centric mindset are also required to bridge technical and non-technical teams effectively.
Skilled professionals are sought to enhance and oversee program quality management initiatives within our Country Impact projects spanning Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
Drive the creation, alignment, and execution of program tools, frameworks, and processes throughout every stage of the project lifecycle—spanning country analysis, project design, theory of change development, and grantee selection.
Offer expert counsel and uphold rigorous quality control to maintain cohesive, uniform, and high-impact programs across Accelerator and Strategic Engagement (SE) countries, ensuring alignment with the organization’s strategic goals and established quality benchmarks.
Enhance the ability of both the organization and individual team members to effectively oversee larger and increasingly complex restricted programs, thereby improving the quality of delivery across all portfolios.
Develop and deliver comprehensive technical support packages—including tools and training—to member coalitions, with a focus on project design, project management, and organizational strengthening at the coalition level, to guarantee high-quality execution.
Collaborate effectively with the MEAL team to enhance theories of change, results frameworks, and results-based design methodologies, ensuring they robustly inform implementation and reporting efforts.
We specialize in crafting strategic program designs and developing fundable initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and donor requirements to secure essential resources for sustained impact.
Serve as the Program Lead responsible for crafting concept notes and proposals, guaranteeing submissions of superior quality, competitiveness, and strategic alignment to donors in close collaboration with the development team (DOT) and Regional Heads.
You will be responsible for overseeing and integrating program design efforts across multiple regions, fostering uniformity in standards and methodologies while ensuring strict adherence to the organization’s strategic objectives and donor requirements.
Collaborate with regional teams to transform organizational strategy into concrete, financially viable program designs within Accelerator and Strategic Engagement countries.
Develop and implement practical program design tools, while leading participatory design processes in collaboration with regional teams, coalitions, partners, and relevant stakeholders.
Enhance the ability of the organization and its team members to develop intricate and highly regulated programs, thereby elevating both program quality and preparedness for securing funding.
Offer expert technical advice on consortium-based methodologies in program development.
Cross-regional coordination, portfolio alignment, and global membership responsibilities are essential to this role.
Ensure that learning and evidence are methodically documented and integrated into program guidance and practice across regions, thereby supporting the ongoing enhancement of Girls Not Brides’ Accelerator and Strategic Engagement country models.
Enhance collaboration across regions by leading and integrating shared initiatives, methodologies, frameworks, and tools, maintaining uniform standards while accommodating local variations.
Responsible for overseeing Girls Not Brides’ grant portfolio directed to coalitions, ensuring alignment with the organization’s strategic objectives, established timelines, and allocated budgets, while providing guidance, supervision, and line management to the Senior Grants Officer to uphold consistent, high-quality grant administration.
Responsible for developing and delivering the global member engagement strategy to ensure members derive maximum value from the organization’s tools and learning initiatives, while also facilitating their effective dissemination. Additionally, oversees global membership communications, systems, and processes, including direct line management of the Senior Officer for Membership and Partnerships.
Consolidate cross-regional inputs—including planning, methodologies, and narrative reporting—to ensure strategic coherence, consistency, and high-quality standards. This role guarantees alignment across all components, fostering informed decision-making and seamless collaboration with pertinent teams.
Seeking a candidate with a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience, preferably in a similar role, along with a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills are essential, as is proficiency in industry-standard software and tools. The ideal applicant will demonstrate a proven ability to manage complex projects, meet tight deadlines, and collaborate effectively across teams. Knowledge of current industry trends and best practices is highly desirable.
Essential
With a strong track record, you have extensive expertise in crafting high-caliber, fundable programs and projects, encompassing the leadership and strategic formulation of intricate concept notes and donor proposals tailored for multi-million-dollar initiatives.
Demonstrates a track record of effectively delivering program design, management, and quality assurance while ensuring the consistent application of harmonized methodologies, frameworks, and tools throughout the entire project lifecycle. Possesses strong leadership skills to champion the adoption of these approaches across diverse teams and regions.
With a proven track record in optimizing organizational frameworks, processes, and operational methodologies, you will drive enhancements in program design, elevate quality standards, and ensure scalable implementation.
Proven expertise in collaborating across diverse international markets or geographical areas, adept at spearheading and managing cross-regional initiatives while upholding uniformity and strategic alignment.
Results-driven professional with a demonstrated capability to facilitate program development for funded initiatives, backed by a thorough grasp of donor expectations, competitive funding landscapes, and the key attributes that drive project success in securing financial support.
Proven expertise in engaging with coalitions, civil society organizations, or membership-based networks, with a focus on capacity building and strategic support.
Demonstrates a track record of delivering expert technical leadership and practical assistance to varied teams, collaborators, and stakeholders, successfully functioning within a matrix framework while lacking direct line management oversight, and effectively shaping organizational decisions at multiple tiers.
Desirable
Professional experience in sectors focused on preventing child marriage, promoting gender equality, and advocating for girls’ rights is required.
Proven expertise in developing and implementing expansive, cross-border initiatives that drive systemic change or influence policy frameworks.
Proven expertise in designing and executing high-caliber programs within coalitions, alliances, consortia, or other collaborative multipartner delivery frameworks is required.
Skilled in crafting and leading inclusive program design processes—such as Theory of Change development and interactive design workshops—that engage stakeholders and foster collaborative planning.
Possesses a solid grasp of incorporating educational insights, knowledge management principles, and empirical evidence to shape program development.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
