ABOUT CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL
Children International Zambia., herein referred to as CIZ, is based in Lusaka and is an affiliate of Children International (CI), a global nonprofit that delivers child and youth development programming to break the cycle of generational poverty, headquartered in Kansas City, USA, Children International serves 218,000 young people in 10 countries around the world for the first two decades of their lives. By providing access to resources that include health care, education, and life and job skills, we are equipping them to eventually become sustainably employed adults, as we empower young people to transform their lives, we also are strengthening their families and communities. Children International’s work to end poverty for good is made possible by approximately 3,800 dedicated volunteers and by generous sponsors, donors, corporations and partner organizations. Our mission is also carried out by 1,300 employees worldwide. To ensure that our programs continue giving children and youth the best possible chance, we are growing our people talent. That’s where you come in. As a locally registered entity, CIZ boasts of a dedicated team of over 80 staff and 200+ volunteers. The organization operates offices and programs that support more than 18,000 young people across different communities in Lusaka namely – George, Kanyama and Chiboliya.
THE CAREER OPPORTUNITY (MORE ABOUT THIS ROLE)
The Program Manager role is employed by Children International Zambia. The role reports to the Agency Director, with technical accountability to the Director of Global Programs, CI. This role is pivotal in supporting the Agency Director to align the Global Program strategy with the agency’s local vision; integrating and contextualizing program design for all Child Path program interventions; building and nurturing critical partnerships across internal and external stakeholders; ensuring program quality and cost-effective execution; strengthening monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems; fostering operational excellence; and enabling local results.
As an innovative leader, you will cultivate a high-performance culture aligned with CI’s values. You will champion engagement, well-being, and development of your direct teams and promote accountability, collaboration, and adherence to our policies, including child safeguarding. Your role involves problem-solving, maintaining and leveraging strong stakeholder relationships, enabling effective communication workflows, and promoting continuous improvement for sustainable program impact. We seek a passionate advocate for children, someone possessing operational expertise, skills in partnership management, and a deep understanding of community development. If this excites you, you might just be who we’re looking for.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS ROLE
Program Strategy & Planning
• Champion and ensure that Agency Program Department’s strategies and plans are aligned with the global “CI Framework and/or standards”, and that local program design and implementation reflect global performance expectations and local context.
• Lead or contribute to the agency’s annual work planning and operational plans, including budgeting for all program units/areas, ensuring alignment with agency goals, specific donor/grant proposals, and quality standards.
• Collaborate with the agency leadership team to identify, evaluate, and mitigate risks associated with the organization.
Program Implementation
• Collaborate with the operations team to ensure high-quality, cost-effective implementation of all Child Path program interventions within the agency and 100% achievement of program indicators.
• Guide the development and execution of annual work plans for all program units, ensuring quality, transparency, and adherence to best practices across the agency. Troubleshoot challenges and drive continuous improvement throughout the program cycle.
• Oversee the design and implementation of comprehensive capacity-building initiatives across key Child Path program areas, including but not limited to M&E, volunteer management, child safeguarding, and youth workforce development.
Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
• Support the Agency Director in cultivating and advancing local partnerships and presence. Collaborate with the Agency Leadership Team to plan and execute key stakeholder activities, identifying, building, and nurturing strategic alliances with diverse external stakeholders— including government, corporations, academia, NGOs, and community organizations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal teams (e.g., operations, Service Area Coordinators) to ensure cohesive program implementation and shared accountability for results.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning & Accountability
• Conduct and supervise regular field monitoring by other program technical leads to track progress and ensure adherence to established processes, standards, and procedures.
• Ensure accurate tracking, documentation, and reporting of all program indicators and results to maintain data integrity. Oversee databases and information systems to guarantee data reliability, consistency, and high quality. • Analyze budget utilization, program impact, and outcome indicators to assess effectiveness and meet the reporting requirements for various agency grants and projects.
• Utilize monitoring insights to adapt implementation plans, improve efficiency, and address contextual challenges that may affect program outcomes.
• Review and update agency program policies, guidelines, requirements, and new initiatives to identify lessons learned and inform ongoing improvements. Champion a learning culture that strengthens program quality and agency performance.
Leadership & Development (LPI Aligned)
• Recruit, supervise, and direct Agency Program Technical Leads and other direct reports in alignment with CI values and established leadership profiles to enhance operational effectiveness and efficiency.
• Develop and manage the performance of Agency Program Technical Leads and other direct reports by providing clear accountability, coaching, ongoing feedback, and intentional developmental opportunities.
• Lead change within the program department to effectively adapt and integrate the Child Path model, new operating model, and, as needed in the future, other complex, ever-changing work environments.
• Consistently role model and reinforce within the program department core behaviors aligned to CI values.
• Enable seamless information flow, break down silos, and stimulate effective collaboration among stakeholders within the global organization, agency as well as the community, maximizing collective impact for our children, youth, and families
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND KEY SKILLS
• A bachelor’s degree, advanced degree preferred, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant program management and operations experience.
• Knowledge and experience on program/project management including monitoring & evaluation, activities with a proven track record of managing multisectoral development programs and budgets.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills, proven experience in tactfully building and leveraging partnerships with government and other organizations as well as demonstrating respectful treatment of others and comfortable working across cultures and diverse environments.
• Strong people skills including recruitment, coaching, performance improvement, and conflict management.
• Proven leadership and team-building skills with the ability to inspire, influence, empower diverse teams and build a culture reflective of CI values and expectations of high performance.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to gather and systematically synthesize complex or diverse information, identify trends, and suggest improvements, innovations.
• Tech savy with good computer skills and experience in different learning and communication platforms and MS Office application.
• Learning mentality characterized by listening, humility, and openness/courage to change.
• Fluency in English and at least one relevant local language with strong verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
ORGANIZATIONAL POLICIES
• Strictly observe confidentiality and strong ethics regarding all beneficiary information/financial and other organizational data.
• Comply with and ensure adherence to the organization’s policies, safety and security protocols, child safeguarding norms and guidelines by self- and all stakeholders both internal and external.
• Promote diversity and inclusion, value other cultures, and demonstrate respect while relating with all organizational constituents irrespective of their race, color, faiths, gender, sexual orientation, age, caste, disabilities, experiences, beliefs, and ethnicity.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENT
This role is field based and the incumbent has to been comfortable and willing to travel often locally within (Country/Location) to different field sites often. There may also be requirements to travel internationally from time to time.
OVERALL DECISION MAKING & SUPERVISION
• This position requires Complex decisions requiring independent actions and a high degree of initiative to resolve issues.
• This position is monitored on result
JOB INFORMATION
• Department: Programs
• Reports to: Agency Director and close collaboration with all technical Leads within the Global Program Unit
• Other Primary Working Relationship: Internal: Direct supervision of about 6 Program Unit Leads as well as span of control includes to other teams reporting to the Program Leads. Close coordination with Operations Managers, Service Area Coordinators, Finance/Procurement as well as engagement with Global Strategic Partnerships/Revenue & Growth as needed.
External: relevant international development organizations, government agencies and local government units; community groups; youth representatives; local NGOs, private partners.
• Grade: 9
• Engagement: Two-year fixed term employment contract
Children International and all its partners firmly support the principle and philosophy of equal opportunity for all individuals, regardless of age, race, caste, gender, sexual orientation, creed, disability or any other protected category pursuant to applicable national, state or local law. Children International Zambia, is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers, and associates to share this commitment. The successful candidates will be subjected to background/police verification and satisfactory references prior to their appointment.
