Senior Program Officer

Position description

The Reaching Impact Saturation and Epidemic Control (RISE) program is saving lives and improving health by controlling the HIV pandemic and strengthening global health security to limit the spread of deadly disease outbreaks. RISE uses evidence-based practices from over 20 years of PEPFAR implementation to address critical HIV priorities along with global health security (GHS), maternal, newborn, and child health and Nutrition (MNCH-N), tuberculosis (TB), Malaria, data systems, supply chain and commodity management, and other cross-cutting areas.
In Burundi, Jhpiego is recruiting for an anticipated new project supporting Burundi’s lifesaving MNCH-N services.
The Senior Program Officer (SPO) will provide crucial programmatic and operational support for the overall coordination, implementation, and management of the RISE-Burundi Maternal, Newborn, Child Health, and Nutrition (MNCH-N) project. This role will ensure efficient project execution, facilitate effective communication among teams and partners, and contribute to the achievement of program objectives, particularly within the context of operating in conflict and humanitarian affected areas.
Responsibilities

• Support the Project Director and technical teams in the overall coordination and management of project activities, ensuring alignment with work plans and project objectives;
• Assist in the development of detailed implementation plans, annual work plans, activity schedules, and operational budgets. Work closely with RISE-Burundi HIV program counterparts to conduct joint planning and implementation efforts, ensuring harmonization of project plans and efficient leveraging of project platforms and systems, promoting efficiency and avoiding duplication;
• Facilitate effective communication and coordination among the RISE consortium partners, regional teams, and relevant stakeholders, promoting collaborative implementation;
• Monitor program progress against established targets and timelines, identifying potential bottlenecks or challenges and supporting the development of timely solutions;
• Contribute significantly to the drafting and review of high-quality project reports, presentations, and other required documentation for the donor and internal stakeholders;
• Ensure project activities are implemented in compliance with donor regulations, organizational policies, and national guidelines;
• Provide administrative and logistical support for program-related meetings, workshops, field visits, and events, both in Bujumbura and in the regions;
• Assist in tracking program expenditures and ensuring adherence to approved budgets, in close coordination with finance and operations teams.

All staff members of Jhpiego, regardless of the level of responsibilities are expected to

• Model Jhpiego mission and values;
• Participate in the business development process;
• Contribute to the knowledge sharing and transfer process;
• Make responsible decisions that result in both time and cost containment and clear accountability.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, International Development, Social Sciences, Business Administration, or a related field. A Master’s degree is highly desirable;
• Minimum of 6 years of progressively responsible experience in program management, coordination, or operational support for international development or public health projects;
• Demonstrated experience working with donor-funded projects, with an understanding of project cycles and reporting requirements;
• Experience in coordinating diverse teams and managing relationships with multiple partners, preferably in Burundi or similar low-resource contexts;
• Proven ability to support large-scale programs and manage competing priorities effectively.

Technical Skills

• Strong project management and organizational skills, with excellent attention to detail;
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for reporting, correspondence, and presentations;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and other relevant project management software;
• Familiarity with financial management principles related to program budgeting and expenditure tracking;
• Basic understanding of monitoring and evaluation principles as they apply to tracking program progress and outcomes.

Core Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, with the ability to build rapport and work effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders;
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with a proactive approach to identifying and addressing issues;
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize workload, and meet deadlines under pressure;
• High level of personal initiative, adaptability, and ability to work both independently and as a collaborative team member;
• Commitment to the mission and values of the organization and the objectives of the MNCH-N program;
• Fluency in written and spoken English and French is required.

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on geopolist.com