Senior Program Manager MNCH and Protection

Senior Program Manager

Overview:

The Senior Program Manager will serve as the overall lead for IMA World Health's integrated MNCH and Protection program in conflict‑affected North Kivu, providing strategic direction, operational oversight, and high‑level representation with government, donors, and humanitarian coordination bodies. Acting as the project lead, the Senior Program Manager will ensure timely rollout and high‑quality implementation of all technical, administrative, financial, and support components across six facilities and multiple IDP sites. The role oversees the Technical Program Manager, MERL Manager, MNCH and Protection Officers, finance and operations staff, and field teams, ensuring coherent planning, compliance with donor requirements, and strong collaboration with MoH, provincial authorities, and cluster partners. The Senior Program Manager will lead adaptive management, risk mitigation, reporting, and stakeholder engagement to ensure the program delivers life‑saving MNCH, GBV/CP, IPC, and outreach services in a rapidly evolving humanitarian environment.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

Strategic Leadership & Program Oversight

• Provide overall leadership, direction, and vision for the MNCH and Protection program.
• Ensure integrated planning and coordination across MNCH, Protection, MERL, finance, operations, and field teams.
• Lead startup, rollout, and scale‑up of activities across facilities and IDP sites.
• Oversee adherence to national guidelines, donor regulations, and IMA's global standards.

Technical Management & Quality Assurance

• Supervise the Technical Program Manager and ensure strong oversight of MNCH and Protection Officers.
• Ensure high‑quality implementation of BEmONC, CMR, PSS, IPC, safe‑space, outreach, and referral‑network interventions.
• Lead technical reviews, facility assessments, and quality improvement processes.
• Ensure survivor‑centered, trauma‑informed, and protection‑sensitive approaches across all components.

Collaboration with MERL & Evidence‑Based Decision‑Making

• Work closely with the MERL Manager to ensure strong indicator tracking, data quality, and reporting.
• Use MERL findings to guide adaptive management, identify gaps, and strengthen service delivery.
• Lead learning reviews, after‑action analyses, and documentation of lessons learned.

Government Liaison & Coordination

• Represent IMA with MoH provincial divisions, health zone leadership, social welfare authorities, and local government.
• Ensure alignment with national priorities and coordination with Health Cluster, GBV Sub‑Cluster, CP AoR, and other partners.
• Facilitate joint supervision visits and collaborative technical reviews.

Donor Representation & Reporting

• Serve as the primary point of contact for IMA, ensuring timely communication and high‑quality reporting.
• Lead preparation of weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, success stories, and evidence‑based narratives.
• Ensure compliance with donor requirements, safeguarding standards, and contractual obligations.

Financial, Administrative & Operational Oversight

• Oversee budgeting, spending, procurement, and operational planning in collaboration with finance and operations teams.
• Ensure compliance with financial controls, procurement policies, and risk‑mitigation measures.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and performance management of project staff.
• Ensure safe, efficient field operations in insecure environments.

Risk Management & Safeguarding

• Lead security‑aware planning and ensure staff safety protocols are followed.
• Ensure strong PSEA, safeguarding, confidentiality, and ethical practice across all program components.
• Identify operational risks and implement mitigation strategies.

Eligibility Criteria - Senior Program Manager

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Public Health, Medicine, Nursing, Social Sciences, International Development, or a related field.
• At least 4 years of experience managing complex humanitarian health or protection programs.
• Demonstrated leadership experience overseeing multidisciplinary teams (technical, MERL, finance, operations).
• Strong experience working with MoH, provincial authorities, and humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
• Proven ability to represent programs to donors, government, and cluster partners.
• Experience managing USAID, CDC, DoS, Gates, or other major donor‑funded projects.
• Fluency in French required; Swahili strongly preferred.