Description

ABOUT VILLAGEREACH

VillageReach transforms health care delivery to reach everyone, so that each person has the health care needed to thrive. We develop solutions that improve equity and access to primary health care. This includes making sure products are available when and where they are needed and primary health care services are delivered to the most under-reached. Radical collaboration with governments, the private sector and other partners strengthen our ability to scale and sustain these solutions. Our work increases access to quality health care for more than 58 million people in Africa. VillageReach in incorporated in Washington State and has offices in Seattle (USA), Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, and Mozambique.


Summary

VillageReach is a complex global non-profit organization, working in three languages (English, French, and Portuguese) that is entering an exciting developmental phase to reach 100 million people in Africa by the end of FY2026. As part of this growth period, VillageReach is creating a new Manager, Continuous Program Improvement position. This position reports to the Director, Global Programs and will work collaboratively across all program teams to better develop tools and systems to build program management capacity across the organization, improve the tools and processes to support quality programming, and lead the change management needed to ensure all of our teams adopt best practices. This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced candidate with proven success working with others to develop, enhance, and implement organization-wide program management improvements that enable VillageReach to achieve its ambitious mission. This position is virtual, unless the candidate is located in one of core countries (Malawi, Mozambique and Democratic Republic of Congo); preference for candidates located in Africa, Europe or the east coast of the United States.

Description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time.

Program Management Process and Tools refinement

  • Work with Program Managers and Award Managers to identify key challenges and bottlenecks in the current program management processes and develop creative solutions.
  • Work with programmatic and global operations teams to develop improvements in program management processes and tools, including identifying new tools that integrate with VillageReach’s pre-existing practices and organizational systems.
  • Conduct ongoing analysis of program management tools and best practices utilization among staff, adjusting processes and tools as needed to increase uptake.

Program Management Implementation and Change Management

  • Work with program and global operations teams to plan and implement the rollout of the selected program management tool(s), including developing training materials and conducting trainings for all relevant staff.
  • Create, roll out, and conduct training on program management for staff across the organization.
  • Plan, develop content for, and co-lead Solution Owner and Program Manager Meetings for ongoing capacity building in program management.

Program Quality Control and Institutionalization of Best Practices:

  • Participate in program reviews to assess the impact of the new system on program management efficiency, productivity and program performance. Based on the results, create a plan to adjust the system.
  • Execute post-implementation plan and make ongoing recommendations of improvements that increase program management efficiency, productivity and program performance.
  • Ensure proper archiving and management of program management processes and frameworks so they are readily accessible by users.
  • Engaging with relevant stakeholders, including the Global Operations Team to ensure all program management practices are in line with compliance standards.
  • Develop an institutionalization plan to ensure all tools, processes, and best practices become part of the standard way of conducting program management at VillageReach for optimal program impact.

Competencies:

The following competencies reflect what is expected of all VillageReach employees; including examples of how one might demonstrate each of these competencies in one’s role.

  • Personal Motivation and Drive: Is self-directed in one’s approach to work, but asks for help when needed; holds oneself accountable; undertakes self-development activities; seeks to build and master new skills; looks for and takes advantage of opportunities within the organization
  • Collaboration & Effective Communication: Establishes and maintains effective relations with coworkers, partners & stakeholders and external parties; works collaboratively with others to accomplish organizational and team goals and objectives; works actively to resolve conflicts; expresses ideas and thoughts effectively; selects and uses appropriate communication methods and maintains meaningful communication with virtual coworkers and other parties to keep them informed
  • Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: Takes personal responsibility for and supports others across the organization in creating and sustaining a diverse work environment where individuals are welcomed, valued, respected and supported; personally committed to attaining cultural competency including self-awareness of one’s own attitudes about culture and cross-cultural interactions; exhibits the willingness and ability to engage openly and respectfully around issues of race, colonialism, identity and culture; upholds equity in access to sharing of information, ideas, and opportunities throughout VillageReach
  • Commitment to Excellence: Produces a high output of work, both in terms of quality and quantity; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; monitors work to ensure quality; has a personal commitment to the mission of VillageReach
  • Solution Orientation & Innovation: Focuses on results and desired outcomes and how to best achieve them; gets the job done; sees opportunities for creative problem-solving while staying within the parameters of good practice; sees old problems in new ways and has novel approaches to solving those problems; contributes original and/or resourceful ideas to their area of responsibility; is able to consider and articulate risks and consequences of proposed innovations and factor these into decision-making

Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Education & Experience:

  • 5-7 years of experience helping organizations in low-resource environments to improve program management systems and practices.
  • BA required, MBA or MA in management or information systems preferred.
  • Through understanding of IT, business systems, and their practical applications to support VillageReach goals.
  • Proficient in latest technology for program management and collaboration.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication, organizational, attention to detail, analytical, management, and interpersonal skills.
  • Comfortable working in a matrixed environment.
  • Experience working remotely with staff and colleagues, across countries and cultures.
  • Experience working on change management across organizations

Other Qualifications

  • Comply with VillageReach’s COVID-19 vaccination policy.
  • Established cultural competency in partnering with racial, cultural and linguistically diverse groups.
  • Demonstrated understanding of challenges with working in rural, underserved and low-income context; experience living in and/or working in a low-income country a plus.
  • Must be willing to have regular meetings during Africa office hours, regardless of location.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel) and comfortable in a fast-paced technical environment.
  • English required; Portuguese and French desired.


Environment and Physical Demands:

This position is virtual, unless the candidate is located in one of core countries (Malawi, Mozambique and Democratic Republic of Congo); preference for candidates located in Africa, Europe or the east coast of the United States.

VillageReach has no private offices, employees work in a shared, open environment with task and conference rooms accessible to employees for privacy and meetings. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. Due to the time zone differences between our USA office and our Country Offices and location of other global staff, US based staff are expected to be available for early morning meetings starting at 6am. In addition, our Regional Africa based staff and Country office staff are expected to be available for late afternoon/evening meetings up to 6pm. Approximately 90% of the workday is spent sitting. Must be able to lift 25 lbs.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY & INCLUSION:

VillageReach is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer committed to workforce diversity. We believe that diverse, equitably weighted perspectives foster an organizational capacity to create novel solutions that improve health in the most underserved and hard-to-reach areas. To align our values, innovations and impact, VillageReach is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse global workforce.

APPLICATION INFORMATION:

This is an immediate hire and therefore resumes will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter to our online portal: http://www.villagereach.org/join-us/


Safeguarding:

VillageReach is committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults, and beneficiaries with whom it engages. We expect everyone working with us to share this commitment through our code of conduct.All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which may include criminal records. VillageReach participates in the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and, in line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By applying, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Benefits

VillageReach has an established compensation structure that is based on the relevant market and internally transparent. This a level BG-10 in our compensation structure and the rate of pay varies by location. Please see the Compensation Overview on our website for details. We hire people into the established range based on one’s experience and education and considering internal equity. We do not inquire about salary history.