Programme Manager

Overview

Sightsavers implements projects in over 30 countries in Africa and South Asia working to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote the rights of people with disabilities.

Title: Programme Manager 

Location: Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Sierra Leone or Liberia  

Contract: 12-month fixed term contract 

Salary: Local Terms and Conditions apply 

About the role 

As Programme Manager in the Programme Delivery Unit, you will play a key role in ensuring Sightsavers Neglected Tropical Disease (NTDs) programmes are delivered to a high standard across your assigned countries. Working closely with our Country Offices, alongside Ministry and NGO partners, you will oversee projects from planning through to delivery, making sure they are well managed, on time and within budget. The role involves both national and international travel, with up to twelve weeks per year spent supporting projects and partners in country.

Responsibilities

• Support programme officers and country teams to develop and maintain annual plans and budgets for NTD programmes, ensuring alignment with funding and grant agreements.
• Ensure Sightsavers resources are managed efficiently and used to maximum effect across assigned countries.
• Work in partnership with country and regional directors to ensure NTD programmes are delivered in line with agreed NTD guidelines, using up‑to‑date tools, reporting processes and relevant global and WHO preferred practices.
• Enable timely, high‑quality and evidence‑based reporting to support effective donor management and compliance with grant requirements.
• Deliver all contractual milestones, ensuring safeguarding, gender equality, equity, social inclusion, value for money, WASH, health systems strengthening and sustainability are fully embedded.
• Facilitate the provision of appropriate technical assistance and capacity‑building support within designated countries.
• Hold regular update calls with country offices to monitor progress, provide support and collate programme updates.
• Ensure learning, documentation and reporting systems are aligned with Sightsavers organisational systems and processes, and that learning from country programmes is effectively captured.
• Provide regular project updates and reports to stakeholders, including documentation required for review and sign‑off by the relevant Director.
• Identify and operationalise risk mitigation actions, including safeguarding advice, in collaboration with country teams.

This is a highly varied and involved role and the above is not an exhaustive list of duties or required professional skills. Please see the Job Description for full details.

Skills and Experience

You will be an experienced programme manager with a strong track record of managing complex, multi‑country projects, ideally within an INGO or public health setting. As a Programme Manager you will bring sound planning and financial management skills, comfortable working with donors and partners, and have a practical understanding of compliance, reporting and risk management. You are confident building effective relationships across cultures and organisations, can balance detail with the bigger picture, and are motivated by delivering high‑quality programmes that make a lasting impact for communities.

Jobholder Requirements

Essential:

• Fluency in English and French, both written and spoken.
• Extensive experience and/or relevant qualifications in programme or project management within the private, humanitarian or development sectors.
• A strong understanding of partnership‑based programme delivery and experience of working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders.
• A proven track record of managing and delivering projects across multiple countries.
• Experience of project monitoring and evaluation.
• A clear understanding of, and commitment to, equality of opportunity for people with disabilities.
• The ability to communicate complex information clearly and effectively to non‑technical audiences.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively under pressure.
• The ability to identify key risks, problem‑solve and escalate critical issues appropriately.
• Strong analytical and IT skills, with confidence using Microsoft Office and working within matrix‑managed teams.

Desirable:

• Experience of inclusive public health programming, including neglected tropical disease programmes and/or wider development work.
• Experience of translating strategic concepts into practical and deliverable action plans.
• Experience of working in high‑pressure environments with competing deadlines and multiple teams.

Closing Date: 5 April 2026

Next Steps

English is the business language at Sightsavers, and all applications must therefore be submitted in English. This role also requires French language skills, as French will be used in the delivery of the role. Interviews may be conducted in either English or French, depending on the stage of the process and the role requirements.

To apply for this exciting new opportunity, please complete an application via our recruitment portal. We are particularly interested in learning of your motivations for applying.

As an equal opportunity employer, we actively encourage applications from all sections of the community. Sightsavers is a Disability Confident Leader and qualified people with a disability are particularly encouraged to apply.

Sightsavers is an employer that does not tolerate any form of harassment and has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. All potential candidates will be subjected to rigorous background checks and controls.