Senior Program Manager, Africa Region - Ethiopia

Vital Strategies is an international public health organization. Our programs strengthen public health systems and address the world’s leading causes of illness, injury and death. We currently work in 73 countries, supporting data-driven decision making in government, advancing evidence-based public health policies, and mounting strategic communication campaigns. Vital Strategies’ priorities are driven by the greatest potential to improve and save lives. They include non-communicable disease prevention, tobacco control, road safety, obesity prevention, overdose prevention, environmental health, and vital statistics systems building. Our programs are primarily concentrated in low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. Please visit our website at www.vitalstrategies.org to find out more about our work.

At Vital Strategies, we believe that everyone, everywhere, deserves to be protected by a strong public health system. That means striving to build a workforce that reflects the diverse communities in which we serve. Vital Strategies is an equal opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. Vital Strategies does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, political ideology, or any other characteristic protected by law.

About Lead Poisoning Prevention Program:

Vital Strategies is expanding our program that addresses the issue of lead poisoning in low- and middle-income countries. We plan to build upon existing efforts and interest by collaborating with governmental agencies in countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to strengthen health systems and build local expertise in childhood lead exposure to enact sound, cost-effective policies to address exposures.

Job Purpose:
The position of Senior Program Manager, Africa Region will manage our Lead Poisoning Prevention Program field research and implementation across several countries in Africa. This role will guide country teams in the region on design, implementation, and evaluation of the lead surveillance system, data analysis and dissemination, and planning and execution of key interactions and engagement with stakeholders. They will also monitor the progress and activities to ensure the project is on track and in line with the project goals. This role will also have operational responsibilities for the program, including: budgeting and reporting, contracting, procurement, and people management.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategic and Technical Guidance -

• Coordinate the implementation of the program, ensuring alignment with both local and global strategies of Vital Strategies;
• Support the definition of program priorities and strategies, in collaboration with organizational leadership and institutional partners;
• Manage and guide the design, implementation, and evaluation of lead exposure surveillance in the region and ensure that it is driven by scientific evidence and impact, and troubleshoot impediments;
• Oversee the production, analysis, and interpretation of environmental and health data, ensuring quality, consistency, and policy relevance;
• Produce strategic reports and ensure accountability to funders and institutional stakeholders;
• Serve as a technical and political voice for the organization on the topic, helping to elevate environmental health on the public policy agenda;
• Collaborate with public awareness campaigns and journalist training initiatives, contributing to a stronger narrative around environmental health and its social determinants.

Program Management and Operations -

• Develop and sustain partnerships with government and non-government organizations in various sectors, including health and environment, and coordinate activities with other important partners operating in the region;
• Represent Vital Strategies in meetings, technical forums, public hearings, and governance bodies;
• Promote cross-sector dialogues that support the development of integrated, evidence- based public policies;
• Oversee the program’s operational, financial, and logistical aspects, ensuring compliance and efficiency by country teams in the region;
• Manage performance indicators, work plans, and the delivery of results of country teams in the region;
• Manage in-country staff in the region and facilitate knowledge exchange across the region and capacity building for staff;
• Coordinate work with national and international partners, ensuring alignment across local and global strategies;
• Support project launches in new regional countries, including in the area of recruitment;
• Act as a Vital Strategies focal point and representative for the program in the region;
• Assist with other duties as specified by the supervisor.

Qualifications:

Education & Degree -

• Master’s degree in public health, environmental health science, epidemiology, health policy, or related field.

Skill and Abilities -

• Ability to coordinate and engage program stakeholders and other country teams;
• Demonstrated sensitivity in handling confidential information;
• Proven ability to interpret public health data, generate actionable insights, and support policy recommendations;
• Exhibits strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities and meet deadlines; demonstrates personal integrity, credibility, and professionalism while taking initiative and making sound, informed decisions in a fast-paced environment;
• Professional oral and written proficiency in English;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively to technical and non-technical audiences, and contribute to an interdisciplinary international team;
• Solid knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook);
• Experience supervising and managing a geographically distributed team with demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, communicate clearly and regularly, monitor performance, and inspire, engage, and motivate staff;
• Demonstrated commitment to contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.

Experience:

Required -

• Minimum of eight years of experience in areas such as epidemiology, environmental health, global health, environmental epidemiology, especially related to lead poisoning prevention or environmental pollution;
• Experience in designing, conducting, and managing public health surveillance programs or previous experience managing national/representative health-related surveys.
• Experience managing programmatic activities in Africa;
• Experience in budget management and reporting;
• Experience working with government health departments, regulatory bodies, and public health facilities;
• Experience in designing, managing field data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Preferred -

• Experience managing complex data flows;
• Experience in using statistical software (e.g., R, Stata, SAS);
• Experience with data visualization tools such as Power BI, or Tableau;
• Demonstrated experience in communicating scientific and health information to varied audiences;
• Experience in using project management platforms such as Monday or Airtable is a plus.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• It is preferred that this role be based in Ethiopia and is open to Ethiopian Nationals and candidates holding a valid work resident permit for Ethiopia. Vital will also consider qualified applicants from Rwanda, Ghana, or South Africa. The candidate must have authorization to work legally in the respective country at the time of hire.
• The position will require travel up to 30% of the time to visit operating countries in the region to visit field implementation or attend meetings with partners;
• The candidate needs to be willing to periodically work with colleagues across different time zones;
• Vital Strategies strongly encourages qualified female candidates to apply.