Sightsavers recrute 01 Programme Manager

Job Description

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: UK or West Africa

Contract: 12 – month fixed term contract

Salary: Local Terms and Conditions apply

About the role

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

This opportunity is available in either the UK or one of our country offices in West Africa Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia .

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.

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.

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 23.30pm BST UK.

Next Steps

English is our business language at Sightsavers and we ask you submit you application in English. Please also note this opportunity requires French language skills since 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.

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.