Senior Program Manager – ECHO ARISE (Malawi and Zimbabwe)

The Opportunity

Save the Children is inviting applications from suitably qualified personnel to fill the position of Senior Program Manager – ECHO ARISE (Malawi and Zimbabwe) within the Programme Operations Department. The position will be based in either Malawi or Zimbabwe and reports directly to the Director of Program Operations for the Malawi and Zimbabwe Cluster, with strong linkages to the Global Humanitarian Education Team and Save the Children Norway as the contract holder.

The Senior Program Manager will lead the pilot phase of the multi-country, ECHO-funded project Acting Together for Responsive and Integrated Systems for Children’s Access to Education in Emergencies (ARISE) from March 2026 to 31 May 2027. The ARISE project aims to strengthen the resilience, well-being, and learning outcomes of girls and boys through an integrated approach to Education in Emergencies (EiE), Child Protection in Emergencies (CPiE), and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS). The programme places strong emphasis on preparedness and anticipatory action frameworks to reduce disruptions to children’s learning during crises.

The role holder will provide overall strategic leadership and oversight of programme implementation across Malawi and Zimbabwe, ensuring high-quality delivery in line with approved programme documents and donor requirements. The Senior Program Manager will oversee administrative, programmatic, technical, MEAL, and operational components of the project, ensuring timely and compliant implementation. The position will directly line manage the MEAL (50%) and Finance Coordinator (50%) functions and provide matrix management to regional and country Technical Advisors supporting Education in Emergencies, Child Protection, MHPSS, MEAL, and Anticipatory Action.

Working closely with Save the Children country offices, Save the Children Norway, Ministries of Education, local partners, inter-agency coordination mechanisms, and ECHO, the post holder will act as the primary liaison and programme representative. The Senior Program Manager will ensure effective coordination with government systems to pilot and strengthen scalable rapid response models that enhance children’s access to education during emergencies.

The role will also ensure that learning, evaluation findings, and evidence generated through the programme inform advocacy, systems strengthening, and cross-country learning. The post holder will conduct regular field visits, ensure compliance with Save the Children policies (including Child Safeguarding), and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders at national, regional, and international levels. In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder may be required to work outside the normal role profile and vary working hours accordingly.

In order to be successful, you will bring/have:

• A relevant university degree in Education, Social Sciences, International Development, or related field.
• At least 5 years of experience managing humanitarian programmes, particularly in Education in Emergencies, Child Protection in Emergencies, and/or Anticipatory Action.
• Experience managing complex, multi-sector programmes in humanitarian contexts with multiple partners.
• Demonstrated experience working with ECHO-funded projects and strong knowledge of ECHO compliance requirements.
• Strong programme management and administration skills, including grants management, budget oversight, and financial monitoring.
• Proven experience managing complex budgets and delivering high-quality narrative and financial reporting.
• Experience in capacity strengthening and working with national and local partners in line with the localisation agenda.
• Solid experience in remote management and implementation in complex or unstable environments.
• Demonstrated leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and support multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to work independently with limited supervision.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with experience working with line ministries, donors, and coordination mechanisms.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Previous experience working in Southern Africa, with strong contextual understanding of Malawi and Zimbabwe preferred.
• Commitment to Save the Children’s vision, mission, values, and child safeguarding principles.

Desirable:

• Experience promoting children’s participation in programme design and implementation.
• Experience representing organisations in regional humanitarian coordination forums.
• Experience working on nexus programming (humanitarian-development-peace).

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises and those in need of better healthcare, education, and child protection. We campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise children’s rights and ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We believe that great people make a great organisation, and our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value diversity and inclusion and offer a meaningful and rewarding career in a collaborative environment where ambition, creativity, accountability, and integrity are highly valued.

We are committed to safeguarding children and adults. Our selection process includes rigorous background checks in line with our Child Safeguarding Policy. All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy and health and safety standards.

Application Information:
Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/careers.

Save the Children is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including persons with disabilities

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