Vacancy title:
Senior Program Manager – ECHO ARISE (Malawi and Zimbabwe)

[Type: FULL_TIME, Industry: Nonprofit, and NGO, Category: Management, Business Operations, Social Services & Nonprofit, Education]

Jobs at:
Save the Children

Deadline of this Job:
Friday, March 13 2026

Duty Station:
Lilongwe | Lilongwe

Summary
Date Posted: Friday, February 27 2026, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

Similar Jobs in Malawi
Learn more about Save the Children
Save the Children jobs in Malawi

JOB DETAILS:

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).

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 60

Level of Education: bachelor degree

Job application procedure

Application Link: Click Here to Apply Now

All Jobs | QUICK ALERT SUBSCRIPTION