Program Director – Francophone and Lusophone

This position is 100% remote. Candidates may work remotely from any of the following countries:
Burundi, Chad, Benin, Madagascar, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya/Alliance locations, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia. Candidates in West Africa are preferred.

The Program Support Director (PSD) is a senior leadership position within Ipas’s Global Program Support Team. The PSD serves as strategic thought partner to the Regional Directors (RDs), Country Directors (CDs) and other leaders across the Ipas network, helping strengthen organizational effectiveness, program quality, risk management and leadership capacity. The PSD provides strategic leadership, technical guidance, and operational oversight to 4–5 regional or country programs.

This role supervises 3-5 direct reports which include CDs and RDs as well as Senior Program Managers (SPMs), who are part of the global Program Support Team. Reporting to the Deputy Chief Operating Officer (DCOO), the PSD ensures alignment with Ipas strategy and quality standards, donor and award compliance, and risk mitigation. The PSD serves as a bridge between Ipas global teams and regional / country offices, promoting cross learning and providing supportive supervision and thought partnership to country team leaders.

The PSD will bring significant team and program leadership experience, cross cultural knowledge, relevant language skills, a focus on user-centered approaches, and a dedication to shared leadership. The job responsibilities include working collaboratively with country program staff to ensure strong program results and strong project and risk management. The PSD provides high level stewardship and serve an “internal control” function with assigned regional and country programs, to ensure compliance with Ipas’s quality standards and as a steward of the Ipas’s global reputation.

The position contributes significantly to addressing programmatic challenges and problem solving; ensuring we achieve desired goals, donor satisfaction and compliance with award terms and conditions, strengthening systems to improve value for money, organizational learning; and promoting a positive and empowering work culture.

The PSD has a strong commitment to reproductive justice and Ipas’s mission. Demonstrates a strong commitment to the individuals and communities we serve, acting with a sense of urgency and providing candid timely support and guidance to their team and peers.

• Partner with regional and country leadership to advance organizational priorities, strengthen strategic decision-making, and promote alignment with Ipas’s mission, values, strategic framework, global standards, policies and shared leadership practices.
• Support leaders in monitoring organizational, programmatic, and financial performance and in addressing emerging challenges, risks, and opportunities
• Participate in global strategic initiatives and other organizational development efforts to strengthen the Ipas Network, such as global strategic planning, expanding implementation of shared leadership practices and risk management.
• Represent Ipas on national or regional Boards of Directors, as needed.
• Support and provide thought leadership to regional and country leadership in translating organizational strategy into high-quality, contextually relevant program strategies.

• Provide high-level strategic inputs and assistance in project and program management with a focus on addressing challenges and problem solving with assigned regional and country teams.
• Facilitate periodic reviews with country and regional leaders to strengthen compliance, program quality,…