[Hiring] Program Support Director @Ipas

Role Description

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 a 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.
• Providing high-level stewardship and serving an “internal control” function with assigned regional and country programs.
• Contributing 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, demonstrating a strong commitment to the individuals and communities we serve.

Qualifications

• Commitment to sexual and reproductive health and rights, especially safe abortion and access to contraception.
• Knowledge of the issues and context of women's sexual and reproductive health and rights in the Africa region.
• Demonstrated commitment to shared leadership principles.
• Proven ability to lead and motivate teams and create a positive work environment.
• Proven ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with a variety of partners.
• Ability to work across cultures and manage complex relationships remotely.

Requirements

• At least 15 years of increasing responsibility in non-profit leadership and program management in the international development or NGO sector.
• Minimum of 7 years of senior program leadership experience overseeing multiple country programs.
• Strong experience managing donor-funded programs including budgetary management.
• Demonstrated experience supporting organizational risk management and compliance monitoring.
• Relevant post-graduate degree (e.g., MBA, MIA, MPH).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Fluency in French required; knowledge of Portuguese and other local languages is an asset.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, SharePoint, etc.

Benefits

• Compensation for this position will be determined by the prevailing market rate in the employee's country and applicable statutory laws.
• Ipas is strongly committed to providing a work environment that is free from all forms of harassment, discrimination, and inequity.

Travel Requirements

• Estimated 20%-25% time travel to regional and country programs and regional/global meetings.