DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS

Position Title: Director of Programs

Reports To: Managing Director

Direct Reports: Program Managers & MERL Lead

Role purpose: The Director of Programs provides strategic and operational leadership for all DRASA programs and the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) function. The role ensures that DRASA’s four program areas; Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Infection Prevention & Control (IPC), Community Health & Hygiene, and Health Security, are integrated, evidence-driven, well-coordinated, and positioned for growth and impact.

This is a newly created role intended to:

• Build a fully functioning Programs Directorate,
• Improve quality and visibility of programs,
• Strengthen partnerships and donor relations, and
• Reduce the Managing Director’s operational load by taking full ownership of program oversight and performance.

Key Responsibilities

A. Establishing & Leading the Programs Directorate

• Design and set up the Programs Directorate, including structure, operational processes, and performance systems.
• Lead the change-management process required to transition program oversight from the Managing Director to a fully functional directorate.
• Define and enforce clear delegation of duties, decision rights, and escalation pathways for all Program Managers and the MERL Lead.
• Introduce simple, effective systems for program planning, reporting, risks, and quality assurance.
• Champion a culture of accountability, collaboration, learning, and professional excellence across all program teams.

B. Strategy, Planning & Program Alignment

• Provide overall strategic direction and leadership for DRASA’s program portfolio in line with the organization’s mission, strategy, and theory of change
• Translate DRASA’s strategic plan and priorities into clear annual and multi-year program plans, ensuring appropriate budgets and measurable objectives across the four program areas
• Ensure alignment across AMR, IPC, CHH, and HS, reducing duplication, improving coordination, and ensuring DRASA’s work is integrated and mutually reinforcing
• Integrate MERL evidence into program design and strategic decision-making.
• Ensure programs have clear targets, delivery standards, quality assurance processes, and mechanisms for ongoing improvement.
• Work closely with the Managing Director to position DRASA as a leader at national, regional, and global levels and refine and expand DRASA’s programs in response to emerging public health priorities, partner opportunities, and national/global agendas (e.g., AMR, health security, IPC standards).

C. Oversight of Program Implementation & Technical Leadership

• Provide strong managerial and technical guidance across all four program domains (AMR, IPC, Community Health & Hygiene, Health Security), ensuring programs are evidence-based, contextually relevant, and aligned with national and global standards as they are implemented. 
• Monitor progress across all programs, ensuring timely delivery, responsible budget use, and compliance with donor and government requirements.
• Identify emerging issues and support problem-solving, adaptation, and corrective actions including troubleshooting implementation challenges at national, state, facility, and community levels and supporting teams to identify practical, context-appropriate solutions.
• Review and quality-assure technical content, including training curricula, guidelines, tools, advocacy materials, and publications.
• Promote cross-program initiatives, pilots, and innovations that improve DRASA’s effectiveness.
• Stay up to date with relevant policies, innovations, standards, and global/national guidance on AMR, IPC, community health, and health security, and ensure this is reflected in DRASA’s work.
• Represent DRASA in technical working groups, high-level meetings, conferences, and stakeholder platforms, positioning DRASA as a trusted technical partner.

D. MERL Management & Evidence-Driven Decision-Making

• Ensure that program indicators, logical frameworks, and theories of change are clear and aligned with DRASA’s overall strategy.
• Ensure MERL frameworks exist for every program and that data is consistently used for decision-making, reporting, and donor engagement.
• Lead and strengthen the MERL team to produce high-quality data, research, evaluations, case studies, presentations, publications, and learning products to disseminate program results, liaising with the Communications team as needed. 
• Oversee learning reviews and program adaptations, ensuring a strong culture of learning, reflection, and lessons are integrated across all program areas and that evidence and insights inform decision-making.

E. Collaboration with Internal Functions

• Work closely with the Communications team to ensure program results and learnings are effectively documented, showcased, and communicated across DRASA’s platforms.
• Provide timely information, stories, data, and insights that support content creation, thought leadership, and visibility campaigns for the Communications team.
• Align program messaging with DRASA’s brand and strategic communication priorities.
• Support visibility for events, campaigns, and key milestones.
• Partner with Finance & Accounting to ensure sound financial management of grants, including forecasting, budget monitoring, and value-for-money.
• Collaborate with HR to plan program staffing needs, support recruitment, performance management, and staff wellbeing.
• Contribute to organizational planning, risk management, and policy development as a core member of the leadership team.

F. Collaboration with Partnerships & Donor Engagement

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with relevant ministries, agencies, academic institutions, civil society, private sector, and international partners.
• Initiate strategic collaborations with NGOs, academic institutions, government agencies, and private sector actors that strengthen program delivery and impact.
• Lead or support proposal development, technical input, and program design for new funding opportunities.
• Independently seek or pursue opportunities for programmatic partnerships, while major funding negotiations remain aligned with Partnerships and MD.

G. Resource Stewardship, Budget Oversight & Compliance

• Collaborate with Finance to develop program budgets and forecasts; ensure responsible financial management; and ensure adherence to DRASA’s policies, donor requirements, and ethical standard across all programs.
• Monitor burn rates, budget-to-actuals, and financial risks, providing guidance to Program Managers on course corrections.
• Ensure compliance with donor rules, procurement standards, safeguarding policies, and ethical guidelines.
• Contribute to internal audits, evaluations, and risk reviews; implement recommendations in a timely manner.
• Maintain a directorate-wide risk register and ensure adequate mitigation plans exist.
• Uphold DRASA’s values and promote a culture of integrity, respect, inclusion, and accountability across all teams.
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H. Team Leadership, Capacity Building & Performance

• Provide clear leadership, coaching, and direction to the MERL Lead and all Program Managers, including setting clear goals, offering regular performance feedback, and supporting their ongoing professional development through supervision and mentorship.
• Identify skill gaps across the directorate and create opportunities for capacity-building, training, and professional development.
• Promote consistent performance management and ensure team members understand expectations, responsibilities, and growth paths.
• Build a collaborative working culture where teams share knowledge and support one another.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• 10–15+ years of progressive experience in program leadership within public health, development, or NGO settings with significant experience in at least two of DRASA’s core areas (AMR, IPC, Community Health & Hygiene, Health Security) and familiarity with all four.
• Demonstrated track record in program design, implementation, donor-funded project management, and reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multi-thematic programs and lead high-performing teams.
• Strong experience working with or overseeing MERL functions.
• Track record of collaboration with donors, government, and strategic partners; experience contributing to proposal development.
• Strong budgeting, financial management, and risk management skills.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and relationship management skills.
• An advanced degree in public health, development, management, or a related field is preferred.

Skill & Competencies

• Strong technical understanding of infection prevention and control, antimicrobial resistance, health security, and community health and hygiene.
• Excellent leadership, people management, and team-building skills
• Strong strategic thinking and planning skills; able to connect day-to-day program work with long-term institutional goals.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex public health concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
• Solid financial literacy and experience managing and monitoring project budgets.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver under pressure.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial nonprofit environment.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to DRASA’s mission and values.

To apply, please send an email to recruitment@drasatrust.org with the job title as the subject.