Program Manager
Purpose of the Job
The Program Manager will lead the design, piloting, and scale-up implementation of a newly established program in Egypt, focusing on delivering Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) methodology to improve literacy and numeracy skills for primary-level children. The program objective is that every child should finish primary school able to read, write, and do math at their level. This role is responsible for building the program from the ground up, including developing the design, establishing processes, piloting interventions, and ensuring alignment with Coptic Orphans' organizational strategy. The role requires a hands-on leader who can balance strategic thinking with operational execution while managing stakeholders, resources, and early-stage program risks to ensure a strong, scalable foundation.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
Program Design and Pilot Launch
- Own the end-to-end design and launch of the program pilot, translating the program concept note into a fully operational implementation plan with clear milestones, timelines, and accountability.
- Lead the integration of other child-focused interventions like nutrition, child protection, personal development, and volunteerism.
- Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs), tools, and workflows so that what works in the pilot becomes the scalable playbook for the program.
- Manage the relationship and work plan with the implementation partners, ensuring the facilitator training, mentoring schedule, M&E tools, and curriculum support are delivered on time and to standard.
Field Implementation and Operations
- Oversee day-to-day program execution, coordinate across regions and functions to ensure smooth rollout, operational alignment, and consistency of implementation in line with agreed standards.
- Directly oversee field implementation, ensuring responsiveness to field challenges, beneficiary needs, and evolving program priorities, adjusting plans and modalities as required.
- Build scalable processes and systems to support future program expansion and replication in new locations.
- Prepare high-quality progress updates and reports for the leadership team and relevant stakeholders.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
- Work with implementation partners to execute program assessments using standardized TaRL tools, ensuring data quality, timely analysis, and rigorous documentation to support scale-up.
- Track and report on program KPIs (level progression rates, cohort completion rates, facilitator fidelity scores, family engagement indicators) using established monitoring tools and reporting frameworks.
- Lead end-of-cycle learning reviews after each pilot cohort, integrating facilitator feedback, field observations, and assessment data into design refinements for the next cycle.
- Produce high-quality progress reports and internal learning documents in coordination with the International Programs Director.
Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
- Build and maintain strong relationships with implementing partners, community-based organizations, local churches, community leaders, and families to support program startup and scale-up.
- Represent the program in internal meetings, external forums, and stakeholder engagements as directed by the International Programs Director.
- Coordinate with cross-functional teams (Finance, IT/IS, HR, Legal) and support the International Programs Director with inputs to proposals, budgets, reports, and visibility efforts.
Team Leadership & Capability Building
- Recruit, manage, and provide clear direction and coaching for field staff on TaRL delivery, child safeguarding, and community engagement, structuring a deliberate handover as the program scales.
- Foster a culture of continuous learning and adaptive management where field realities are surfaced quickly, incorporated into design, and shared across the team.
- Identify capability gaps and implement targeted capacity-building initiatives to strengthen program execution, monitoring, and leadership competencies.
Financial Oversight, Risk Management & Governance
- Develop and manage the program budget, overseeing funding and disbursement mechanisms to implementing partners and field activities in alignment with Coptic Orphans' policies and donor requirements.
- Monitor financial performance against budget, flag variances early, and propose corrective actions to ensure compliance with internal financial controls and relevant regulations.
- Identify operational, financial, safeguarding, and reputational risks; develop mitigation strategies; and escalate issues to the International Programs Director in a timely manner.
- Ensure strong governance and accountability mechanisms are maintained across all internal and external stakeholders.
Required Education, Experience, Knowledge, and Skills
- Bachelor's degree in Education, International development, Public Administration, Business, or related field (Master's preferred).
- At least 7 years of progressive experience in program management within the NGO or development sector, including at least 2 years of people management experience.
- Demonstrated experience managing education programs – particularly literacy/numeracy, remedial learning, or community-based education interventions – is strongly preferred.
- Strong expertise in child protection, community-based programming, or volunteer networks.
- Experience working in Upper Egypt (Minya, Sohag, Qena, Assiut) and familiarity with local community dynamics are strong assets.
- Demonstrated leadership in cross-functional coordination and problem-solving.
- Experience managing and supporting staff, with the ability to coach and develop performance.
- Ability to collaborate across departments and coordinate with multiple stakeholders.
- Excellent project management skills, with strong monitoring and evaluation expertise.
- Strong analytical skills and ability to make evidence-based decisions.
- Financial and budget management experience.
- Strong written and verbal communication in both Arabic and English; ability to write clearly for diverse audiences (field staff, senior leadership, partners, community members, etc)
- Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership-building abilities.
- Ability to work in fast-paced environments, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint).
Travel and Working Requirements
- Typical office environment, such as walking, sitting, typing, using office equipment, and occasional lifting of boxes or luggage during travel.
- This role requires significant field presence, starting by 70% (mainly in Upper Egypt) during the program pilot phase, including participation in meetings, conferences, and field activities to engage stakeholders and represent Coptic Orphans in external settings, then gradually stabilizing to around 30% as the program structure and team mature.
- Occasional international travel for training, conferences, or donor engagement.
- Working outside official hours and on weekends may be required.
