TITLE: Program Director
TEAM/PROGRAMME: Zambia
Deputize Country Director and Senior Management Team
LOCATION: Lusaka with frequent travel to the field
ROLE PURPOSE:
As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), the Program Director shares in the overall responsibility for the direction and coordination of the Country Office. S/he is responsible for driving cross-functional engagement in the development and delivery of Country Strategic Plan (CSP), Strategy Plan (CSP), taking leadership in developing annual program plans and reporting on results and impact outcomes. Programmatically, s/he is responsible for ensuring development and delivery of high quality, evidence-based, locally driven, and innovative programs for children, in all contexts, that contribute to Save the Children’s global Breakthroughs: Learn, Survive, Be Protected.
As a senior leader in the Country Office s/he plays a representation role with the government, donors, partners, peer agencies, SC Members, and others. S/he supports strategic positioning with donors and partners and leads project design to ensuring that the Country Office strategy is delivered in line with child rights programming principles.
In most cases, the role holder will deputize the Country Director.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Country Director
Staff reporting to this post: 7 direct reports and 30+ indirect staff.
Budget Responsibilities: approx. USD7m/year
Role Dimensions:
The Program Director a member of the Senior Management staff Program Director must demonstrate the qualities of agile leadership. S/he plays a key role in defining and pursuing the strategic direction for Save the Children’s programs in Zambia, ensuring programme delivery, coherence, safety, and impact of our programs for children in all contexts. This is a challenging role requiring an individual who can work with complexity and multiple tasks at one time. It is essential that the Program Director builds and maintains strong relationships across functions within the Country Office, including with team members from Operations, Awards Management, Humanitarian, Advocacy and Finance, and s/he should lead by example in demonstrating this cross-functional collaboration. This role demands dedication to demonstrating outcomes for children, experience in integrated child rights programming and a highly motivated leader. S/he has shall be responsible for providing leadership and guidance to program teams to demonstrate thematic excellence in contributing to Save the Children’s three Breakthroughs for children: no child dies from preventable causes before their fifth birthday; all children learn from a quality basic education; and violence against children is no longer tolerated.
QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential
- Master's Degree in relevant social science, human rights, development studies, NGO management, equivalent fields, or experience.
- 10-15 years progressively senior experience of program management, preferably including experience in more than one of the Save the Children’s priority sectors: education, protection, child rights, health & nutrition, and/or emergency management.
- Experience or understanding of fundraising (unrestricted funds) or business development (programme/restricted funding), particularly strong program development, and project management skills.
Desirable
·Recognized program/project management qualification (e.g. PMP, PRINCE2, PMDPro/PgMDPro)
APPLICATIONINSTRUCTIONS:
QUALIFIED APPLICANTS SHOULD ONLY ATTACH A COVER LETTER AND AN UPDATED CV.
The closing date for receipt of applications is Tuesday 9th December 2025. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Save the Children reserves the right to re advertise if suitable applicants are not found.
Save the Children is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer that does not engage in any practices which discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, colour, religion, gender, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status and we will never ask that you pay for anything as part of the selection process or thereafter
