Program Manager

Location:
Kano State
Nigeria
Project HOPE is a global health and humanitarian organization with over 900 dedicated employees and hundreds of volunteers working across more than 25 countries. For over 60 years, we have been at the forefront of addressing the world’s most pressing health challenges—treating millions of patients, delivering more than $3 billion in essential medicines, strengthening resilient health systems, and responding to humanitarian crises worldwide.
The Nigeria Hypertension Control Initiative (NHCI) is currently being implemented at scale across Kano and Ogun States, covering approximately 496 primary health care facilities (260 in Kano and 236 in Ogun), with full LGA-level coverage in both states. This expanding footprint reflects a strong platform for driving improved hypertension outcomes and health system strengthening.
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Program Manager to be based in Kano State, who will play a pivotal role in leading program implementation, optimizing performance, and driving strategic expansion. This position offers a unique opportunity to guide the next phase of NHCI growth, including potential scale-up to additional states, and contribute to measurable, nationwide improvements in hypertension prevention, diagnosis, and control.
Program Manager
The Program Manager will provide strategic leadership, oversight, and accountability for the design, implementation, and performance management of the Nigeria Hypertension Control Initiative (NHCI). The role will ensure the delivery of a comprehensive, high-impact program that addresses critical gaps in hypertension prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management. Central to this function is the strengthening of health information systems to support patient tracking, improve quality of care, reduce loss to follow-up, and build sustainable capacity across LGAs, health facilities, and communities.
Reporting to the Country Representative, the Program Manager will lead Project HOPE’s technical team to ensure effective planning, resource allocation, implementation, and monitoring of high-quality hypertension services. S/he will be responsible for translating strategic priorities into operational plans and actionable interventions, while providing technical leadership to support government efforts to expand coverage and strengthen hypertension control systems in Kano and Ogun States.
The role will also drive resource mobilization and sustainability strategies, working in close collaboration with national and subnational stakeholders to institutionalize program gains within government systems. The Program Manager will oversee the timely development of high-quality programmatic and donor reports (quarterly, semi-annual, and annual), ensuring they capture progress, performance trends, lessons learned, and strategic insights to inform continuous improvement.
Furthermore, the Program Manager will play a critical role in stakeholder engagement, partnership development, and coordination, fostering strong collaboration across government, partners, and communities. This will ensure effective program delivery, alignment with national priorities, and the long-term sustainability and scale-up of hypertension control interventions within Nigeria’s health system.
Specific Responsibilities
Strategic Planning

• Provide overall oversight of program planning and financial management, including the development and monitoring of annual workplans and budgets, and the timely production of high-quality semi-annual, quarterly, and other programmatic and financial reports in line with donor and organizational requirements.
• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous assessment of an integrated package of interventions to strengthen hypertension control at both community and health facility levels, in close collaboration with national and state stakeholders.
• Drive the operationalization and effective implementation of NHCI program components, ensuring alignment with national guidelines, program objectives, and approved workplans.
• Support the development, strengthening, and execution of state and LGA strategic and annual operational plans, ensuring integration of NHCI priorities into government planning and budgeting processes.
• Facilitate strong stakeholder coordination and partnerships, fostering effective collaboration with federal, state, and local government authorities, implementing partners, civil society organizations, and communities to enhance program impact and sustainability.
• Contribute to program strategy and implementation planning, providing technical and operational input to the design and execution of health facility and community service delivery components.
  

Technical Leadership

• Provide strategic technical leadership and oversight for the NHCI program, including direct supervision of Program and M&E Officers to ensure effective, high-quality contributions toward achieving project goals.
• Lead the design and implementation of technical and programmatic activities across Kano and Ogun States, ensuring the application of evidence-based approaches to improve access, utilization, and quality of hypertension services at both facility and community levels.
• Guide the development and adaptation of technical tools and resources, including training curricula, supportive supervision frameworks, job aids, and implementation guidelines, ensuring alignment with national standards and global best practices.
• Conduct regular joint field monitoring and technical support visits in collaboration with federal, state, and LGA Ministry of Health stakeholders, ensuring timely follow-up and resolution of identified gaps.
• Ensure robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems, promoting data quality, performance tracking, and the use of data for continuous program improvement and decision-making.
• Provide leadership in knowledge management, including the documentation of best practices, lessons learned, and contributions to technical publications and dissemination of program evidence.
  

Program Implementation Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and oversight for program implementation, including direct supervision of project staff and consultants, ensuring high-quality, efficient, and results-driven delivery in line with grant agreements and approved workplans.
• Lead the development and execution of key project management tools, including the Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP), procurement plans, and other operational frameworks to guide effective program delivery.
• Coordinate day-to-day implementation of the hypertension control program, identifying and addressing operational needs to ensure timely and effective execution within the approved scope.
• Provide continuous performance management, supportive supervision, and mentorship to project teams, fostering accountability, capacity development, and high performance.
• Oversee the planning and facilitation of trainings and capacity-building activities for health personnel and relevant stakeholders to strengthen service delivery and program outcomes.
• Ensure timely and high-quality reporting, including the preparation and submission of monthly programmatic and M&E reports in line with donor and organizational requirements.
  

Administrative And Financial Management Responsibilities

• Provide strategic guidance and oversight to finance, administration, and logistics officers in the execution of all administrative and financial management functions related to the project, ensuring efficiency, accountability, and alignment with programmatic objectives.
• Ensure full compliance of all programme administration and financial management activities at the state level with Project HOPE’s internal policies and procedures, as well as donor regulations, contractual obligations, and applicable national laws.
• Oversee timely and accurate financial reporting, budget monitoring, and expenditure tracking, ensuring that all costs are allowable, allocable, and reasonable in line with donor guidelines.
• Promote compliance with procurement and logistics procedures, ensuring that all acquisitions and supply chain activities adhere to organizational and donor requirements, including value-for-money principles.
  

Representation & Communication

• Represent Project HOPE and the NHCI program at the Ministry of Health, Technical Working Groups, and other national and sub-national coordination platforms, ensuring effective engagement, visibility, and alignment with government priorities and partner activities.
• Establish, strengthen, and maintain strategic partnerships with donor organizations, sub-recipient organizations, government health departments, implementing partners, health facilities, and community-based organizations to support coordinated, high-quality, and impactful program implementation at the country level.
• Facilitate effective stakeholder communication and collaboration, ensuring timely information sharing, alignment on program priorities, and resolution of implementation challenges across partners and government counterparts.
• Promote and uphold Project HOPE’s values, principles, and technical standards throughout program implementation, ensuring they are well understood and consistently applied by all partners and stakeholders.
• Enhance program visibility and advocacy efforts by supporting the dissemination of key achievements, lessons learned, and best practices across relevant platforms and audiences.
  

Cross Project and Organizational Support

• Foster cross-functional collaboration with other Project HOPE teams and departments to ensure coordinated, integrated, and efficient implementation across programs and geographies.
• Actively contributes to business development efforts, including the development of proposals, concept notes, and strategic initiatives, by providing high-quality technical inputs, program narratives, implementation approaches, and evidence of impact.
• Support organizational priorities beyond the core project portfolio, including special initiatives, strategic partnerships, and institutional strengthening efforts, as required.
• Undertake additional responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor, demonstrating flexibility and responsiveness to emerging programmatic and organizational needs in order to advance Project HOPE’s mission and impact.
  

Educational Requirements
S/he will have the following qualifications and experience:

• A medical degree (MBBS or its equivalent) is required, along with a master’s degree in public health or a related field such as Statistics, Social Sciences, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health Informatics, or other relevant health discipline.
  

Professional Experience/Requirements

• A senior public health leader with a minimum of 10 years’ relevant experience, including demonstrated success in strengthening government systems and building capacity within public sector institutions.
• Strong understanding of Nigeria’s health system and policy environment, including social welfare dynamics and government planning and budgeting processes at both federal and state levels.
• Proven track record in implementing hypertension control and NCD programs, with familiarity with donor-funded initiatives such as those supported by Resolve to Save Lives and similar partners.
• Demonstrated expertise in capacity building, training, and performance improvement, particularly in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL), with practical experience in designing and delivering training programs and workshops; familiarity with DHIS2 is an added advantage.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills, with experience working effectively with Ministry of Health officials and partners across all levels of the health system.
• Advanced analytical and data use competencies, including experience with tools such as Epi Info, SPSS, GIS, and Microsoft Office Suite, and the ability to leverage dashboards and data systems to support evidence-based decision-making at state and LGA levels.
• Sound technical knowledge of hypertension control indicators and program implementation frameworks, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Experience collaborating with private sector actors in health service delivery to strengthen integrated approaches to care.
• Excellent communication skills with fluency in English, both written and verbal.
  

Other Essential Requirements
Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

• Actively promote PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) standards within Project HOPE and among beneficiaries served by Project HOPE
  

Compliance & Ethics

• Promote and encourage a culture of compliance and ethics throughout Project HOPE.
• As applicable to the position, maintain a clear understanding of Project HOPE' and donor compliance and ethics standards and adhere to those standards.
• Conduct work with the highest level of integrity
  

Competency

• Strong writing and presentation skills
• Proven capabilities in leadership
• Strong negotiation, interpersonal and organization skills
• Ability to read, writes, analyze, and interpret, technical and non-technical in the English language
• Ability to effectively present information and respond appropriately to questions from senior managers in the field and HQ, counterparts, senior government leaders and other related regional players
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Project HOPE employees work in the global health field and may be required to travel or work in countries where working conditions are classified as “hardship”.
• Travel for extended periods by air and other modes of transportation.
• Must be mobile in an office environment and able to use standard office equipment and must be able to communicate in verbal and written form.
• Typical office environment with exposure to a minimal noise level.

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