Program Lead/ Director

Position Title: Program Lead/ Director- Proposal Recruitment

Department: Economic Empowerment

Reporting To: Country Representative

Required Number of position – One

Direct Reports: Program Manager, TA- Business Development & TA – Gender, Safeguarding & Inclusion

Duty Station: Head Office/Addis Ababa

Remuneration: As per the organization pay scale plus other PSI/Ethiopia staff benefits

Application Deadline: July 10, 2025.

This is proposal-based recruitment, and all subsequent steps in the hiring process will be contingent upon award of the project

 

Who we are?

We’re Population Services International (PSI), the world’s leading non‐profit social marketing organization. We work to make it easier for people in the developing world to lead healthier lives and plan the families they desire by marketing affordable products and services that range from mosquito nets to contraceptives to HIV testing. We are a $560m enterprise based in Washington, DC, operating in the private and public sectors in more than 65 countries.

 

Join us!

There are over 9,000 “PSI’ers” around the world. It’s a diverse group of entrepreneurs and professionals with an unusually wide range of backgrounds – from the medical industry to the music business – all with unique skills we bring to the job.

PSI/Ethiopia wants to reimagine healthcare, put the consumer at the center, and whenever possible, bring quality care to the front door. We achieve health impact in Ethiopia by working with both government and private partners and harvesting technology innovation to bring quality care closer to communities, schools, and homes. We empower consumers by including them in the design of healthcare solutions, offering them more healthcare choices, and helping them to have a voice in influencing national priorities. We work with all market actors in the health system to understand their needs, designing and delivering solutions so that market systems can sustainably serve consumers for the long term, helping to support the Government of Ethiopia in achieving Universal Health Coverage.

We are looking for a Dynamic and Experienced Program Lead/Director to oversee the successful implementation of our economic empowerment program from inception to completion. This leadership role is accountable for the full spectrum of project delivery—including technical execution, financial and administrative compliance, and effective supervision of project teams.

The Program Lead/Director will guide the program team to ensure high-quality, country-level implementation that meets set goals, timelines, and budget parameters. The ideal candidate will bring strong technical expertise, strategic financial oversight, and the managerial acumen to assess risks, monitor performance, and drive timely execution across all project phases.

This role also includes providing thought leadership in economic empowerment, using data and evidence to continuously refine program design and implementation. The Program Lead/Director will serve as the primary liaison with national stakeholders—including the Ministries of Health, Labor and Skills, and Women’s Affairs—as well as with donors, ensuring strategic alignment with PSI’s Global Strategy.

Sounds like you? Read on!

Key responsibilities

• Oversee the leadership and successful implementation of economic empowerment program and projects.
• Lead internal and external program designing, planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, including annual work planning with project management and technical teams and implementing partners.
• Provide expertise in developing and executing sustainable business models for increasing demand and supply, including continuing research on existing markets and barriers to growth.
• Separate and strengthen donor engagement and government relations functions by ensuring tailored communication strategies and regular joint reviews with each stakeholder group.
• Ensure sound financial management, including programmatic budgeting, pending projections, and monitoring of payments.
• Lead high-level evidence-based policy and dialogue with relevant ministries, sub-national government officials, implementing partners, and stakeholders.
• Ensure the effective use and coordination of donor resources and the compliance of the financial systems and controls with the donor standards.
• Work with finance and/or business development agencies to develop financial products and deliver business development services.
• Develop and manage a team with members of diverse positions, including program and project managers, advisors, coordinators and officers with different backgrounds, including marketing/sales/communication, entrepreneurship development, collaboration, learning and accountability, governance, finance and grant etc.
• Support the design and diffusion of innovative business models and commercialization of technologies for sanitation products in Ethiopia, including providing effective guidance and support to technical members of the in-country management teams and staff assigned to the project.
• Develop and execute plans that will result in long-term sustainability of the initiative.
• Ensure high-quality periodic reporting in line with Donors and PSI requirements (quarterly and annual status reports, quarterly financial reports, etc.)

Qualification and Experience:

• At least Eight (8) years with master’s degree or ten (10) years of experience with first degree in management, Economics, Business Administration or other relevant disciplines out of which 6/8 (respectively) years of program supervisory/ managerial experience is required.
• Proven success in managing complex operations under specific donor awards and procedures in a challenging, developing country environment.
• Creative, innovative, and strategic thinker with excellent communication, analytical, organizational, interpersonal, and cross-cultural skills; a passion for private sector approaches to development; and a proven ability to produce results.
• Demonstrated skills in effectively negotiating with host governments, donors, UN agencies, other USAID projects, local organizations, and partners.
• Ability to successfully recruit, train, develop, and manage staff toward results.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills, both oral and written.
• Excellent team management skills and capacity to effectively address and resolve conflict
• Strong ability to manage cross-functional teams, oversee partnerships, and adapt programming based on real-time evidence and learning.
• Excellent diplomatic skills and proven ability to work effectively with government officials, partners, donors, and stakeholders at high levels.
• Excellence in oral and written communication, including impactful presentations, with proficiency in English and Amharic languages.