The position

The Head of Programs for Aga Khan Foundation Tanzania (AKFT) provides strategic leadership and oversight for the country’s program portfolio, ensuring alignment with national, regional, and global priorities. This role is integral to achieving AKFT’s mission by driving program innovation, fostering stakeholder relationships, and ensuring operational excellence. Key areas of responsibility include:

Major Responsibilities:
Program Leadership & Strategic Visioning

• Develop and implement a Tanzania-specific program framework.
• Oversee program planning, execution, and evaluation to ensure timely delivery of outputs and outcomes.
• Drive innovation and align programs with AKFT’s long-term goals, responding to emerging challenges.

Stakeholder Engagement & External Representation

• Collaborate with global teams, donors, government agencies, and civil society to design and deliver impactful programs.
• Represent AKFT at national and international forums, building relationships with key stakeholders.

Business Development & Partnership Management

• Collaborate with the Partnerships Manager to secure new funding opportunities.
• Establish and manage partnerships with multilateral, bilateral, and private sector entities.

Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Support recruitment, retention, and development of program staff.
• Mentor program coordinators and foster a culture of professional growth and learning.

Financial Oversight & Risk Management

• Work with the finance team to ensure sound financial management and risk mitigation for programs.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Sustainability

• Oversee the monitoring and evaluation function to ensure evidence-based learning and program sustainability.
• Ensure compliance with donor regulations and organizational policies.
• Cross-functional Collaboration
  • Collaborate with departments such as Finance, Communications, and HR to ensure well-coordinated program support.

The requirements

Qualifications and Experience:

• A minimum of a master’s degree in international development, Social Sciences, Environmental Studies, Agriculture, Education, Business Administration, or a related field. A master’s degree in these or other relevant areas is preferred.
• At least 5 (with at least 3 years in senior leadership role) years of progressive experience in program management, with a strong track record in leading and delivering complex development programs.
• Proven expertise in sectors such as gender equality, education, climate resilience, or community-driven development is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to engage with government agencies, civil society organizations, and other key stakeholders.
• Proven expertise in financial management, including budgeting, financial analysis, and risk management.

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire, mentor, and develop teams in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to develop and implement strategic programmatic visions that align with organizational goals and respond to emerging challenges.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to assess complex situations, identify key issues, and develop innovative solutions.
• Deep understanding of and sensitivity to the cultural contexts in which AKFT operates, with the ability to adapt approaches accordingly.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of gender and social inclusion issues and proven experience of delivering programmes that explicitly address these inequalities
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of child and community safe-guarding issues and proven experience of operationalising relevant policies and procedures
• Ability to drive programmatic innovation, adapt to changing environments, and embrace new approaches to enhance program impact.
• Fluency in both Swahili and English is required.

Interested candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV including contacts of three references
AKF Is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is Committed to Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children and Vulnerable Adults and Expects all Staff and Partners to Share this Commitment

Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply

Sector

Social Development

About the Agency

The Aga Khan Foundation is a leading global development organisation working to tackle the root causes of poverty. For more than 50 years, we have helped create strong community institutions that support sustainable, locally driven initiatives to improve the lives of millions of people. By combining local knowledge with global best practices, we strive to bring about transformative and long-lasting improvements to quality of life.

Working alongside the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network and through partnerships with local communities, civil society and business as well as governments and international aid agencies, we are building a future where we all thrive together.

Salary

Salary and package to attract the best candidate