Program Director, West Africa for the Beginnings Fund

About the role

The Beginnings Fund is a philanthropic initiative investing, in partnership with governments, in products, people and systems to improve maternal and newborn care at scale in Africa. Its first five years focus on nine countries, including Ghana and Nigeria. Reporting to the CEO, the Program Director provides strategic technical leadership, investment design, grantmaking and oversight of a portfolio of programs, and explores further opportunities to support maternal and newborn health in West Africa. The role is full-time, based near Ghana or Nigeria, with 30-50% travel, and is a 2-year renewable contract.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the completion and refinement of Ghana's investment plan with the Ministry of Health and government stakeholders, and oversee country-specific investment plans
• Shape the investment approach in Nigeria, building relationships with federal and state government stakeholders and adapting it to evidence and partner learning
• Support the CEO and Investment Committee in articulating the investment case, engaging the Technical Advisory Group and Investment Committee on priorities and decisions
• Lead strategic grantmaking, ensuring investments are catalytic and additional, and promote trust-based approaches that strengthen partner capacity
• Identify and recommend implementing partners, oversee their delivery, and support partner and grantee capacity strengthening
• Oversee program implementation, coordinate grantee reporting and impact measurement, and use data and real-time learning to adapt programs
• Build trusted relationships with government leaders and donors, and develop strategic partnerships at national and regional levels to influence policy and mobilise funding

Required profile

• 10 years of experience in a leadership position in global health and development, preferably maternal and newborn health in Africa
• Master's degree in public health, Global Health, International Relations or a related field
• Experience leading program design, grantmaking and execution, preferably in the health sector, and with private philanthropy and large-scale programs
• Knowledge of maternal and newborn health programming and experience with African governments, NGOs and multilateral organisations
• Lived experience of working in developing contexts, preferably in the focus countries
• Willingness to travel 30-50%, ability to lead a dispersed team, and excitement for a startup environment