Job Title: Lead, Program Operations
Organisation: Mastercard Foundation
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
About Organisation:
The Mastercard Foundation is an international non-governmental organization established by Mastercard in 2006. It is the wealthiest charitable foundation in Canada, and one of the wealthiest in the world, with 2024 assets of $47 billion.
Job Summary: Reporting to the Head of Operations, Country Programs, the Lead, Program Operations will play a key role in driving program planning, operational excellence, and project management for our Country Program Team. You will collaborate with the Country Director and integrated teams to ensure effective program delivery, process improvement, and capacity building, all in support of the Foundation’s mission and impact across Africa.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Lead the development and management of a 24-month rolling calendar of program priorities and activities.
- Collaborate with Country Director, Program Heads & Leads, and Finance to drive annual planning, forecasting, and budgeting cycles.
- Track and report on program implementation, progress, and status, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
- Oversee partnership development processes, using Turnaround Time Trackers to accelerate pipeline and improve efficiency.
- Develop and implement programming guidelines, tools, and policies to ensure quality, standardization, and process excellence.
- Facilitate revisions to programmatic processes and drive continuous improvement within the Country Integrated Team.
- Build capacity through training, workshops, and learning initiatives in partnership with internal teams.
- Coordinate country program activities, ensuring effective prioritization and execution of key initiatives.
- Organize and facilitate country review and planning retreats and produce operational delivery plans and trackers.
- Support strategic cohesion, knowledge sharing, and collaboration across teams and stakeholders.
- Deliver complex country initiatives and enterprise projects, engaging both internal and external partners.
- Monitor progress and milestones, providing regular status reviews and supporting continuous improvement.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Economics, Statistics, or a related field; a master’s or relevant postgraduate qualification is an asset.
- Possess at least 10 years of experience in project and program management across both private and public sectors, with a track record of delivering outcomes on time and within scope.
- Qualified in program or project management, with certifications in project, change, or process management considered an advantage.
- Skilled in developing and implementing strategic, operational, and portfolio plans, including the use of planning and monitoring tools.
- Experienced in building capacity and delivering training, with strong stakeholder engagement and partnership management skills.
- Familiar with inclusive planning frameworks that support youth, women, and marginalized groups.
- Proficient in process improvement methodologies such as Lean Six Sigma, with a strong focus on quality, efficiency, and continuous improvement.
- Adaptable, collaborative, and detail-oriented, with excellent communication, problem-solving skills, cultural sensitivity, and alignment with the Foundation’s mission and values.
How to Apply:
All candidates should apply online at the link below.
Deadline: 28th July 2025
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Level of Education: Bachelor Degree
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: 120