Program Manager

Country
Papua New Guinea
City
Port Moresby
Type
Full Time
Program (Division)
Country Programs - Papua New Guinea
Telecommute
No
Overview

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to our mission of saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low- and middle-income countries. We work at the invitation of governments to support them and the private sector to create and sustain high-quality health systems.

CHAI was founded in 2002 in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, with the goal of dramatically reducing the price of life-saving drugs and increasing access to these medicines in the countries with the highest burden of the disease. Over the following two decades, CHAI has expanded its focus. Today, along with HIV, we work with our partners to prevent and treat infectious diseases such as COVID-19, malaria, tuberculosis, and hepatitis. Our work has also expanded into cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and other non-communicable diseases, and we work to accelerate the rollout of lifesaving vaccines, reduce maternal and child mortality, combat chronic malnutrition, and increase access to assistive technology. We are investing in horizontal approaches to strengthen health systems through programs in human resources for health, digital health, and health financing. With each new and innovative program, our strategy is grounded in maximizing sustainable impact at scale, ensuring that governments lead the solutions, that programs are designed to scale nationally, and learnings are shared globally.

At CHAI, our people are our greatest asset, and none of this work would be possible without their talent, time, dedication, and passion for our mission and values. We are a highly diverse team of enthusiastic individuals across 40 countries with a broad range of skill sets and life experiences. CHAI is deeply grounded in the countries we work in, with the majority of our staff based in program countries. Learn more about our exciting work: http://www.clintonhealthaccess.org

CHAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and is committed to providing an environment of fairness, and mutual respect where all applicants have access to equal employment opportunities. CHAI values diversity and inclusion and recognizes that our mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people with diverse experience, backgrounds, and culture.

Program Overview

CHAI has been supporting the Ministry of Health in PNG since 2005, working across HIV, immunization, malaria, nutrition, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and broader health system strengthening. This long-standing partnership reflects CHAI's commitment to sustainable, government-led health system improvements in PNG.

CHAI's support for the MCH program began in 2019 and has focused primarily on immunization and nutrition. Over the past six years, CHAI has worked closely with the Government of PNG to set program priorities and drive strategic improvements. Key achievements include spearheading the development of the National Immunization Strategy, supporting the government to conduct a comprehensive zero-dose analysis, and providing instrumental technical and programmatic support in close collaboration with government and other partners.

PNG continues to face significant maternal and child health challenges, including uneven immunization coverage, difficult service delivery contexts, and constrained sub-national capacity. As the Government of PNG implements its National Immunization Strategy and prepares for the introduction of new vaccines while strengthening routine immunization and primary health care, CHAI is expanding its support at both national and provincial levels. This includes providing hands-on implementation support in select provinces, strengthening government planning and coordination systems, and building sustainable capacity for improved MCH service delivery.

Position Summary

CHAI is seeking a Program Manager for MCH to provide leadership for CHAI's MCH portfolio in PNG, covering immunization and nutrition programs. This role will provide strategic leadership, technical oversight, and project management for the program.

The ideal candidate is a credible program leader who excels at managing high-performing teams, overseeing grant implementation and nurturing deep trusted relationships with government partners. We are specifically seeking a candidate with strong monitoring and evaluation capabilities, technical capabilities and exceptional project management skills. The position requires someone who can engage confidently with senior government counterparts, lead complex vaccine and immunization workstreams, and support effective implementation at provincial level.

Under the strategic guidance of the Special Advisor Programs, the Program Manager will have day-to-day leadership responsibility for CHAI's MCH portfolio. The role requires balancing strategic thinking with hands-on program management, ensuring strong execution while also shaping the future direction and growth of CHAI's MCH work in PNG.

Responsibilities

Government Engagement and Partnership

  • Serve as CHAI's primary day-to-day counterpart to the National EPI Program and National Nutrition Program within the National Department of Health.
  • Build and maintain strong, respectful working relationships with senior government officials, Provincial Health Authorities and key partners.
  • Represent CHAI in national and sub-national technical working groups, coordination forums and joint reviews.

Team Leadership and Management

  • Provide clear leadership, mentoring, and support to CHAI's MCH team, including provincial and field-based officers.
  • Ensure field teams receive timely guidance, problem-solving support, and escalation when needed.
  • Foster a professional, supportive team culture grounded in accountability and learning.

Grant and Financial Management

  • Oversee work planning, budgeting, and tracking of program performance across the portfolio.
  • Ensure high-quality delivery in line with donor commitments and manage donor relationships.
  • Support development of concept notes, proposals, and engagement with donors as the portfolio evolves.

Program Implementation and Technical Leadership

  • Lead the planning, implementation, and monitoring of CHAI's MCH portfolio, ensuring high-quality delivery in line with government priorities and leveraging CHAI's global technical expertise where relevant.
  • Provide hands-on management of support to routine immunization service delivery, including outreach, supervision, and performance improvement at provincial level.
  • Lead CHAI's technical and programmatic support to new vaccine introduction, including readiness planning, coordination, and implementation support.
  • Support the Government of PNG to operationalize and roll out the National Immunisation Strategy, translating national priorities into practical implementation plans.
  • Oversee CHAI's support to the National Nutrition Program, ensuring effective coordination and implementation.

Strategic Planning and Portfolio Development

  • Work closely with the Special Advisor Programs to translate strategic direction into implementable workplans and measurable results.
  • Contribute to shaping the future direction and expansion of CHAI's MCH portfolio, identifying emerging priorities, gaps, and opportunities for impact, aligning direction with CHAI's regional and global strategies.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

  • Design and implement robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track program performance and impact.
  • Identify implementation risks and operational challenges and develop practical mitigation strategies.
  • Ensure effective use of data to inform decision-making and course correction.
  • Lead preparation of clear, high-quality reports and updates for government counterparts, donors, and CHAI leadership.
  • Share PNG key lessons and risks with regional and global counterparts to inform CHAI's broader strategy and sectoral influence.
Qualifications
  • Master's degree in public health, health sciences, or a health-related field.
  • Minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience in public health or development, with demonstrated responsibility for program leadership and delivery.
  • Strong experience in vaccines and immunization, including service delivery and new vaccine introduction; nutrition experience is an asset.
  • Strong monitoring and evaluation skills, including experience designing M&E frameworks, analyzing program data, and using evidence to drive program improvements.
  • Demonstrated excellence in stakeholder management and relationship-building, particularly with government partners in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
  • Proven experience working closely with government counterparts in low-resource or complex settings.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage multiple workstreams, and support field-based implementation.
  • Strong financial and grant management skills.
  • Strong judgment, maturity, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to earn credibility and trust with senior stakeholders.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

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