About the role:

We are looking for a Lead Program Manager (LPM) to take ownership of NewFutures:AI (NFAI), a high-visibility, multi-country program delivered with major global partners.

This is a senior, hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in complex environments and enjoys turning ambiguity into structure, alignment, and results.

You will lead cross-functional teams across program delivery, LMS/platform, content, and communications, ensuring that all moving parts come together into a cohesive, high-quality program that delivers against ambitious KPIs.

If you are an operations leader, ex-consultant, or program builder who enjoys driving clarity, performance, and team alignment in fast-moving environments, this role is for you.

Responsibilities:

Own End-to-End Program Delivery

• Lead the execution of NFAI across multiple countries and workstreams

• Translate program goals into clear priorities, plans, and deliverables

• Ensure delivery is aligned with KPIs, timelines, leadership and funder expectations

• Lead and structure key program forums and meetings, ensuring they provide clear direction, alignment, and decision-making support across all workstreams

Drive Clarity in Complex Environments

• Bring structure and focus to a fast-evolving, multi-stakeholder program

• Translate ambiguity into clear priorities, actionable plans, and day-to-day direction for the team

• Identify risks, misalignments, and dependencies early, and address them proactively

• Ensure workstreams are coordinated, prioritised, and progressing in parallel

Lead Cross-Functional Teams (Matrix Environment)

• Coordinate across LMS, content, communications, and country operations teams

• Align stakeholders around shared priorities and outcomes

• Drive accountability without direct authority

• Maintain active visibility across all program workstreams, including those not directly owned (e.g. LMS, content, communications), and ensure alignment across all outputs

Manage High-Visibility Stakeholders

• Own relationships with key partners and funders

• Communicate clearly, proactively, and strategically

• Balance ambition with delivery reality

• Demonstrate strong judgment in managing stakeholder optics and communication, ensuring messaging is appropriately framed, prioritised, and aligned with organisational positioning

Build and Develop a High-Performing Team

• Lead and grow a program team, including developing emerging managers

• Provide clear direction, feedback, and prioritisation

• Strengthen team ownership, autonomy, and performance

• Apply structured delegation practices, ensuring clear expectations, continuous follow-up, and alignment of outputs with program objectives

Ensure Delivery Quality & Execution Discipline

• Maintain high standards across all outputs and deliverables

• Reduce rework by ensuring alignment early

• Drive strong ways of working (e.g. structured meetings, follow-up, tracking)

• Ensure disciplined execution across workstreams, including proactive follow-up, parallel progression of priorities, and timely delivery against commitments

Oversee Digital Platform & Learner Experience

• Work closely with LMS and product teams to ensure platform development aligns with program needs and timelines

• Maintain strong visibility on platform, content, and communication workstreams, ensuring they are fully integrated into program delivery

• Ensure the learner journey, engagement, and experience are coherent and aligned across all components

• 7–10+ years of experience in program management, operations, or consulting

• Strong track record of leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives

• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and building structure from it

• Experienced in matrix environments and cross-functional leadership

• Strong communicator with excellent stakeholder management skills

• Proven ability to lead teams and develop managers

• Highly organised, proactive, and execution-driven

• Strong leadership presence, with the ability to guide teams, anchor direction, and drive alignment in complex environments

• High level of ownership, with the ability to follow through on priorities and ensure delivery to expected standards

Nice to Have

• Experience with digital platforms / LMS / product environments

• Background in education, employability, or social impact programs

• Familiarity with Agile or structured delivery methodologies

• Experience working across multiple geographies