Program Director, Francophone West Africa

Smile Train

6d • Remote

About The Position

Smile Train is the world’s leading cleft-focused organization. Our vision is a world where everyone has access to safe, high-quality comprehensive cleft care and can live a full and healthy life. We train and support doctors and other medical professionals to provide our patients with free, life-changing, comprehensive cleft treatment. This sustainable model has allowed us to support more than 2 million cleft surgeries in 95+ countries since our founding in 1999, and we’re still just getting started. We are truly changing the world one smile at a time! Make a Difference! As Smile Train’s Program Director, Francophone West Africa the ideal candidate will provide efficient and strategic leadership to Smile Train programs in terms of high-quality and safe comprehensive cleft care through effective management of programs and partnerships across 3 countries: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger. This role combines strategic vision with operational excellence, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, sustainable, and locally adapted Comprehensive cleft care. The Director will lead a team of Program Managers, manage key partnerships, and drive regional growth in alignment with Smile Train’s global mission and strategy. Act when and where necessary to ensure the best interests of the organization and our programs. Be responsible for ensuring full compliance with Smile Train’s Safety & Quality Protocol and organizational Guidelines.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in public health, International Development, Health Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in program management, preferably in health or development sectors.
• Experience with cross-sectoral collaboration and engagement with Government, medical institutions and global health partners.
• Demonstrated ability to lead diverse teams across countries and contexts.
• Proven leadership in managing multi-country programs in Francophone West Africa.
• Fluency in French and English (spoken and written) is required.
• Experience with donor-funded programs and managing complex grants.
• Willingness to travel frequently within the region.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the planning, implementation, and monitoring of cleft care programs across the countries, ensuring strategic alignment with Smile Train’s global mission.
• Lead efforts to expand access to high-quality CCC, incorporating surgery, anesthesia, speech therapy, orthodontics, Psychosocial, ENT and nutrition.
• Align regional programming with Smile Train’s global goals, ensuring a “glocalized” approach
• Oversee fiscal year planning, budgeting, and performance monitoring across multiple countries.
• Supervise and support country managers, fostering a high-performance, accountable, and collaborative culture.
• Support professional development and succession planning to ensure long-term program sustainability.
• Strengthen internal systems and processes to support effective program delivery.
• Serve as the senior liaison for key healthcare and non-healthcare partners including hospitals, government institutions, NGOs, and academic entities.
• Design and implement onboarding, training, and ongoing support initiatives that empower partners and enhance program quality.
• Monitor and respond to regional partner dynamics, identifying and resolving challenges, mitigating risks, and harnessing opportunities for innovation.
• Lead the end-to-end implementation of cleft care programs across divers countries in the region.
• Ensure rigorous adherence to Smile Train’s global safety, quality, and reporting protocols.
• Spearhead the design and facilitation of regional training programs and workshops
• Encourage innovation through research and evidence-based practices.
• Monitor program implementation using key performance indicators (KPIs) related to surgical volume, CCC delivery, training outcomes, and partner performance.
• Drive continuous improvement through data-driven decision-making and adaptive program management.
• Strengthen feedback mechanisms from partners, patients, and communities to ensure responsiveness and adaptability.
• Monitor and address reputational risks related to partner activities.
• Oversee regional budgets, funding applications, and financial reporting in collaboration with HQ Finance.
• Support the annual collection of in-kind contribution information
• Ensure responsible stewardship of resources, including compliance with procurement and grant management protocols.
• Represent Smile Train in regional forums, media engagements, and stakeholder meetings.
• Advocate for the integration of cleft care into national health systems and policies.
• Support content collection, branding compliance, and awareness campaigns in collaboration with the communications team.
• Provide strategic and operational oversight for CLCs in the region, ensuring alignment with Smile Train’s governance framework.
• Facilitate donor and strategic partner visits and pilot collaborative innovative initiatives.

Benefits

• Meaningful Work – Be part of work that creates meaningful, lasting impact — changing the world one smile at a time.
• We’ve Got You Covered – Enjoy a generous stipend towards medical expenses to help prioritize the health of you and your family.
• Rest and Recharge - Enjoy a generous vacation package, paid holidays, and sick time so you can rest, recharge, and return feeling your best.
• Family Matters - We support employees through life’s most important moments with paid parental leave, giving you time and flexibility for the people who matter most.
• Learn and Grow - Take advantage of an annual professional development stipend and opportunities to expand your skills and continue learning.
• Work Your Way – Thrive with a remote work model built for connection, balance, and impact.
• Travel the World – See our impact firsthand while partnering with global colleagues and programs through opportunities for domestic and international travel.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager