Program Manager - East Africa

Global Water Center•North Charleston, SC

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

At Global Water Center (GWC), we believe everyone deserves access to safely managed water. Without sustainable water systems, this goal remains out of reach. That is why GWC focuses on capacity development, technical assistance, and collaboration—equipping leaders to create sustainable solutions at the scale needed to end the global water crisis. GWC is an innovative nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating water poverty worldwide. We work collaboratively with a range of partners to provide access to safe and affordable drinking water. GWC’s work environment is fast-paced, dynamic, and highly collaborative. Candidates should be comfortable working in an early-stage environment, balancing the need for flexibility, structure, and procedure. See more at www.globalwatercenter.org GWC is expanding its East Africa portfolio, including multi-country capacity development programs, government partnerships, and technical training initiatives. As these programs grow in scale and complexity, there is an increasing need for strong regional coordination and partner alignment. GWC is seeking a dynamic, strategic, and mission-driven Program Manager-East Africa. The Program Manager- East Africa will play a key role in ensuring the effective coordination, alignment, and day-to-day management of GWC’s regional portfolio. This role will serve as a trusted interface with partners and stakeholders in the region, while maintaining strong alignment with GWC’s global teams. This full‑time position ensures that portfolio projects and partnership initiatives are well-coordinated, partners are aligned, and programs move forward efficiently. The role coordinates multiple functional areas, supporting both strategic partnerships and the programmatic outcomes anticipated through these partnerships. Domestic and international travel are required, along with occasional evening and weekend engagements. The position may be based in Tanzania, Uganda, or Kenya. Responsibilities include stakeholder engagement, portfolio coordination, implementation support, proposal and reporting processes, management of activities, and logistical coordination such as travel and scheduling.

Requirements

Dynamic, strategic, and mission-driven
Effective coordination, alignment, and day-to-day management of regional portfolio
Trusted interface with partners and stakeholders in the region
Strong alignment with GWC’s global teams
Well-coordinated portfolio projects and partnership initiatives
Aligned partners
Efficient program progression
Coordination of multiple functional areas
Support for strategic partnerships and programmatic outcomes
Domestic and international travel required
Occasional evening and weekend engagements
Stakeholder engagement
Portfolio coordination
Implementation support
Proposal and reporting processes
Management of activities
Logistical coordination such as travel and scheduling

Nice To Haves

Comfortable working in an early-stage environment, balancing the need for flexibility, structure, and procedure.

Responsibilities

Coordinate internal communication across GWC’s East Africa portfolio to ensure alignment of priorities, timelines, and deliverables
Support planning and coordination of program activities across multiple stakeholders.
Manage day-to-day administrative tasks, including scheduling meetings, preparing agendas, identifying action items, and documentation of deliverables.
Proactively identify misalignment or delays and take initiative to resolve or escalate issues to maintain progress.
Help maintain momentum across initiatives through timely and clear coordination and support.
Maintain regular communication with government counterparts, implementing partners, and regional stakeholders.
Serve as a day-to-day point of contact for partners across the East Africa Portfolio.
Support relationship continuity between GWC leadership and in-country partners.
Prepare partner briefings, meeting summaries, and follow-up actions.
Use GWC project management systems and tools to maintain visibility on portfolio progress, risks, decisions, and next steps.
Lead project management processes for assigned East Africa program activities, ensuring milestones, deliverables, timelines, updates, partner follow-up, and internal action items are actively tracked and advanced.
Support the drafting and review reports and partner updates.
Coordinate inputs from internal teams, partners, and technical experts.
Support maintaining consistency and clarity in externally shared materials.
Assist in aligning program documentation with partner expectations and requirements.
Support planning and coordination of in-country visits, workshops, and partner engagements.
Ensure logistical readiness for key meetings and program activities.
Support strategic planning by providing insights on regional developments, stakeholder dynamics, and partnership opportunities.