THE JOB

World Vision is looking for a Senior Program Manager, on the Sponsorship Programming Team.
World Vision U.S. (WVUS)’s child sponsorship programming portfolio is Christ-centered, child-focused, and community based. Covering 40 countries throughout Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East/Eastern Europe, WVUS’ sponsorship programming is multi-sectoral, bringing together holistic programming integrating child protection & participation, education, health & nutrition, WASH, livelihoods, advocacy, and faith and development.
The Senior Program Manager (SPM) will join a highly skilled and passionate team that sits at the nexus of our global child sponsorship portfolio, allowing the SPM to engage in various efforts focused on sponsorship revitalization, innovation, and continuous program and operational improvement.
Primarily, the SPM will ensure the strategic management of his/her assigned portfolio, consistently seeking the alignment of program quality/impact, financial oversight/accountability, and donor expectations/experience. The SPM’s assigned portfolio will consist of 4 to 6 countries and will represent an approximate combined annual ministry budget of $20-50M. The SPM will work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders within the U.S. and internationally to provide strategic oversight and support to their assigned portfolio, generally managing programs that have about a 10 to 12-year cycle. This role is designed for a dynamic, proactive individual ready to make a tangible impact in the world by ensuring children, their families, and their communities experience life in all its fullness.

YOU BRING THESE SKILLS

• Minimum of 6-8 years of relevant professional experience, preferably with international relief and development or child sponsorship NGO field experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of holistic, multi-sectoral, integrated programming.
• Experience with community-based design, monitoring, accountability, and learning.
• Ability to think strategically as well as maintain attention to details (adjusting/adapting plans as needed)
• Ability to facilitate multi-stakeholder engagements/meetings
• Understanding of budgets, spending, trend analysis etc.
• Cross-cultural skills, communication, and aptitude required.
• Multilingual skills (specifically Spanish and/or French) strongly preferred
• Strong skills with Microsoft Office Suite products and virtual meeting platforms

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience (eight additional years).
Master’s degree in related field, such as international relations, social sciences, etc. preferred.
Project Management certification/training is an advantage

ADDITIONAL SKILLS WE ARE INTERESTED IN:

Proactive, collaborative, open communication, emotional/cultural intelligence.
Analytical, problem-solving, continuous improvement, change management, and multitasking.
Ability to manage through influence and relationships.
Non-profit fundraising knowledge and/or sponsorship service operations work experience is an advantage.

• Keep Christ central in individual and corporate life. Actively participate in and contribute to the spiritual disciplines of the organization (Christian conduct, chapel, prayer, worship, devotions, and leadership of devotions); incorporate WV Core Values into decisions within scope of role.
• Strategic Representation: Act as the primary WVUS liaison to assigned Strategy Support Teams (engaging with Field Office and other international Support Office colleagues) to ensure the alignment of sponsorship portfolio within the larger country strategy, programmatic priorities, geographic footprint, and resource plan. This will include, but is not limited to:
  o advocate for U.S. programming, financial, and donor priorities
  o negotiate and communicate WVUS’ multi-year investment/portfolio decisions
  o develop/review multi-year country strategies

o monitor and escalate programmatic, financial, and operational impact and risks

• Sponsorship-Funded Area Programs: Manage the WVUS sponsorship portfolio in assigned countries, following established DMEAL (design, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning) processes and timelines; leveraging our foundational and evidence-based multi-sectoral program modules; ensuring compliance with fiduciary requirements/thresholds; and supporting alignment with donor promise/intent. This will include, but is not limited to:

o review/approval of program feasibility, start-ups, and transitions
o review and approval of annual detailed implementation plans and budgets
o review/approval of additional sponsorship-funded reserves
o review and monitoring of program and financial reports
o conduct monitoring calls and field visits within assigned portfolio

o identify and trend portfolio level performance to inform resource decisions and directions

• Internal Engagement: Proactively connect and collaborate with other WVUS teams to strengthen our integrated and holistic sponsorship programming. This will include, but is not limited to:

o negotiate technical program support
o coordinate program alignment across funding streams (e.g., grants, high net worth, foundations)
o identify and resolve program financial concerns/escalations
o communicate any major cross-funding stream risks, concerns, and/or opportunities
o support operational/logistical teams to enhance performances

o liaise with marketing teams to pre-position, review, and/or resolve any portfolio-specific communications or concerns to enhance the donor journey.

• As assigned, support Sponsorship Programming Team on specific initiatives. This will include, but is not limited to:

o lead special projects/working groups related to evidence & learning, knowledge management, systems support, improved operations, or project management
o provide on-boarding support or capacity building to support teammates’ development
o work collaboratively with team members to identify concerns and share experiences and insights to problem-solve.