Zambia, Program Manager

About SplashSplash is an international development organization founded in 2007 and headquartered in Seattle, USA. Over the past 18 years, we’ve reached nearly one million children with clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs in cities around the world.In 2019, we launched Project WISE (WASH in Schools for Everyone) — a five-year initiative that served over 800,000 children across Ethiopia and India. Building on this success, Project WISE II (2025–2030) expands our impact to East and Southern Africa — starting in Zambia, Malawi, and Tanzania.We believe local capacity to solve challenges at scale already exists. Our role is to partner, strengthen, and amplify that capacity — ensuring every child has access to clean water, clean hands, and clean toilets.Our work is guided by five values that shape everything we do:People – People first. People second. People third.Quality- Beautiful products that function and last. Honesty – No drama. No surprises. No BS.Joy- Kids at heart, seeing potential everywhere. Mistakes – Make them. Don’t repeat them.Learn more: www.splash.org.The JobJob title: Zambia Program ManagerLine Manager: Country Director, Splash ZambiaLocation: Lusaka, ZambiaThe Job: Full time office basedPosition OverviewThe Program Manager – Zambia will lead the planning, coordination, and implementation of Project WISE II in Zambia. This is a dynamic, hands-on leadership role requiring a strong technical understanding of WASH, experience managing multi-stakeholder programs, and the ability to deliver results in complex systems.Reporting to the Zambia Country Director, the Program Manager will work closely with government partners, implementing organizations, and Splash’s global team to ensure timely, high-quality, and impactful delivery of programs. The ideal candidate is a collaborative, organized, and mission-driven professional who thrives on translating plans into action, solving challenges creatively, and motivating teams to achieve excellence.Roles & Responsibilities Program Leadership & DeliveryLead end-to-end planning, implementation, and monitoring of Project WISE II activities.Oversee timelines, budgets, and deliverables to ensure programs are completed on time and within scope.Coordinate across teams to align infrastructure, behavior change, and monitoring components.Ensure all program activities meet Splash’s quality standards and national WASH-in-Schools guidelines. Stakeholder & Partner CoordinationBuild and maintain strong relationships with government partners, local authorities, and implementing partner organizations.Collaborate closely with school administrators, contractors, and the community to drive local ownership. Represent Splash at meetings, technical working groups, and sector forums. Monitoring, Evaluation & ReportingTrack project progress using data and performance indicators.Develop project plans, budgets, and progress reports.Coordinate with finance teams on activity forecasting and expenditure tracking. Support learning and adaptive management through evidence and feedback. Team Leadership & ManagementLead and mentor project teams, including partner staff and contractors.Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, and joy. Provide performance feedback, coaching, and support to ensure professional growth. Risk, Compliance & Quality AssuranceIdentify and mitigate program risks early.Ensure adherence to Splash policies, donor requirements, and local laws.Promote safety, transparency, and continuous improvement across all program activities.QualificationsBachelor’s degree in project management, international development, public health, or related field; master's degree preferred.5-8 years of experience managing multi-sector development programs, ideally in WASH or education. Proven leadership in planning, budgeting, and reporting on large projects.Strong communication and interpersonal skills, able to collaborate across diverse teams and stakeholders.Excellent organizational and problem-solving abilities.Proficiency in project management tools and Microsoft Office Suite.Experience working in Zambia or similar contexts. Desired QualitiesStrategic thinker who can balance detail with big-picture vision.Collaborative and patient, with a service-oriented leadership style.Curious learner who values data-driven decision-making.Passionate about coaching teams and fostering inclusive, joyful workplaces.Thrives in fast-moving, entrepreneurial environments where innovation is valued.The Ideal CandidateYou are an experienced program manager who brings structure, creativity, and heart to your work. You thrive in dynamic environments, enjoy solving complex problems, and can navigate government systems with professionalism and tact.Compensation & Benefits21 days of paid leave (increasing by 2 days each year up to 28 days).11 public holidays.Wellness Fridays (shortened work hours).Two company-wide breaks (mid-year and year-end). Medical, dental, and vision coverage. Employer contribution to NAPSA.A collaborative, joyful, and mission-driven workplace.(Benefits are aligned with Zambian labor laws and organizational policy.)Salary RangeCompetitive and commensurate with experience.How to ApplyIf this sounds like you — a bold, collaborative, and values-driven leader ready to make a lasting impact — we’d love to hear from you. Join us in bringing clean water, clean hands, and clean toilets to every child in Zambia. 💧