Senior Program Officer, Africa

About the role

The Beginnings Fund is a philanthropic initiative running from 2025 to 2030, investing in products, people, and health systems to accelerate maternal and newborn survival in Africa and prevent stillbirths. During its first phase, the Fund focuses on nine countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. The Fund is hiring a Senior Program Officer to design and manage a portfolio of country-level investments in partnership with Ministries of Health, NGOs, and global health experts. The position is fully remote, with a requirement to be based in or near one of the nine focus countries. Salary: $90,000 to $100,000 per year, commensurate with experience. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Responsibilities

• Design, launch, and monitor high-impact programs in maternal and newborn health in one or more focus countries, working from inception through to close-out.
• Develop investment strategies in collaboration with Ministries of Health, national NGO partners, universities, and global technical experts.
• Manage grants across the full project cycle: due diligence, contracting, disbursement, milestone tracking, and reporting.
• Write board updates, donor reports, and briefing papers synthesizing evidence and program performance.
• Track the published evidence base in maternal-newborn health and feed findings into portfolio decisions and grant requirements.

Requirements

• Advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in public health, global health, international relations, or a related field.
• 8 to 12 years of experience in program management, grant-making, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation in international or global health.
• Significant in-country experience working on health systems or community programs in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Strong analytical and writing skills: ability to produce clear, evidence-based grant reports and strategic analyses.
• Fluent English; French or Swahili is an asset for West and East Africa country portfolios.

Nice to have

• Direct expertise in maternal, newborn, or child health programming, including skilled birth attendance, antenatal care, or postnatal care packages.
• Active professional network in Ministries of Health in one or more of the nine focus countries.
• Prior experience with bilateral donors (USAID, FCDO, GIZ), multilateral agencies (UNICEF, WHO), or major foundations in global health.
• Familiarity with results-based financing, adaptive grant management, or portfolio approaches to health systems investment.

How to apply

Apply via Devex at the link above. Submit a CV and a cover letter (max 2 pages) explaining your maternal-newborn health experience and which focus countries you have worked in. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; applying early is recommended. For questions about the role or organization, visit beginningsfund.org.