Program Development Manager – Global

Spark Microgrants

Program Development Manager at Spark MicroGrants overseeing collaborative program design processes and fostering community-driven development. Leading teams to improve program design standards and ensure high-quality implementation.

Posted 5/17/2026full-timeRemote • 🇷🇼 RwandaMid-LevelSeniorWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Spark

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead new program design processes from inception to program launch for assigned initiatives, ensuring alignment with Spark’s model, standards, and program design procedures
Manage cross-functional working groups, including developing budgets and workplans, coordinating inputs, and driving progress toward design deliverables
Plan and facilitate workshops and collaborative sessions to guide internal stakeholders, partners, and government counterparts toward defined design objectives
Lead the coordination of internal inputs and reviews to ensure all design outputs are consistent with decisions, polished, and responsive to identified objectives
Author concept notes, implementation guides, or other required documentations that accompany new program designs
Develop and maintain program design documentation, including templates, tools, examples, and standard operating procedures to support consistent and high-quality design processes
Lead the development, validation, and updating of assigned "Design Standards" outlining minimum standards and guidance on core elements of the FCAP model
Build organizational understanding of program design processes through onboarding, coaching, and ongoing technical support to country and functional teams
Identify quality and capacity gaps in program design processes and recommend strategies to address them through systems improvements, tools, or training
Participate in Program Development functional group by sharing lessons and supporting national scale design efforts across Spark’s countries of focus
Lead program development contributions to internal working groups focused on cross-portfolio exchange
Develop external-facing materials that communicate program designs to donors, partners, and other stakeholders
Maintain organized and accessible knowledge management systems for program design materials, including implementation guides, concept notes, budgets, subawards, and curricula
Provide technical guidance on key program areas (e.g. CDD and designing for national scale) and operational areas (e.g. working with World Bank systems or operations)
Oversee technical specialists or consultants to provide needed technical expertise or support
Manage cross-departmental collaboration to deliver high-quality program design outputs

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in a related field
Minimum 5 years of experience in international development, including program design, strategy development, or community development
Demonstrated experience leading or coordinating cross-functional teams or working groups, with the ability to manage inputs and stakeholders and drive implementation of work plans
Experience facilitating workshops, trainings, or collaborative design sessions with diverse stakeholders, including internal teams, partners, and/or government counterparts
Technical understanding of community-driven development, rural development, national scale program design, or working within World Bank systems would be an asset
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities across countries or teams.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Equal Opportunity Employer
Safeguarding principles

ATS Keywords

✓ Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

program designstrategy developmentcommunity developmentfacilitating workshopsdeveloping budgetstechnical guidanceknowledge managementimplementation guidesdesign standardscross-functional team management

Soft Skills

communication skillsorganizational skillsattention to detailstakeholder managementcollaborationcoachingproblem-solvingleadershipfacilitationmulti-priority management