Programs Manager
Local contract: 12 months
PLAY International in Rwanda opened its office in 2024 and is looking for a Programs Manager.
Work location: RWANDA - Kigali – Rugando sector; Regular travel is to be expected in the districts where PLAY Rwanda operates.
PLAY International
PLAY International is a French NGO founded in 1999 on the belief that sport is a source of solutions to our societal challenges. PLAY International's main mission is to design and implement education and inclusion projects for vulnerable children and young people, using sports games as an educational tool. The NGO works on issues such as access to and retention in school, gender equality, prevention, and changing perceptions of disability. Since its creation, PLAY International has implemented educational and humanitarian projects in France and internationally in more than 20 countries, benefiting nearly 1 million children. Today, the association has seven offices in Burundi, France, Kosovo, Senegal, the Indian Ocean, the DRC, and Rwanda. PLAY International is a member of Groupe SOS.
Groupe SOS
Groupe SOS is an association group and a leader in social entrepreneurship in Europe. With no shareholders and a non-profit status, Groupe SOS operates in France and in more than 40 countries around the world.
Role and positioning
The programs manager is responsible for coordinating and implementing the various projects developed by PLAY in Rwanda during most of the project cycle. Their project management skills and programmatic expertise ensure that the Rwanda office delivers high-quality programs, constantly striving to improve the impact of PLAY's work in Rwanda.
Responsible for ensuring that donor commitments are met, he or she promotes the high-quality implementation of projects, in particular through the coordination of activities, monitoring and evaluation, and partnership relations. He or she works in close collaboration with the rest of the team in Rwanda, which includes the Country Representative, the Educational Coordinator, and the Finance Officer. He/she liaises with PLAY's head office teams, including the Operations Department, the Finance Department, and the Social Innovation Department. He/she has managerial responsibility for the Program Assistant's priorities from a hierarchical and operational perspective.
He/she supports the implementation strategies for project activities, contributes to capacity building among partners, supports the definition of advocacy strategies for each project, and promotes cross-project capitalization.
Key responsibilities and tasks
1. Operational and budgetary coordination of projects
- Ensure the implementation of each project by drawing up an implementation plan for activities, an appropriate schedule, and a provisional budget.
- Ensure the coordination and overall monitoring of activities, as well as their projected and actual budgets.
- Conduct periodic budget reviews (monthly, semi-annually, and annually) and follow up with partners to ensure the timely submission of narrative and financial reports
- Update and monitor the budget matrices for each project in conjunction with the Country Representative and PLAY's finance department.
- Support the program assistant in prioritizing activities and missions
2. Project monitoring, evaluation, and capitalization
- Develop, monitor, and evaluate all projects implemented, ensuring effective and efficient budget management to ensure program accountability
- Proactively identify problems and report them in order to adjust implementation plans and schedules.
- Supervise the drafting of narrative and financial reports to donors in accordance with their requirements and PLAY International's internal process
- Support external evaluations or audits over time
3. Strategic programming for the Rwanda office, seeking and monitoring co-financing
- Monitor and identify funding or program opportunities in Rwanda and the East African Region
- Oversee the drafting of applications for (co-)funding or responses to calls for projects/expressions of interest
- Develop new programs in line with the priorities and strategic choices of the office and headquarters
- Support the definition of advocacy strategies in relation to each project
4. Cross-functional support to the Rwanda office
- Contribute to the positive image and credibility of the organization for its influence in Rwanda
- Participate in the drafting of external communication content and validate messages
- Represent the organization in national bodies (ministerial working groups, national platforms or coordination bodies) or local bodies (JAF General Assembly in the districts of intervention, etc.)
- Ensure constructive relationships with partners, government institutions, and public or private donors.
Required skills
Experience, Training, and Knowledge
- Master's degree in international development/humanitarian action/or education
- Required expertise in development project management and cycle.
- At least 15 years of experience in project coordination or monitoring and evaluation in international NGOs.
- Proven knowledge of the education, gender, and/or sport and development sectors
- Proficiency in monitoring, evaluation, learning, and accountability procedures and tools for development projects
Know-how
- Strong relationship management skills and ability to work effectively with local stakeholders.
- Representation skills.
- Strong writing skills, ability to synthesize information
- Organizational skills and ability to manage priorities and emergencies
- Ability to manage a heavy workload
- Proficiency in Excel/Word/PowerPoint
Interpersonal skills
- Independent and proactive, results-oriented and team-oriented
- Attention to detail, precision, and ability to meet deadlines when performing assigned tasks
- Critical thinking and ability to solve problems creatively, with good judgment
- Good communication skills and strong interpersonal skills
Location: Kigali, Rwanda.
How to apply
Applications should be submitted no later than January 06th, 2026. Please click on the “Apply” button to complete your application.