Position: Senior Programme Manager
Location: Karachi
No. of Position: 01

About the Role:
The Senior Programme Manager is ITA’s most senior representative in the province and is accountable for all ITA operations across Sindh: strategy, programme delivery, financial management, fundraising, government relations, partnerships, people and compliance. The role ensures that ITA’s full Sindh portfolio, spanning foundational learning, ASER, out-of-school children, girls’ and inclusive education, school meals and other initiatives, is delivered to a high standard, on time, within budget and in line with donor and organisational requirements.

The Senior Programme Manager leads the growth and financial sustainability of ITA in the province by building a diversified funding pipeline, deepening partnerships with the Government of Sindh, and positioning ITA as the partner of choice for evidence-based education reform at provincial, district and community levels.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

• Strategic Leadership & Provincial Direction
  • Develop and lead a multi-year Sindh Provincial Strategy and annual operational plans aligned with ITA’s national strategy and the Government of Sindh’s education sector priorities.
  • Set priorities across the Sindh portfolio so that individual projects add up to a coherent programme of systems change rather than a set of separate projects.
  • Identify emerging opportunities, risks and gaps in the provincial education landscape and adapt ITA’s positioning accordingly.
  • Serve as a member of ITA’s senior leadership team, contributing to organisation-wide strategy, policy and decision-making.
• Programme Operations & Delivery
  • Provide overall leadership and oversight of all projects and programmes in Sindh, including (but not limited to) TaRL, the Pakistan Literacy Project (PLP), the WFP School Meals literacy component, OOSC initiatives, ASER and other donor-funded work.
  • Ensure every project is delivered to agreed scope, quality, timelines and budgets, with sound workplans, procurement plans and implementation schedules.
  • Hold regular portfolio reviews with Programme Managers; track progress against results frameworks and take corrective action where delivery falls behind.
  • Ensure strong coordination across districts and projects to avoid duplication, share resources, and maximise synergies in field operations.
  • Oversee the timely and high-quality submission of all narrative and technical reports to donors, government and ITA head office.
• Financial Management & Compliance
  • Hold overall budget-holder accountability for the Sindh portfolio, including the preparation, approval and monitoring of provincial and project budgets.
  • Review monthly budget-versus-actual reports, burn rates and cash-flow forecasts; take timely decisions on reallocations, cost savings and spending pace.
  • Ensure compliance with ITA financial policies, donor rules and regulations (e.g., UN agencies, USDA/McGovern-Dole, bilateral and foundation donors), and applicable Pakistani laws and tax requirements.
  • Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting to donors and head office, and lead preparation for internal and external audits, donor reviews and spot checks; ensure audit findings are addressed promptly.
  • Strengthen internal controls, delegation of authority, and value-for-money practices across all offices in Sindh.
  • Contribute to cost recovery and overhead planning to support the long-term financial health of the Sindh operation.
• Fundraising, Resource Mobilisation & Business Development
  • Lead the development and implementation of a Sindh resource mobilisation strategy with clear annual fundraising targets.
  • Build and maintain a diversified funding pipeline, including multilateral and bilateral donors, UN agencies, foundations, corporate/CSR partners, philanthropists, and government contracts and partnerships.
  • Lead the preparation of concept notes, proposals, budgets and tender responses; ensure submissions are competitive, evidence-based and of high quality.
  • Cultivate and steward donor relationships, including regular updates, field visits and strategic dialogue to secure renewals, extensions and new funding.
  • Track fundraising performance, maintain a pipeline tracker, and report progress to the CEO and senior leadership.
• Government Relations, Policy & Advocacy
  • Act as ITA’s principal representative with the Government of Sindh, including the School Education & Literacy Department (SE&LD), the Reform Support Unit (RSU), DCAR, PITE, the Sindh Education Foundation, and district education offices.
  • Manage formal agreements with government (LOUs, MoUs and addenda), ensuring obligations are met and approvals and NOCs are obtained on time.
  • Represent ITA in technical working groups, sector forums, Local Education Group meetings and policy consultations.
  • Use evidence from ASER and ITA programmes to shape provincial policy, sector plans and budget allocations for foundational learning, out-of-school children and equity.
  • Lead advocacy efforts that move successful models from pilot to government adoption and scale.
• Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Build and manage strategic partnerships with donors, UN agencies, INGOs, academic and research institutions, the private sector, and local civil society organisations.
  • Oversee sub-grantee and implementing partner relationships, including partner selection, due diligence, agreements, capacity building and performance monitoring.
  • Strengthen relationships with communities, School Management Committees, parents and local leaders to ensure ownership and sustainability of ITA’s work.
• People Management & Organisational Development
  • Lead, motivate and manage all ITA staff in Sindh, promoting a culture of accountability, collaboration, learning and integrity.
  • Oversee workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, performance management and staff development across all Sindh offices.
  • Ensure HR policies are applied fairly and consistently; address staff grievances and disciplinary matters in coordination with head office HR.
  • Build the capacity of managers and second-line leadership to support succession planning and organisational resilience.
  • Promote gender equity, diversity and inclusion in staffing and workplace practices.
• Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning
  • Ensure robust MEL systems are in place for all Sindh projects, with clear indicators, data quality assurance and regular learning reviews.
  • Oversee the planning and delivery of ASER in Sindh and other assessments and research studies, ensuring findings feed into programme design and policy dialogue.
  • Promote the use of data and evidence in management decisions, adaptive programming and fundraising.
  • Document and disseminate lessons learned, case studies and success stories.
• Administration, Procurement, Assets & Logistics
  • Oversee the efficient running of all ITA offices in Sindh, including office management, logistics, transport and IT.
  • Ensure procurement is transparent, competitive and compliant with ITA and donor procedures.
  • Ensure proper management, registration and safeguarding of assets, inventory and supplies.
• Risk Management, Safeguarding & Security
  • Maintain a risk register for the Sindh portfolio covering programmatic, financial, reputational, security and compliance risks, and put mitigation measures in place.
  • Ensure full compliance with ITA’s safeguarding and child protection, PSEA, anti-fraud and anti-harassment policies; act as the senior focal point for reporting and follow-up in Sindh.
  • Oversee staff safety and security protocols, including field travel, emergencies and business continuity (e.g., during floods, heatwaves or civil unrest).
• Communications & Visibility
  • Raise ITA’s profile in Sindh through media engagement, events, publications and digital platforms, in coordination with head office communications.
  • Ensure donor visibility and branding requirements are met across all projects.
  • Represent ITA at provincial, national and international conferences and forums.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Sindh projects delivered on time, within budget and to agreed quality standards.
• Budget utilisation within agreed variance; clean audits with no major findings.
• Annual fundraising targets met, with a growing and diversified donor base.
• Strong, active agreements and working relationships with SE&LD and other government bodies.
• Timely, high-quality donor and management reporting.
• Staff retention, performance and satisfaction across Sindh offices.
• Zero tolerance compliance on safeguarding, fraud and security incidents, with prompt response where issues arise.

Key Relationships:

• Internal: CEO, senior leadership team, head office Finance, HR, MEL and Communications, Programme Managers and field teams.
• External: Government of Sindh (SE&LD, RSU, DCAR, PITE, SEF, district education offices), donors and UN agencies, INGOs and CSOs, research institutions, private sector partners, communities and media.

Required Profile:

• Master’s degree in education, public policy, development studies, management, or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in the education or development sector, including at least 5 years in a senior management role overseeing multi-project, multi-donor portfolios.
• Proven track record in financial management of large donor-funded budgets, including budgeting, forecasting, compliance and audits.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising and business development, including winning competitive grants and managing donor relationships.
• Strong networks with and experience engaging the Government of Sindh and the provincial education sector.
• Experience leading and developing large, geographically dispersed teams.
• Strong strategic thinking, decision-making, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Urdu; knowledge of Sindhi is a strong advantage.
• Willingness to travel frequently across Sindh, including to remote districts.

How to apply?

If you are interested in joining our team, please submit your updated Resume along with a Cover Letter clearly stating the position name, your current and expected salary. Applications can be sent via email to [email protected] or by post to Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi, 12-Sharif Colony, Iftikhar Ahmad Malik Road, Canal Park Gulberg 2, Lahore, Pakistan.

We proactively encourage individuals from marginalized groups (e.g., minorities, persons with disabilities, and women from remote or underprivileged areas) to apply.

Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment, violations of safeguarding principles, and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA).