Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan (AKHS, P) is looking for an experienced and dynamic Program Manager for the Mental Health Program at Gilgit Baltistan/Chitral/Islamabad. If you are a proactive leader with a solid background in Program Management and a passion for program implementation and strengthening health systems, we encourage you to apply.

Position Summary

The Program Manager (Mental Health) will report to the Head of Community Health & Donor-Funded Programs and work in close coordination with the Regional Heads. She/he will provide programmatic and technical support to regional field teams for effective program implementation.

This role has a strategic focus, ensuring that funded programs are integrated into regular programming in alignment with AKHS, P’s vision of strengthening health systems. This position requires frequent travel to project implementation areas in Gilgit Baltistan & Chitral.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Planning & Execution
  • Develop and oversee the implementation of mental health program goals, objectives, and deliverables.
  • Develop yearly plans with detailed programmatic implementation plans and budgets, responsibilities, and timelines (last quarter of programmatic year).
  • Providing technical design inputs, procurement requirements, SOPs, guidelines and KPIs/Indicators that need to be used for effective implementation.
  • Ensure all necessary approvals for above are obtained on time.

• Program implementation
  • Ensuring monitoring of programmatic and budget activities for each year such that:
  • All monthly, quarterly, and annual programmatic targets and deliverables of the program are met including procurement items.
  • Ensure an annual spending rate of more than 90% is achieved through effective grant management in coordination with Grant manager.
  • Ensure progress reports from other agencies are collected and are submitted on time and are of high quality

• Program development
  • Complementing the efforts of program department for designing new initiatives, proposals etc
  • Identify new grant opportunities
  • Ensure programmatic integration and sustainability
  • Facilitate in development of centralized case management

• Project Coordination
  • Manage multiple internal, external and inter AKDN agencies within the program, ensuring     they align with organizational priorities and strategies.
  • Coordinate with other AKDN agencies such as AKU, AKES, P, AKRSP, AKFP, Jamati institutions National and regional councils and health boards etc.
  • Coordinate with Regional Heads and supporting Regional Project Managers to ensure that activities within the grant are being implemented and/or adapted based on context.
  • Coordinate Oversight and Working Group committee meetings on a monthly and quarterly basis to ensure alignment and communication on programmatic outputs and milestones.
  • Ensure topic-specific steering committees are meeting regularly and achieving outlined deliverables.

• Stakeholder Management
  • Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including different department of AKU (BMI, department of psychiatry, IED), AKES, P, AKRSP, AKFP, Jammati institutions National, regional councils and health boards, govt and other relevant stakeholders’ partners, to ensure smooth communication and execution.

• Budget & Resource Management
  • Oversee program budgets, resource allocation, and financial performance to optimize cost-effectiveness.
  • Coordinate with the grant manager to ensure effective utilization of allocated budget by other partners
  • Apprise the management on project financial expending’s with variance analysis on regular basis.

• Risk Management
  • Identify potential risks, develop mitigation strategies, and resolve issues affecting program success.
  • With the support of project Identify potential risks in project implementation and mitigate strategies
  • Oversee the implementation of crisis helpline

• Monitoring & Reporting
  • With the support of MERL manager develop KPIs for the project
  • Track progress, analyze data, and provide regular updates on program performance to leadership.
  • With the support of MERL manager develop KPIs for sub grantees and track progress
  • Present project progress during monthly r program management reviews

• Process Improvement
  • Continuously evaluate and refine program strategies, methodologies, and workflows for enhanced efficiency.

• Team Leadership
  • Supervise and support project managers and team members, fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability.

Qualification and Experience

• MBBS / MPH / MScN / BScN /MSC in international development/ Master’s degree in development studies / public policy / social science or any relevant discipline.
• At least 5 years’ experience in project / program management / coordination in development sector.
• Experience in technical report writing, proposal writing, concept notes, briefs, and presentations.
• Demonstrated proficiency in professional software required to perform above writing and presentation development tasks.
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, communication (both verbal and written), presentation and team-building skills.
• Possess professional maturity, sensitivity to different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify AKHS, P values.
• Willingness to travel to program focused geographic areas Gilgit Baltistan and Chitral Regions

AKHS is committed to reducing our impact on climate and the environment and have set ourselves the goal of striving for net-zero carbon operations by 2030. All staff are expected to take part in making this a reality. The Program Manager accompanied with his/her Line Manager is expected to identify and understand which aspects of his/her work have most impact on the environment, and define tasks, work, and personal goals within his/her work plan to reduce these impacts and bring AKHS closer to net zero. 

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.