Position Purpose (Role Differentiation)
The Assistant Manager – Program Development & Implementation is a senior-level technical position with a dual mandate:
- Program Development & Resource Mobilization (≈50%) – leading donor-driven proposal development and supporting strategic growth; and
- Program Implementation Support (≈50%) – providing technical, coordination, and compliance support to program teams during execution.
Unlike a Program Officer, this role does not focus on routine coordination or administrative follow-up. Instead, it provides strategic and technical leadership in proposal development and cross-program implementation support.
Unlike a Program Manager, this role does not hold primary budgetary or line-management authority over projects. It leads to strengthening proposal quality, implementation coherence, donor compliance, and learning across programs.
The position serves as a bridge between design and delivery, ensuring donor expectations are translated into practical, field-ready programs.
Key Responsibilities
A. Program Development & Proposal Writing (50%)
- Lead the development of high-quality donor-driven concept notes and full proposals in line with AHKF’s strategic priorities and community needs.
- Conduct and synthesize needs assessments, situational analyses, and desk research relevant to health and community development programs in Pakistan.
- Coordinate proposal inputs from technical teams (health, digital Education, WEE, climate Change and Urbanization etc.), finance, and M&E.
- Develop and/or review:
- Logical frameworks and theories of change
- Results frameworks and indicators
- Detailed implementation plans and timelines
- Proposal budgets (in coordination with Finance)
- Risk, safeguarding, and sustainability sections
- Ensure full compliance with donor guidelines (e.g., UN agencies, bilateral donors, INGOs, foundations) and AHKF policies.
- Maintain a pipeline of funding opportunities, donor intelligence, and proposal trackers.
- Incorporate cross-cutting themes such as gender, safeguarding, inclusion, accountability, and localization, as expected by donors operating in Pakistan.
B. Program Implementation Support (50%)
- Support program start-up and scale-up of newly approved projects, ensuring teams clearly understand:
- Project objectives and deliverables
- Indicators and reporting requirements
- Donor compliance and visibility obligations
- Provide technical and coordination support to HOP and field teams during implementation.
- Review work plans, activity schedules, and outputs to ensure alignment with approved proposals.
- Conduct regular field visitsto:
- Monitor implementation progress
- Identify operational and compliance gaps
- Support problem-solving and adaptive management
- Support integration across programs to avoid duplication and enhance impact.
C. Donor Coordination & Reporting
- Support formal communication with donors related to proposals, implementation updates, and reporting.
- Review and contribute to donor narrative reports, ensuring clarity, evidence-based reporting, and consistency with logframes.
- Track donor reporting calendars, milestones, and compliance requirements.
- Support donor monitoring visits, audits, and evaluations in coordination with relevant departments.
D. Monitoring, Documentation & Learning
- Coordinate with M&E teams to ensure indicators, data collection tools, and reporting formats meet donor standards.
- Support documentation of best practices, lessons learned, and success stories for donor reporting and future proposals.
- Maintain proposal repositories, donor feedback records, and institutional learning documents.
E. Internal Coordination & Capacity Building
- Work closely with Finance to align budgets, burn rates, and donor financial requirements.
- Coordinate with HR and Operations on staffing plans and compliance matters linked to donor-funded projects.
- Support capacity building of program and field teams on:
- Proposal concepts and donor expectations
- Program cycle management
- Reporting quality and compliance
Facilitate coordination between Head Office and Field Offices
F. Compliance, Safeguarding & Ethics (Pakistan NGO Context)
- Ensure adherence to AHKF policies, donor regulations, and Government of Pakistan NGO compliance requirements.
- Actively promote and mainstream:
- Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)
- Child safeguarding
- Protection from harassment, fraud, and corruption
- Ensure safeguarding and compliance commitments are reflected in proposals and implemented in practice.
- Immediately report any suspected violations of the Code of Conduct or safeguarding standards through designated channels.
G. Other Responsibilities
- Represent AHKF professionally in donor forums, coordination meetings, and technical discussions.
- Perform other duties assigned by the Head of Programs in line with organizational needs.
Qualifications & Experience
· Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Public Health, or a related field.
· 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in program development and/or implementation within the NGO/development sector.
· Proven track record of developing successful donor-funded proposals.
Experience engaging with donor agencies, INGOs, government departments, and local partners in Pakistan.
Required Skills & Competencies
· Excellent English proposal and report writing skills.
· Strong understanding of donor compliance frameworks common in Pakistan.
· Ability to translate field realities into structured, fundable program designs.
· Strong analytical, coordination, and facilitation skills.
· Ability to work across departments and with field-based teams.
· High level of integrity, professionalism, and attention to detail.
· Willingness and ability to travel extensively to project areas.
Core Competencies
· Strategic thinking and results orientation
· Collaboration and team facilitation
· Accountability and ethical conduct
· Adaptability in complex operating environments
· Initiative and problem-solving.