The Program Manager – Elections will provide strategic, technical, and operational leadership for our client's disability-inclusive election observation program. The role is responsible for program design, implementation, partnership management, and donor reporting, while ensuring high-quality, evidence-based advocacy to promote inclusive electoral processes.

The Program Manager - Elections will work within a dynamic team and engage closely with civil society organizations (CSOs), Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), electoral stakeholders, and development partners.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Serve as primary point of contact and provide overall strategic and operational leadership of the election observation program
• Develop and manage partnerships with CSOs, OPDs, and election stakeholders
• Provide technical assistance and capacity building to partners on inclusive election observation
• Lead program design, work planning, and budgeting processes
• Produce analytical reports on political and electoral developments
• Lead donor reporting, monitoring & evaluation, and data-driven learning
• Manage program budgets, financial tracking, and compliance
• Oversee observer recruitment, deployment, and coordination systems, including accreditation
• Supervise program staff, assistants, and interns
• Represent the program in stakeholder and donor engagements

Qualifications and Experience

• Must have a University Degree in field of study related to international development; political science, international relations, public policy, law or related field.
• Minimum 5–7 years of relevant experience in governance, elections, or civil society programming
• Demonstrated experience in program management and partner coordination
• Proven expertise in inclusive governance, disability inclusion, or election observation
• Strong experience in monitoring & evaluation, data analysis, and reporting
• Experience managing budgets and donor-funded programs
• Familiarity with Zambian electoral processes and political context

Skills and Competencies

• Strong analytical and political assessment skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to manage multiple stakeholders and partnerships
• Strong organizational and leadership skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and data analysis tools
• High level of integrity, objectivity, and non-partisanship; willing to work long hours

Working Conditions

• Based in Lusaka with occasional travel within the country
• May require extended working hours during peak election periods

• Serve as primary point of contact and provide overall strategic and operational leadership of the election observation program
• Develop and manage partnerships with CSOs, OPDs, and election stakeholders
• Provide technical assistance and capacity building to partners on inclusive election observation
• Lead program design, work planning, and budgeting processes
• Produce analytical reports on political and electoral developments
• Lead donor reporting, monitoring & evaluation, and data-driven learning
• Manage program budgets, financial tracking, and compliance
• Oversee observer recruitment, deployment, and coordination systems, including accreditation
• Supervise program staff, assistants, and interns
• Represent the program in stakeholder and donor engagements

• Strong analytical and political assessment skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to manage multiple stakeholders and partnerships
• Strong organizational and leadership skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and data analysis tools
• High level of integrity, objectivity, and non-partisanship; willing to work long hours

• Must have a University Degree in field of study related to international development; political science, international relations, public policy, law or related field.
• Minimum 5–7 years of relevant experience in governance, elections, or civil society programming
• Demonstrated experience in program management and partner coordination
• Proven expertise in inclusive governance, disability inclusion, or election observation
• Strong experience in monitoring & evaluation, data analysis, and reporting
• Experience managing budgets and donor-funded programs
• Familiarity with Zambian electoral processes and political context