Program Manager (Manyara / Zanzibar)

About Imagine Worldwide

Imagine Worldwide Tanzania (Imagine-TZ) is a non-profit organization affiliated with Imagine Worldwide (IW), a global NGO committed to transforming education through innovative technology. Imagine-TZ seeks to demonstrate that children — when provided with access to personalized, tablet-based learning — can acquire foundational literacy and numeracy skills with minimal adult supervision. By leveraging evidence-based digital learning solutions, IW partners with governments, schools, and communities to expand access to quality education for underserved children across the country.  Literacy and numeracy skills are the basis for a better life and the positive benefits to health, wealth, and social outcomes are multi-generational. However, 9 out of 10 children across Sub-Saharan Africa cannot read and understand a simple text by age 10. Imagine works with partners worldwide to confront this crisis, using data and research to continuously refine and scale its foundational learning solution.

Imagine- TZ has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST), the President’s Office - Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT) in Zanzibar to implement a program known as MsingiTek. This program will be rolled out in five regions of mainland (Morogoro, Manyara, Shinyanga, Tabora, and Ruvuma) as well as across 11 districts of Zanzibar. The first phase of the program, launched in May 2025, will reach 533 public primary schools (500 in mainland Tanzania and 33 in Zanzibar) over the course of 15 months. If MsingTek demonstrates improvements in literacy and numeracy outcomes, it will be scaled nationwide in close collaboration with the government. This initiative has the potential to transform the learning journey for millions of children across Tanzania.

 

About the Role

The  Program Manager  will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of MsingiTek across 200 public primary schools in the Manyara and Zanzibar regions. Program delivery will be managed through two local implementing partners (ISPs), each overseeing 100 schools and collectively employing 22 staff across four districts. The PM will play a pivotal role in coaching, supporting, and holding these implementing partners accountable for high-quality execution. Given the scale and complexity of the initiative, direct presence in every school is not feasible; therefore, the ideal candidate must be an effective leader capable of influencing others. This includes aligning and equipping local partners, building trust and commitment among headteachers and teachers, and fostering collaboration with government stakeholders and local communities.

The successful candidate will excel at creating clarity, building capacity, and mobilizing large teams toward shared goals—ensuring all actors are both motivated and equipped to achieve key outcomes.

Performance will be measured by three key indicators: average weekly minutes of learning per child on tablets, consistency in data reporting from devices, and improved school attendance. Achieving success in this role means laying the groundwork for national scale. We are looking for an individual who not only delivers results at scale but also demonstrates the potential to grow with the organization.

 

Key Responsibilities

• ISP Management: Coach, support, and hold two local NGO implementing partners accountable for exceptional delivery across schools. Ensure they have the tools, guidance, and motivation needed to drive results - not just activity. 
• Supply Chain Liaison: Ensure smooth installation of all MsingiTek equipment at the onset of the program. Maintain clear coordination with supply and tech teams to support efficient processes for ongoing maintenance and replacement of broken equipment. 
• Local Government Engagement: Build strong, trusting relationships with ward, district, and regional education authorities. Align stakeholders around shared goals, support government-led monitoring and supervision, and strengthen local ownership to ensure our long-term success.
• Data Analysis: Monitor implementation through real-time data on learning time, attendance, and equipment functionality. Use trends to guide partner coaching, inform decisions, and trigger timely action. Turn numbers into better outcomes - week by week, school by school.
• Sustainability Strategy: Work closely with two fellow Program Managers and Imagine Tz leadership to shape a scalable implementation model, in collaboration with government counterparts. Strengthen systems, build partner and government capacity, and contribute to a long-term strategy for nationwide expansion and sustainability.
• Product & Systems Feedback: Be the eyes and ears on the ground. Observe where systems break down, where user experiences could improve, and where children are most or least engaged. Share actionable feedback that helps the team refine dashboards, improve reporting, strengthen content, and expand time on task. 
• Program Development Support: Support the Program Director in developing tools and structures that address needs and challenges in the field. Whether it’s a new tracker, an improved communication flow, or a process tweak; help us stay nimble and effective as we grow.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Project Management, Business Administration, MEAL, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in program/project management of similar size and scope as MsingiTek. 
• 5+ years of team leadership experience, preferably managing remote/rural field-based teams.
• Experience of rural community engagement. 
• Experience working with government stakeholders; from national to ward levels.
• Experience implementing technology-driven and/or heavily data driven programs (preferred).

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Program Implementation: You’ve successfully led multi-site, multi-partner programs; making sure implementation stays true to design, and that actions lead to measurable impact.
• Organisational Skills: With exceptional attention to detail and a knack for moving complex workstreams forward, you keep things on track without ever dropping the ball.
• Systems Proficiency: You’re digitally fluent and not afraid to dive into new systems. Whether it’s troubleshooting or learning a new platform, you embrace tech as an enabler of our work.
• Data Analysis: You don’t just collect data - you use it! From spotting trends to identifying gaps, you translate numbers into insights that sharpen our programs and drive smart decisions.
• Team Leadership: You lead with clarity and heart. Whether it’s a local partner, or a government counterpart, you know how to align, build capacity, and coach others to deliver their best.
• Stakeholder Engagement: You build trust, generate buy-in, and keep momentum going with everyone from local communities to government leaders; turning conversations into action.
• Communication: You communicate with purpose. Whether you’re inspiring parents, guiding team members, or engaging a room full of ministers, your words inform, motivate, and mobilize.

Qualities

•  Passion for Imagine’s mission and vision 
•  Demonstrated commitment to equity in educational access and outcomes
• Passion for project management
• Demonstrated ability to think independently and solve problems
• Collaborative team player; clear and proactive communicator
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to work in a fast-paced, changing environment

 

Compensation & Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.

 

Location

The Program Manager must be based in either Manyara and Zanzibar with frequent travel to the other region and to our headquarters in Dar es Salaam. 

 

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Imagine Worldwide is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.