CARE International Malawi

Position: Project Manager

CARE International is a leading development organization dedicated to save lives, fight poverty, and achieve social justice with a special emphasis on women and girls. CARE International is a global force and a partner of choice within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty. We are known everywhere for our unshakable commitment to the dignity of people. CARE International and partners contribute to the empowerment of the most marginalized and vulnerable rural women and girls to exercise their rights.

CARE Malawi seeks to recruit professionally qualified person to fill the vacant position within its SOAR BEZOS Family Foundation Project in Lilongwe district.

PROJECT MANAGER

Position Description

The Project Manager will provide overall leadership, strategic direction, coordination, and oversight for the successful implementation of the SOAR/BFF Project. The position is responsible for ensuring effective project planning, implementation, adaptation based on monitoring findings, financial management, stakeholder engagement, reporting, and learning in line with project objectives, donor requirements, CARE Malawi policies, and Government of Malawi priorities.

The Project Manager will lead interventions aimed at improving education outcomes and life skills development for students and enhancing government uptake of accelerated education. The role will ensure that project activities are implemented effectively, efficiently, and sustainably, through government-led systems and with community participation. The project will maintain robust accountability and safeguarding standards and will be grounded on evidence-based decision-making.

Specific duties and responsibilities

include the following:

1. Provide overall leadership and management of the SOAR/BFF Project.
2. Ensure effective implementation of project activities in accordance with approved project documents, donor agreements, work plans, budgets, and organizational policies.
3. Lead project strategic planning and implementation processes to ensure achievement of project goals, outcomes, and targets, informed by monitoring data and contextual trends.
4. Develop annual, quarterly, and monthly work plans and implementation schedules in collaboration with government partners and other CARE Malawi projects.
5. Coordinate and supervise day-to-day project implementation activities across all intervention areas.
6. Maintain strong partnerships with the MoEST, District Councils, District Education Offices, and other relevant government institutions.
7. Liaise with government partners to co-design and roll out a multi-year roadmap for scaling up accelerated education provision.
8. Ensure technical excellence and quality implementation of all project interventions, incorporating considerations and requirements for scaling from startup.
9. Promote evidence-based programming and application of best practices in education and life skills development.
10. Oversee project budget planning, implementation, monitoring, and forecasting.
11. Ensure efficient and accountable utilization of project resources.
12. Provide oversight and strategic guidance to project accountability and learning systems.
13. Liaises with the MEAL Coordinator to obtain timely monitoring data and track project indicators, targets, and performance measures.
14. Build and maintain strong relationships with implementing partners, civil society organizations, community structures, private sector actors, and development partners.
15. Coordinate stakeholder engagement to ensure effective collaboration and ownership of project interventions.
16. Supervise, mentor, coach, and support project staff to achieve high levels of performance.
17. Conduct performance planning, monitoring, and appraisal processes for direct reports.

Minimum Required Qualifications, skills and relevant work experience

1. Bachelor’s degree in education, Social Science and any relevant degree.
2. Professional certification or training in Project Management, Program Management, Education Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, or Leadership will be an added advantage.
3. Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience managing donor-funded development projects, with at least three years of experience in management or technical leadership of large-scale education programs.
4. Demonstrated experience implementing education and social-emotional learning programs.
5. Proven experience in project planning, implementation, budget management, reporting, and stakeholder coordination.
6. Experience collaborating with the MoEST and district-level education structures.
7. Experience managing partnerships with civil society organizations, community-based organizations, and development partners.
8. Demonstrated experience supervising, mentoring, and managing multidisciplinary teams.
9. Familiarity with EMIS, education sector planning processes, and data-driven decision-making will be an added advantage.

Competencies required: Team and relationship building, conflict management, action orientated, communication.

Languages: Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Chichewa

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and experience and possess the required competencies should send their application letters with detailed CVs through email to mwicarerecruit@care.org addressed to the attention of:

The Country Director

CARE Malawi

P/Bag A89

LILONGWE

The closing date for receipt of applications is 27 October 2026. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

CARE has zero tolerance to sexual exploitation and abuse and has a Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Policy which outlines expected behaviors and responsibilities of all staff and CARE related personnel (consultants, vendors, partners, project participants, etc.). All potential candidates will be required to complete a Self-Declaration Form and that successful will be expected to sign up to the Code of Behavior contained in the PSEA Policy.