Senior Program Manager Consultant (Program Design, Implementation & Transformation)

The Beneficial Knowledge Group (The BKG) strengthens the operational systems, controls, and teams that organizations rely on to deliver their mission. We work with Government Organizations, NGOs and INGOs, Institutions of Higher Education, Medical & Research Centers, Startups, and Commercial Enterprises, funded by governments, bilateral and multilateral donors, foundations, pharmaceutical sponsors, and industry. Our integrated model combines advisory consulting, tailored professional development, and pre-vetted staffing, so clients receive both sound recommendations and the capability to act on them.

The Opportunity Have you led a country office, a large donor-funded program, or a MEL team, and want to help organizations become the best version of themselves? This role is central to The BKG’s advisory and transformation work. You’ll help clients clarify their vision, design the organization they aspire to become, and manage the change needed to get there. You’ll lead program design, implementation advisory, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), change management, and proposal development, working alongside The BKG CEO, the Engagement Lead, the CPA Expert, and the Senior Consultants.

We are building a pool of seasoned professionals with both headquarters and field office experience at international NGOs. Examples include current or former Country Directors, Program Directors, Project Directors, and Directors or Senior Managers of MEL, communications, programs, or operations.

Assignment Snapshot

• Engagement: Independent consultant, roster/pool-based
• Location: Home-based in the US or abroad; domestic and international travel is likely on most engagements, though not guaranteed
• Duration: Short-term, intermittent assignments based on client demand
• Coordinates with: The BKG Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
• Languages: English (full professional proficiency) required; French (reading and conversational speaking) strongly preferred

What You’ll Do

• Lead engagements that help clients clarify mission, vision, priorities, and theory of change, and translate them into programs, structures, and operating models
• Design new programs and projects, including theories of change, results and logical frameworks, implementation plans, staffing structures, and budgets
• Lead change management for program launches, restructuring, mergers, decentralization, scale up, and closeout
• Facilitate strategic and program planning sessions with Boards, leadership, staff, and partners
• Assess and strengthen program implementation, including workplans, milestones, budgets versus actuals, burn rates, risk registers, and reporting
• Advise headquarters and country offices on portfolio management, sub-award and partner management, and HQ to field coordination
• Design and strengthen MEL systems, and lead program reviews, midterm and final evaluations, and learning reviews (OECD DAC criteria, results based management)
• Contribute program expertise to The BKG’s reviews, assessments, and evaluations, including compliance with 2 CFR 200, EU, UN, World Bank, and foundation rules
• Lead the design and submission of competitive proposals, including concept notes, technical narratives, MEL plans, workplans, and budget narratives
• Prepare program briefs, success stories, funder reports, presentations, and dashboards, in English and, when required, in French
• Depending on the size and complexity of the scope, coordinate a small team of BKG consultants, Engagement Terms
• Independent contractor (1099 for US-based consultants, or equivalent status abroad), engaged per assignment under a separate consulting agreement; not an employment relationship
• Compensation: Daily fee negotiated and agreed in writing for each assignment
• Travel: Per diem at GSA rates (US) or U.S. Department of State rates (abroad), plus approved travel costs such as airfare, ground transportation, visa fees, and required vaccinations, paid in addition to your fee
• Consultants provide their own equipment, maintain their own health, travel, and liability coverage, and handle their own taxes and statutory obligations
• All consultants sign and comply with The BKG Code of Conduct, * Do you have 10 or more years of progressive experience managing programs, projects, or country offices for international NGOs?
• Have you held both headquarters and field office roles with international NGOs?
• Have you held a Director or Senior Manager role, such as Country Director, Program Director, Project Director, Senior Program Manager, Director of Operations, or Director or Senior Manager of MEL or Communications?
• Have you led the design, implementation, and closeout of large, complex, donor-funded programs in Africa or other international settings?
• Have you designed and submitted competitive proposals to US government, multilateral, or foundation funders?
• Do you have strong experience designing and managing monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems?
• Are you available and willing to travel domestically and internationally when engagements require?
• Do you understand that this is an independent contractor (1099 or equivalent) roster position and not employment?
• What is your expected daily fee (USD) as a basis for negotiation?
• What is your level of French?
• Have you led programs in French speaking African countries?
• Which certifications do you hold? (select all that apply)?
• Which funders’ rules have you worked with? (select all that apply)?

• 10+ years of progressive experience managing programs, projects, or country offices for international NGOs, including both headquarters and field office roles
• Director or Senior Manager experience in roles such as Country Director, Deputy Country Director, Program Director, Project Director, Senior Program Manager, Director of Operations, or Director or Senior Manager of MEL or Communications
• Proven record leading the design, implementation, and closeout of large, complex, donor-funded programs in Africa or other international settings
• Strong experience designing and managing MEL systems and leading evaluations and assessments
• Demonstrated experience designing and submitting competitive proposals to US government, multilateral, and foundation funders
• Experience leading program design, organizational change, or transformation initiatives
• Excellent written and verbal communication, facilitation, and presentation skills
• Mastery of the funder rules that govern programs (2 CFR 200, EU, UN, World Bank, foundation rules, and national regulations)
• Full professional proficiency in English, written and spoken
• Bachelor’s degree or international equivalent (such as a Licence) in International Development, Public Health, Public Administration, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field; Master’s or international equivalent (such as a Master 2 or DESS) strongly preferred
• Availability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally when engagements require

Preferred:

• French: ability to read French fluently and communicate in French (strongly preferred)
• Program leadership in Africa, including French speaking countries
• Knowledge of USAID and other US federal funders, the Gates Foundation, and multilateral funders such as the EU, UN agencies, and the World Bank
• Experience in sectors such as health, education, livelihoods, food security, governance, or humanitarian response
• PMP, PMD Pro, or a recognized MEL certification, or international equivalent
• Experience with MEL and data tools such as DHIS2, KoboToolbox, DevResults, or Power BI, Submit, in PDF format, your resume/CV highlighting your headquarters and field office experience managing programs, projects, or country offices, your MEL experience, and proposals you have designed and submitted. Include a letter of motivation stating your expertise, your language skills in English and French, your expected daily fee (USD) as a basis for negotiation, your availability, and your willingness to travel. Please have three professional references ready.