Field Operations and Partnering Manager

With 75 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.

Come join our 31,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!

Employee Contract Type:

Job Description:

The Field Operations and Partnering Manager provides strategic leadership and oversight for World Vision Malawi's field operations, programme implementation, and partnership portfolio, ensuring the effective delivery of high-quality, impactful, locally led, gender-responsive, and climate-resilient programmes that contribute to the achievement of the National Strategy, Tsogolo Strategic Framework, and organizational priorities. Reporting to the Director of Programmes and serving as a member of the Programme Management Team, the role is responsible for strengthening programme quality, operational excellence, and partnership effectiveness across all field-based interventions.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership, Field Operations and Programme Delivery (35%)

• Provide strategic leadership for the implementation of the National Strategy and Tsogolo IPF across all field operations.
• Ensure Area Programmes and grants deliver high-quality results, achieve targets, and contribute to child well-being and household resilience.
• Oversee operational planning, implementation, monitoring, and performance management across field locations.
• Drive operational excellence, accountability, efficiency, and value for money.
• Promote integrated and adaptive programming approaches that respond to emerging needs and opportunities.

2. Strategic Partnerships, Localization and External Engagement (30%)

• Lead implementation of World Vision Malawi's partnership and localization agenda.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with government, local NGOs, faith actors, community structures, private sector, and development partners.
• Strengthen local partner capacity and leadership to enhance sustainability and local ownership.
• Represent World Vision Malawi in coordination, policy, and technical forums.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration, influence, advocacy, and resource mobilization.

3. Programme Quality, Impact, Accountability and Learning (15%)

• Ensure programme quality standards are applied across design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.
• Strengthen community accountability, safeguarding, gender equality, disability inclusion, and climate resilience.
• Promote evidence-based decision-making, innovation, and adaptive management.
• Facilitate organizational learning and the replication of best practices.

4. Systems Strengthening, Sustainability and Risk Management (10%)

• Strengthen government, community, and partner systems to sustain programme outcomes.
• Lead programme sustainability and transition planning.
• Ensure effective risk management, safeguarding, compliance, and resource stewardship.
• Promote ethical conduct and accountability across field operations and partnerships.

5. People Leadership and Organizational Performance (10%)

• Lead, mentor, and develop Area Programme Managers and field leadership teams.
• Foster a high-performing culture of accountability, collaboration, learning, and innovation.
• Support talent development, succession planning, and staff well-being.
• Strengthen organizational capacity to deliver strategic priorities

• undefined

Knowledge, Qualifications and Experience Required

• Master's Degree in Development Studies, Project Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, International Development, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Relevant professional certification in programme management or leadership will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive experience in senior programme management, field operations, partnership management, or development programming.
• At least 5 years of leadership experience managing large multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing multi-sector development programmes within a complex NGO environment.
• Proven experience working with government institutions, local organizations, faith-based partners, and development stakeholders.
• Experience leading geographically dispersed programme teams.
• Strong understanding of localization, systems strengthening, community development, and resilience programming.
• Experience working within World Vision or a similar international development organization is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of Malawi's development context and NGO operating environment.

Applicant Types Accepted: