Program Manager, Research, Proposal Development, and Communications

Program Manager, Research, Proposal Development, and Communications

The Program Manager will lead the development, implementation, and management of strategic programs and projects at Karwan-e-Hayat. The role is responsible for identifying funding opportunities, developing high-quality grant proposals (including research grants), managing donor and partner relationships, and ensuring effective execution of projects from initiation through completion. The position will work closely with internal teams, technical experts, researchers, and external stakeholders to advance Karwan-e-Hayat’s mental health and development agenda.Reports to: CEO

RESPONSIBILITIES

Program and Project Management

· Lead planning, implementation, monitoring, and close-out of organizational programs and projects.

· Develop detailed project work plans, timelines, budgets, and implementation frameworks.

· Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.

· Coordinate across clinical, administrative, finance, and program teams for effective implementation.

· Monitor project progress and address implementation challenges proactively.

· Maintain project documentation and reporting systems.

· Ensure donor compliance and adherence to grant requirements.

· Conduct regular project review meetings and provide progress updates to senior leadership.

Proposal Development and Grant Acquisition

· Identify funding opportunities from bilateral donors, foundations, government agencies, corporate donors, and research institutions.

· Lead development of competitive proposals, concept notes, and grant applications.

· Coordinate with technical staff to develop program designs, theories of change, workplans, and budgets.

· Prepare proposals for institutional, philanthropic, and research grants.

· Develop and strengthen proposal content including needs assessments, problem statements, logical frameworks, indicators, and implementation strategies.

· Support preparation of grant budgets in coordination with finance teams.

· Track grant pipelines and submission calendars.

Research Grants and Research Project Support

· Identify and pursue opportunities for mental health and public health research funding.

· Coordinate development of research proposals in collaboration with investigators and technical teams.

· Coordinate with Karwan-e-Hayat medical and rehabilitation teams to gather data that can be adapted for research publication.

· Support research protocol development, ethics submissions, and donor requirements where applicable.

· Coordinate implementation and monitoring of funded research initiatives.

· Support dissemination of research findings through reports, publications, presentations, and donor updates.

Strategic Communications and Visibility

· Support development and implementation of high-level communications strategies aligned with organizational priorities and fundraising objectives.

· Collaborate with communications and program teams to develop compelling narratives, impact stories, donor briefs, presentations, and organizational materials.

· Ensure projects generate high-quality content and evidence for external communications, advocacy, donor engagement, and knowledge sharing.

· Support development of project success stories, case studies, publications, and thought leadership content.

· Coordinate communication of program achievements and research findings through reports, presentations, digital channels, and stakeholder events.

· Represent and position Karwan-e-Hayat in strategic forums, conferences, and networking opportunities to enhance organizational visibility.

· Contribute to strengthening Karwan-e-Hayat's profile among donors, development partners, academia, and government stakeholders.

Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement

· Develop and maintain relationships with donors, universities, government institutions, NGOs, and development partners including tracking progress on Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with these organizations.

· Represent Karwan-e-Hayat in meetings, forums, and external engagements.

· Coordinate strategic partnerships supporting organizational growth.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

· Develop project monitoring plans and indicators.

· Track project deliverables and outcomes.

· Prepare donor reports, project updates, presentations, and organizational reports.

· Use data and evidence to support decision-making and program improvement.

Team Leadership

· Provide supervision and technical support to project staff and consultants.

· Promote collaboration across departments.

· Mentor junior staff involved in projects and grants.

ANNUAL DELIVERABLES

QUALIFICATIONS

· Master's degree in Public Health, International Development, Social Sciences, Health Management, Psychology, Business Administration, or related field.

· Optimal working knowledge of MS Office Suite and AI.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

· 3-4 years of relevant experience in program management and grants management.

· Demonstrated experience developing donor proposals and grant applications.

· Experience with research grants and proposal development preferred.

· Experience in mental health, public health, healthcare, or development sector strongly preferred.

CORE COMPETENCIES

· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

· Excellent written and verbal communication

· Organizational and multitasking skills

· Ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously

· Relationship management

· Initiative and adaptability

Technical Competencies

· Proposal and grant writing

· Project management

· Research proposal development

· Budget development and management

· Monitoring and evaluation

· Stakeholder engagement

· Donor reporting

· Strategic planning

· Strategic communications and stakeholder messaging

· Presentation and content development

Work Location: In person