Senior Program Manager, GRIT Project at World… · Colombo

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

POSITION TITLE Senior Program Manager, GRIT Project

POSITION LOCATION Jaffna, Northern Province, Sri Lanka

(with frequent travel to other districts in the Northern Province and occasional travel to Colombo)

REPORTS TO Project Director

CONTRACT TERM Two years

SALARY LEVEL LKR 340,000 – 440,000 (Based on experience and qualifications)

APPLICATION DEADLINE 20 July 2026

EXPECTED START DATE 10 August 2026

Background:

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a leading Canadian international development organization focusing on three programmatic areas: Economic Opportunities, Education, and Empowerment. Our vision is a better world for all young people. It is a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable world in which all young people, especially women and refugees, are empowered to secure a good quality of life for themselves, their families, and their communities.

WUSC currently works in over 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $45 million. Globally, we partner with a network of higher education institutions, civil society organizations, private sector partners, professionals, students, volunteers, faculty and community leaders that work with us to achieve our mission.

THE GRIT PROJECT

Growth, Resilience, Investment and Training (GRIT) - Building a Gender-Responsive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Sri Lanka’s North is a 6-year collaborative initiative (2023-2028) that will build sustainable pathways to enhanced economic empowerment, well-being and inclusive growth in Sri Lanka (SL), especially for young women in the North of the country.

This project will test innovative, sustainable models to improve the enabling environment and reduce gender-specific barriers to increase equitable and sustainable growth of start-up, early-stage, and growth-stage enterprises, especially those owned by, operated by, or serving women in the North of SL. The project will be implemented in close collaboration between Sri Lankan and International partners.

Operationally, the GRIT Project has two spheres of implementation: (1) In the Northern Province, where our target participants for core delivery of incubation and acceleration services are located, and (2) in Colombo where ecosystem actors we aim to influence are located, including investors, banks and policy actors.

Nature and Scope:

The Senior Program Manager (SPM) oversees the regional programme and operational implementation of the GRIT project in Sri Lanka focussing on service delivery to GRIT project participants. The SPM manages relationships with key stakeholders, including local government, partners, civil society and the private sector.

The SPM acts as the active link between our work in the Northern Province and Colombo, proactively ensuring that our strategies and decision-making at the national level remains contextually grounded and appropriate to realities on the ground, while maintaining a continuous flow of field-level insight, evidence and lived experience to inform and sharpen our institutional approach.

Reporting to the Project Director, the SPM will be responsible for the following:

Responsibilities:

Partner Relations and Communications

• Establish and maintain effective relationships between key project partners, including those based overseas.
• Develop robust relationships with project stakeholders, including relevant governments, financial institutions, investors, consultants and civil society organizations.
• Assist in organizing regional meetings in relation to project steering, governance and advisory committees.
• Represent WUSC among stakeholders, ensuring that the GRIT project can provide value to local actors and make a positive impact within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, as assigned by the Project Director.

Project Management

• Implement project work plans and key outputs, in line with the project’s expected outcomes.
• Develop key project planning deliverables (i.e. Annual Work Plan) using results based management approaches and tools.
• Develop specific strategies for cross-cutting themes (capacity building, gender equality, private sector engagement, environmental sustainability) for the initiative.
• Maintain open and effective communication amongst strategic partners and project team members in Canada and Sri Lanka.
• Oversee day-to-day coordination and delivery of project activities in conjunction with staff, technical advisors, volunteers and partners.

Monitoring & Evaluation

• Finalize and oversee a results monitoring system for the project, with the technical assistance from the MERL Advisors.
• Stay apprised of developments in key markets of interest to the project and develop systems for monitoring changes and adaptations in these markets over time.
• Regularly monitor progress towards results, ensuring appropriate course correction and iterative management.
• Work with team members to produce regular reports to key stakeholders, including the donor agency (Annual report, semi-annual operations report, quarterly government reports, etc.).
• Maintain regular communication with WUSC colleagues in Canada and with key overseas partners, to ensure coordination, synergies and collaboration.

Human Resources & Volunteer Management

• Manage the GRIT project direct reports.
• Supervise, guide and evaluate the work of project staff and consultants.
• Manage human resources management issues such as employment policies and practices, in line with local law.
• Work with colleagues and partners to ensure the effective mobilization, orientation, coaching and management of international volunteers, placed with the project.

Financial & Office Management

• In conjunction with the finance team, develop and monitor the project budget and ensure regular reporting to the donor and government.
• In collaboration with the Finance Manager and with the project finance officer, plan and manage financial and material resource procurement related to the regional programme in accordance with relevant guidelines and the policies and procedures of WUSC.
• Authorize Program expenditures and approve the required financial reports.
• Assist the Project Director in the recruitment of technical and administrative staff, maintain the field office and equipment as well as making administrative decisions as required / assigned.
• Actively assess the risk profile of the initiative. identify specific risks and appropriate mitigation strategies.

Donor and Stakeholder Coordination

• Organize and carry out donor related meetings, field visits and special missions as assigned by the Project Director.
• Connect regularly with other development actors to ensure harmonization and synergy with similar initiatives.
• Represent the Project in donor and other development forums and networks as assigned by the Project Director.
• In coordination with the Project Director, communicate on behalf of the project with donors, funders and other strategic partners.

Qualifications and Competencies:

Education:

• Masters in international development, business administration, finance or other relevant areas.
• Specialized training in entrepreneurship support, investment and/or gender would be an advantage.

Experiences & Competencies:

• Minimum five years of progressively more responsible assignments related to management of development initiatives.
• Knowledge and experience in entrepreneurship ecosystem support and gender lens investing.
• Proven experience engaging the private sector in development programming.
• Demonstrated capacity to work in cross-sectoral collaboration.
• Experience managing technical advisors.
• Experience working with international development donor agencies.
• Knowledge of Results Based Management (RBM) for environmental and gender responsive programming and reporting requirements.
• Proven technical, financial, administrative and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of donor financial and narrative reporting procedures and requirements.
• Proven experience working with a multi-disciplinary and international team.
• Diplomatic skills and the knowledge of cross-cultural, interpersonal communication.
• Proven experience of adaptability to a challenging and constantly changing environment requiring iterative planning on a regular basis.
• Proven knowledge of and commitment to the concepts of Gender Equality and Inclusion.
• Experience in capacity strengthening of local partner organizations and a commitment to a participatory partnership approach to development.

Language:

• Working proficiency in English and Tamil is essential. Sinhala is an added advantage.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English are required .

Why work with WUSC

WUSC offers a dynamic work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce. We offer employees and volunteers exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference for youth around the world. We believe youth have the potential to provide for their families, build strong communities, and create positive social change for future generations. WUSC is an equal opportunity employer. Female candidates and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Application

• If you are interested in this position, Please apply through this site