Position Purpose (Role Differentiation)

The Assistant Manager – Program Development & Implementation is a senior-level technical position with a dual mandate:

1. Program Development & Resource Mobilization (≈50%) – leading donor-driven proposal development and supporting strategic growth; and
2. Program Implementation Support (≈50%) – providing technical, coordination, and compliance support to program teams during execution.

Unlike a Program Officer, this role does not focus on routine coordination or administrative follow-up. Instead, it provides strategic and technical leadership in proposal development and cross-program implementation support.

Unlike a Program Manager, this role does not hold primary budgetary or line-management authority over projects. It leads to strengthening proposal quality, implementation coherence, donor compliance, and learning across programs.

The position serves as a bridge between design and delivery, ensuring donor expectations are translated into practical, field-ready programs.

Key Responsibilities

A. Program Development & Proposal Writing (50%)

• Lead the development of high-quality donor-driven concept notes and full proposals in line with AHKF’s strategic priorities and community needs.
• Conduct and synthesize needs assessments, situational analyses, and desk research relevant to health and community development programs in Pakistan.
• Coordinate proposal inputs from technical teams (health, digital Education, WEE, climate Change and Urbanization etc.), finance, and M&E.
• Develop and/or review:
  • Logical frameworks and theories of change
  • Results frameworks and indicators
  • Detailed implementation plans and timelines
  • Proposal budgets (in coordination with Finance)
  • Risk, safeguarding, and sustainability sections
• Ensure full compliance with donor guidelines (e.g., UN agencies, bilateral donors, INGOs, foundations) and AHKF policies.
• Maintain a pipeline of funding opportunities, donor intelligence, and proposal trackers.
• Incorporate cross-cutting themes such as gender, safeguarding, inclusion, accountability, and localization, as expected by donors operating in Pakistan.

• Support program start-up and scale-up of newly approved projects, ensuring teams clearly understand:
  • Project objectives and deliverables
  • Indicators and reporting requirements
  • Donor compliance and visibility obligations
• Provide technical and coordination support to HOP and field teams during implementation.
• Review work plans, activity schedules, and outputs to ensure alignment with approved proposals.
• Conduct regular field visitsto:
  • Monitor implementation progress
  • Identify operational and compliance gaps
  • Support problem-solving and adaptive management
• Support integration across programs to avoid duplication and enhance impact.

C. Donor Coordination & Reporting

• Support formal communication with donors related to proposals, implementation updates, and reporting.
• Review and contribute to donor narrative reports, ensuring clarity, evidence-based reporting, and consistency with logframes.
• Track donor reporting calendars, milestones, and compliance requirements.
• Support donor monitoring visits, audits, and evaluations in coordination with relevant departments.

D. Monitoring, Documentation & Learning

• Coordinate with M&E teams to ensure indicators, data collection tools, and reporting formats meet donor standards.
• Support documentation of best practices, lessons learned, and success stories for donor reporting and future proposals.
• Maintain proposal repositories, donor feedback records, and institutional learning documents.

E. Internal Coordination & Capacity Building

• Work closely with Finance to align budgets, burn rates, and donor financial requirements.
• Coordinate with HR and Operations on staffing plans and compliance matters linked to donor-funded projects.
• Support capacity building of program and field teams on:
  • Proposal concepts and donor expectations
  • Program cycle management
  • Reporting quality and compliance

Facilitate coordination between Head Office and Field Offices

F. Compliance, Safeguarding & Ethics (Pakistan NGO Context)

• Ensure adherence to AHKF policies, donor regulations, and Government of Pakistan NGO compliance requirements.
• Actively promote and mainstream:
  • Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)
  • Child safeguarding
  • Protection from harassment, fraud, and corruption
• Ensure safeguarding and compliance commitments are reflected in proposals and implemented in practice.
• Immediately report any suspected violations of the Code of Conduct or safeguarding standards through designated channels.

G. Other Responsibilities

• Represent AHKF professionally in donor forums, coordination meetings, and technical discussions.
• Perform other duties assigned by the Head of Programs in line with organizational needs.

Qualifications & Experience

·         Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Public Health, or a related field.

·         5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in program development and/or implementation within the NGO/development sector.

·         Proven track record of developing successful donor-funded proposals.

Experience engaging with donor agencies, INGOs, government departments, and local partners in Pakistan.

Required Skills & Competencies

·         Excellent English proposal and report writing skills.

·         Strong understanding of donor compliance frameworks common in Pakistan.

·         Ability to translate field realities into structured, fundable program designs.

·         Strong analytical, coordination, and facilitation skills.

·         Ability to work across departments and with field-based teams.

·         High level of integrity, professionalism, and attention to detail.

·         Willingness and ability to travel extensively to project areas.

Core Competencies

·         Strategic thinking and results orientation

·         Collaboration and team facilitation

·         Accountability and ethical conduct

·         Adaptability in complex operating environments

·         Initiative and problem-solving.