Programs & Operations Manager

Key ResponsibilitiesScholarship Program Management

• Manage CLI's General and Named Scholarship programs across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels
• Travel to schools and communities across Ghana to interview applicants, verify needs and claims, and assess eligibility
• Disburse scholarship payments (school fees, supplies) directly to schools and vendors; maintain complete records and receipts for every disbursement
• Track each supported student's enrollment, attendance, and academic progress; maintain an up-to-date beneficiary database
• Build relationships with headteachers and school administrators at partner schools

Program Coordination & Administration

• Coordinate and administer library-based programs — afterschool programs, vacation classes, extra tuition, talent shows, movie nights — which are conceived and led day-to-day by the Librarian
• Provide the budget, materials, scheduling support, and administrative backbone that make those programs possible
• Recruit and coordinate volunteers, tutors, and guest facilitators
• Help evaluate program outcomes and feed results into donor reporting

Reporting & Communications

• Write regular reports on all CLI activities — scholarships, library operations, school projects, and student outcomes — for the Executive Director, Board, and donors
• Collect impact data, photographs, and student stories from the field for use in donor communications, the newsletter, and social media
• Maintain organized records suitable for audits and annual reporting

Fundraising

• Support fundraising efforts: research funding opportunities, contribute to grant applications and sponsorship proposals, and steward relationships with existing donors
• Connect field evidence (data, stories, photos) to fundraising materials

Operations & Projects

• Manage day-to-day operational logistics, budgets, and expense tracking for CLI Ghana
• Occasionally oversee or monitor construction and refurbishment projects (e.g., new library builds, school repairs), coordinating with contractors and reporting on progress
  

What We're Looking For

Required

• 3+ years of experience in program management, operations, education, social work, or NGO field work
• Demonstrated integrity and sound judgment — this role handles funds and verifies beneficiary claims, often independently
• Strong organizational and record-keeping skills; comfortable with spreadsheets, budgets, and receipts
• Excellent written English for reports and donor communications
• Strong interpersonal skills across diverse settings — students, parents, headteachers, contractors, donors
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently within Ghana, including to rural areas
• Fluency in English and at least one widely spoken Ghanaian language (e.g., Twi, Ga)
  

Nice to Have

• Experience with scholarship, sponsorship, or cash-transfer programs
• Grant writing or fundraising experience
• Experience supporting youth or community education programs
• Familiarity with construction or facilities project oversight
• A valid driver's license
  

Safeguarding

CLI is committed to the safety and wellbeing of the children and young people we serve. This role involves regular contact with minors. The successful candidate will be required to provide references, undergo background checks where applicable, and adhere to CLI's child safeguarding policy.