About the role

The Head of Country Expansion translates Jacaranda Health's country expansion strategy - set by the Director of Global Programs and Product - into high-quality programme delivery and sustainable growth across existing markets. This role is accountable for the performance of current country programmes, the development and management of strategic partnerships, and the deepening of Jacaranda Health's integration within government health systems. Leading a team of managers and in-country consultants, the role ensures programmes are well-executed, continuously improving, and expanding reach within each market.

What You’ll Do:

Programme Delivery & Expansion

• Translate departmental strategy into clear country-level workplans, milestones, and accountability frameworks.
• Oversee programme delivery across existing countries, holding country teams, partners, and global technical teams accountable for quality and timeliness.
• Own execution of approved expansion plans, delivering against agreed timelines and quality standards across both direct and partner-led implementation models.
• Track and report progress against key metrics - enrolment, engagement, behaviour change, and system adoption - using data to drive continuous improvement.
• Identify and resolve delivery bottlenecks, escalating risks and strategic decisions to the Director as required.

Partnership Development & Management

• Build and manage a pipeline of new partnership opportunities - governments, NGOs, donors, and private sector - to expand reach within existing markets.
• Lead partnership structuring, contracting, and onboarding in line with Jacaranda Health's standards.
• Deepen relationships with existing partners to unlock additional scale and secure sustained commitment.
• Manage in-country partnership consultants, setting clear expectations and monitoring performance.

Government & Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and sustain operational relationships with Ministries of Health and sub-national governments, ensuring Jacaranda Health remains a trusted delivery partner.
• Represent Jacaranda Health in relevant technical forums, working groups, and stakeholder engagements at country level.
• Navigate regulatory, policy, and system-level dynamics to maintain programme continuity and support scale.
• Provide the Director with timely intelligence on government priorities, policy shifts, and emerging opportunities.

Integration, Localisation & Sustainability

• Ensure programmes are embedded within government workflows, systems, and priorities (e.g. eCHIS alignment).
• Work with Product and Clinical teams to ensure appropriate localisation for each market context.
• Coordinate across internal functions - Product, Technology, Data, Clinical - translating country needs into clear, actionable briefs.
• Identify and advance sustainability pathways - government ownership, telecom partnerships, cost-sharing - in line with the Director's strategy.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, manage, and develop a team of programme managers, building capability in partnership management and programme execution.
• Set clear performance expectations, provide regular feedback, and support team growth.
• Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, and collaborative problem-solving.

Who you are:

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree required in Public Health, International Development, Business, or a related field.
• Master's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
• 9–10 years of relevant experience in programme management, partnership development, or health systems strengthening.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-stakeholder programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa, ideally within a government or NGO context.
• Proven track record of translating strategic direction into operational results across country-level teams.
• Experience managing and developing a team of managers or senior professionals.

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong understanding of health systems, community health, and digital health programme models in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Proven ability to develop, structure, and manage partnerships across government, NGO, and private sector.
• Skilled at influencing and persuading stakeholders across departments and organisations without direct authority.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret programme data and drive evidence-based decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for diverse audiences including donors, governments, and senior leadership.
• Strong partnerships development, stakeholder management, government relations and health systems navigation.
• Programme design, management, and quality assurance as well as monitoring, evaluation, and data-driven decision making skills.

Why Jacaranda Health?

• Mission-driven work: Impact the lives of millions of mothers and babies.
• Innovation-forward thinking: Work with cutting-edge technology in maternal and newborn health.
• High-growth organization: Be part of a rapidly scaling national and global team.
• People-centric culture: Collaborate with an ambitious, passionate, and supportive team.

• Translate departmental strategy into clear country-level workplans, milestones, and accountability frameworks.
• Oversee programme delivery across existing countries, holding country teams, partners, and global technical teams accountable for quality and timeliness.
• Own execution of approved expansion plans, delivering against agreed timelines and quality standards across both direct and partner-led implementation models.
• Track and report progress against key metrics - enrolment, engagement, behaviour change, and system adoption - using data to drive continuous improvement.
• Identify and resolve delivery bottlenecks, escalating risks and strategic decisions to the Director as required.
• Build and manage a pipeline of new partnership opportunities - governments, NGOs, donors, and private sector - to expand reach within existing markets.
• Lead partnership structuring, contracting, and onboarding in line with Jacaranda Health's standards.
• Deepen relationships with existing partners to unlock additional scale and secure sustained commitment.
• Manage in-country partnership consultants, setting clear expectations and monitoring performance.
• Develop and sustain operational relationships with Ministries of Health and sub-national governments, ensuring Jacaranda Health remains a trusted delivery partner.
• Represent Jacaranda Health in relevant technical forums, working groups, and stakeholder engagements at country level.
• Navigate regulatory, policy, and system-level dynamics to maintain programme continuity and support scale.
• Provide the Director with timely intelligence on government priorities, policy shifts, and emerging opportunities.
• Ensure programmes are embedded within government workflows, systems, and priorities (e.g. eCHIS alignment).
• Work with Product and Clinical teams to ensure appropriate localisation for each market context.
• Coordinate across internal functions - Product, Technology, Data, Clinical - translating country needs into clear, actionable briefs.
• Identify and advance sustainability pathways - government ownership, telecom partnerships, cost-sharing - in line with the Director's strategy.
• Lead, manage, and develop a team of programme managers, building capability in partnership management and programme execution.
• Set clear performance expectations, provide regular feedback, and support team growth.
• Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, and collaborative problem-solving.

• Strong understanding of health systems, community health, and digital health programme models in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Proven ability to develop, structure, and manage partnerships across government, NGO, and private sector.
• Skilled at influencing and persuading stakeholders across departments and organisations without direct authority.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret programme data and drive evidence-based decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for diverse audiences including donors, governments, and senior leadership.
• Strong partnerships development, stakeholder management, government relations and health systems navigation.
• Programme design, management, and quality assurance as well as monitoring, evaluation, and data-driven decision making skills.

• Bachelor's degree required in Public Health, International Development, Business, or a related field.
• Master's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-stakeholder programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa, ideally within a government or NGO context.
• Proven track record of translating strategic direction into operational results across country-level teams.
• Experience managing and developing a team of managers or senior professionals.