Program Manager

Who is USP?

The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is an independent scientific organization that collaborates with the world’s leading health and science experts to develop rigorous quality standards for medicines, dietary supplements, and food ingredients. At USP, we believe that scientific excellence is driven by a commitment to fairness, integrity, and global collaboration. This belief is embedded in our core value of Passion for Quality and is demonstrated through the contributions of more than 1,300 professionals across twenty global locations, working to strengthen the supply of safe, high-quality medicines worldwide.

At USP, we value inclusive scientific collaboration and recognize that attracting diverse expertise strengthens our ability to develop trusted public health standards. We foster an organizational culture that supports equitable access to mentorship, professional development, and leadership opportunities. Our partnerships, standards, and research reflect our belief that ensuring broad participation in scientific leadership results in stronger, more impactful outcomes for global health.

USP is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer (EEOE) and is committed to ensuring fair, merit-based selection processes that enable the best scientific minds—regardless of background—to contribute to advancing public health solutions worldwide. We provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities and uphold policies that create an inclusive and collaborative work environment.

Brief Job Overview

USP’s RSS/LSS Program Manager will be responsible for managing technical assistance, capacity building projects and events/thought leadership initiatives in USP’s GHMS portfolios in West and Central Africa to achieve program goals and ensure that activities are aligned with each portfolio’s needs and priorities. The program manager will need to work independently and strategically, coordinating closely with USP HQ as well as in-country consultants. The incumbent needs to be able to problem solve and be willing to roll up their sleeves to accomplish objectives on time.

How will YOU create impact here at USP?

As part of our mission to advance scientific rigor and public health standards, you will play a vital role in increasing global access to high-quality medicines through public standards and related programs. USP prioritizes scientific integrity, regulatory excellence, and evidence-based decision-making to ensure health systems worldwide can rely on strong, tested, and globally relevant quality standards.

Additionally, USP’s People and Culture division, in partnership with the Equity Office, invests in leadership and workforce development to equip all employees with the skills to create high-performing, inclusive teams. This includes training in equitable management practices and tools to promote engaged, collaborative, and results-driven work environments.

The Program Manager has the following responsibilities:

• Supports the design of project activities in close collaboration with the Regional Lead and other GHMS staff.
• Under the supervision and guidance of the Regional Lead – West and Central Africa, supports the planning and implementation of the assigned project activities to include development of workplans, preparing for and coordinating meetings, activity monitoring matrices/implementation plans, performance monitoring plans, and progress reports with the support of the M&E team.
• Supports cross-functional project management teams to include technical, M&E, and finance staff to produce high-quality work under tight deadlines, while remaining within the defined project scope and budget.
• Manages timelines/deadlines and provides quality control support for project deliverables to ensure effective, efficient, and compliant project implementation.
• Develops scopes of work and manages sub-awardees, consultants, and vendors, as applicable while ensuring compliance to donor rules and regulations and USP policies.
• Delivers timely and high-quality project reports; ensures M&E data is regularly collected and documented; and works with other staff, including field staff, to develop global reports that demonstrate progress towards achieving specific targets.
• Proactively anticipates, identifies, and facilitates resolution of potential project issues and risks relating to delays in implementation of project activities.
• Drafts materials for both internal and external audiences, including briefing documents, success stories, case studies, and presentations.
• Supports the development of project budgets and monitors project expenditures to ensure activities are implemented within budget and prepares pipelines/projections as needed in collaboration with Finance staff.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with relevant donors and key partners; and represents GHMS externally at key project stakeholder meetings, as needed.
• Ensures good records management, according to USP and donor policies.

Who is USP Looking For?

The successful candidate will have a demonstrated understanding of our mission, commitment to excellence through inclusive and equitable behaviors and practices, ability to quickly build credibility with stakeholders, along with the following competencies and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences, public health, or related field required.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in managing public health programs in low- and middle-income countries in Africa; an equivalent combination of experience and education may be substituted.
• Experience working with high-level officials in funding agencies, international organizations, private foundations, and ministries of health.

Additional Desired Preferences

• Master’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences, public health, or related field preferred.
• Experience working with international non-governmental organizations and national diseases programs strongly preferred in low- and middle-income countries.
• Extensive understanding of how medicine regulatory systems function in low- and middle-income countries.
• Ability to engage in regulatory, laboratory and manufacturing technical conversations and make relevant inputs to technical discussions and deliverables.
• Demonstrated experience working with and familiarity with donor ( eg US Government, World Bank, European Union, Gates Foundation) requirements.
• Results driven with demonstrated successful outcomes and strong attention to detail.
• Must possess ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Professional and able to communicate effectively with colleagues and key external stakeholders.
• Significant experience as a team player and commitment to bringing about change through a partnership approach.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to demonstrate the highest degree of ethics and integrity.
• Ability to work in cross-cultural settings.
• Ability to travel both domestically and internationally at least 20% of the time.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
• Fluency in French.
• Travel up to 15%

Supervisory Responsibilities

None, this is an individual contributor role.

Benefits

USP provides the benefits to protect yourself and your family today and tomorrow. From company-paid time off and comprehensive healthcare options to retirement savings, you can have peace of mind that your personal and financial well-being is protected.

Note: USP does not accept unsolicited resumes from 3rd party recruitment agencies and is not responsible for fees from recruiters or other agencies except under specific written agreement with USP.