Program Lead, Next Creata job at Next Media
Posted by: great-volunteer
Posted date: 2025-Nov-14
Location: Uganda, Kampala
Program Lead, Next Creata 2025-11-13T12:59:04+00:00 Next Media https://cdn.ugashare.com/jsjobsdata/data/employer/comp_4317/logo/Next%20Media.png https://www.ugashare.com/jobs/ FULL_TIME Uganda Kampala 00256 Uganda Professional Services Management, Media, Communications & Writing, Social Services & Nonprofit, Education, Executive director, Team leader 2025-11-17T17:00:00+00:00 Uganda 8 Background The Next Creata Program is Next-Creata's flagship intervention under the Uganda Creatives Program, implemented in partnership with Bayimba Foundation, ITC, and Mastercard Foundation. The program seeks to enhance skills, employability, and financial inclusion for 40,000 young women across Uganda's creative economy through media production training, digital upskilling, market linkage, and entrepreneurial pathways. The Program Lead provides overall leadership, strategy, and coordination for all program components — from curriculum and partner management to downstream implementation, reporting, and sustainability. Purpose of the Role To provide visionary leadership and operational oversight for the Next Creata Program, ensuring effective coordination of all programmatic, technical, and financial aspects in line with donor requirements, consortium standards, and Next Creata's organizational strategy. Key Responsibilities A. Strategic Leadership & Program Direction - Lead the overall design, implementation, and monitoring of the Next Creata Program, ensuring alignment with the Uganda Creatives Program framework and Next Creata's strategic priorities.
- Serve as the key liaison between Next-Creata, Bayimba Foundation, ITC, the Fund Manager, and the Program Steering Committee.
- Develop annual work plans, budgets, and performance frameworks for approval by the consortium.
- Oversee integration of gender equality, safeguarding, and inclusion across all interventions.
B. Program Implementation & Coordination - Supervise and coordinate internal program teams (Curriculum, Training, Communications, Finance, Operations, and Downstream Partner Management).
- Ensure timely and high-quality delivery of training programs, mentorships, market linkages, and internship placements.
- Facilitate alignment between Next Creata's national operations and the downstream partners' localized implementation.
- Ensure coherence between curriculum content, creative production outputs, and employment outcomes.
C. Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement - Maintain strong relationships with consortium partners, government agencies, creative industry stakeholders, and private sector partners.
- Represent Next Creata in consortium coordination meetings, steering committees, and partner events.
- Negotiate and manage MOUs, subcontracts, and partner frameworks under the program.
- Drive partnerships for sustainability (creative hubs, brands, studios, and academic institutions).
D. Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning - Oversee implementation of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework, ensuring data accuracy and timely reporting.
- Lead quarterly reviews, partner assessments, and adaptive learning sessions.
- Ensure high-quality quarterly and annual program reports are submitted to Bayimba/ITC.
E. Financial & Operational Oversight - Work closely with the Program Accountant to ensure prudent use of program funds and compliance with donor and audit requirements.
- Approve partner disbursements, operational budgets, and activity advances within approved thresholds.
- Monitor financial burn rates and program value-for-money indicators.
F. Representation & Advocacy - Serve as the face of the Next Creata Program in stakeholder engagements, media events, and consortium-level discussions.
- Champion the visibility of the program and communicate its impact through evidence-based storytelling.
- Advocate for inclusion of creative economy skilling and women's participation in national policy dialogues.
Required Qualifications and Experience - Education: Master's degree in Project Management, Media Studies, Creative Industries, Development Studies, or related field.
- Experience: Minimum 8 years of progressive leadership experience in program management within development, media, or creative sectors. Experience managing donor-funded (preferably Mastercard Foundation/UN) programs is an asset.
- Technical Competence: Strong grasp of creative industry value chains, training systems, gender inclusion, and financial inclusion strategies.
- Leadership Skills: Proven experience managing multi-disciplinary teams and consortium-based projects.
- Financial & Compliance Skills: Experience in program budgeting, reporting, and fund management under strict donor compliance frameworks.
- Communication Skills: Excellent negotiation, writing, and presentation abilities in English (Luganda or other local languages an asset).
- ICT Skills: Proficiency in project management tools (Trello, Asana, Excel, PowerBI) and digital collaboration platforms.
Competencies - Strategic thinker with results-oriented leadership.
- Strong interpersonal and partnership-building skills.
- Deep understanding of Uganda's creative economy and youth ecosystem.
- Ability to balance innovation with operational discipline.
- Integrity, transparency, and commitment to inclusive leadership.
Performance Indicators - Program Delivery: 100% achievement of quarterly deliverables and cohort targets
- Financial Stewardship: Budget burn rate within 90–110% of forecast
- Partner Coordination: 95% partner reporting compliance
- Impact: ≥ 80% participant transition to dignified work pathways
- Visibility: ≥ 3 national showcases and 10+ media features annually
- Compliance: Zero audit queries; full safeguarding compliance
- Lead the overall design, implementation, and monitoring of the Next Creata Program, ensuring alignment with the Uganda Creatives Program framework and Next Creata's strategic priorities.
- Serve as the key liaison between Next-Creata, Bayimba Foundation, ITC, the Fund Manager, and the Program Steering Committee.
- Develop annual work plans, budgets, and performance frameworks for approval by the consortium.
- Oversee integration of gender equality, safeguarding, and inclusion across all interventions.
- Supervise and coordinate internal program teams (Curriculum, Training, Communications, Finance, Operations, and Downstream Partner Management).
- Ensure timely and high-quality delivery of training programs, mentorships, market linkages, and internship placements.
- Facilitate alignment between Next Creata's national operations and the downstream partners' localized implementation.
- Ensure coherence between curriculum content, creative production outputs, and employment outcomes.
- Maintain strong relationships with consortium partners, government agencies, creative industry stakeholders, and private sector partners.
- Represent Next Creata in consortium coordination meetings, steering committees, and partner events.
- Negotiate and manage MOUs, subcontracts, and partner frameworks under the program.
- Drive partnerships for sustainability (creative hubs, brands, studios, and academic institutions).
- Oversee implementation of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework, ensuring data accuracy and timely reporting.
- Lead quarterly reviews, partner assessments, and adaptive learning sessions.
- Ensure high-quality quarterly and annual program reports are submitted to Bayimba/ITC.
- Work closely with the Program Accountant to ensure prudent use of program funds and compliance with donor and audit requirements.
- Approve partner disbursements, operational budgets, and activity advances within approved thresholds.
- Monitor financial burn rates and program value-for-money indicators.
- Serve as the face of the Next Creata Program in stakeholder engagements, media events, and consortium-level discussions.
- Champion the visibility of the program and communicate its impact through evidence-based storytelling.
- Advocate for inclusion of creative economy skilling and women's participation in national policy dialogues.
- Strong grasp of creative industry value chains, training systems, gender inclusion, and financial inclusion strategies
- Proven experience managing multi-disciplinary teams and consortium-based projects
- Experience in program budgeting, reporting, and fund management under strict donor compliance frameworks
- Excellent negotiation, writing, and presentation abilities in English (Luganda or other local languages an asset)
- Proficiency in project management tools (Trello, Asana, Excel, PowerBI) and digital collaboration platforms
- Strategic thinker with results-oriented leadership
- Strong interpersonal and partnership-building skills
- Deep understanding of Uganda's creative economy and youth ecosystem
- Ability to balance innovation with operational discipline
- Integrity, transparency, and commitment to inclusive leadership
- Master's degree in Project Management, Media Studies, Creative Industries, Development Studies, or related field
- Minimum 8 years of progressive leadership experience in program management within development, media, or creative sectors
- Experience managing donor-funded (preferably Mastercard Foundation/UN) programs is an asset
JOB-6915d6182a433 Vacancy title:
Program Lead, Next Creata Jobs at:
Next Media Deadline of this Job:
Monday, November 17 2025 Duty Station:
Uganda | Kampala | Uganda Summary
Date Posted: Thursday, November 13 2025, Base Salary: Not Disclosed JOB DETAILS: Background The Next Creata Program is Next-Creata's flagship intervention under the Uganda Creatives Program, implemented in partnership with Bayimba Foundation, ITC, and Mastercard Foundation. The program seeks to enhance skills, employability, and financial inclusion for 40,000 young women across Uganda's creative economy through media production training, digital upskilling, market linkage, and entrepreneurial pathways. The Program Lead provides overall leadership, strategy, and coordination for all program components — from curriculum and partner management to downstream implementation, reporting, and sustainability. Purpose of the Role To provide visionary leadership and operational oversight for the Next Creata Program, ensuring effective coordination of all programmatic, technical, and financial aspects in line with donor requirements, consortium standards, and Next Creata's organizational strategy. Key Responsibilities A. Strategic Leadership & Program Direction - Lead the overall design, implementation, and monitoring of the Next Creata Program, ensuring alignment with the Uganda Creatives Program framework and Next Creata's strategic priorities.
- Serve as the key liaison between Next-Creata, Bayimba Foundation, ITC, the Fund Manager, and the Program Steering Committee.
- Develop annual work plans, budgets, and performance frameworks for approval by the consortium.
- Oversee integration of gender equality, safeguarding, and inclusion across all interventions.
B. Program Implementation & Coordination - Supervise and coordinate internal program teams (Curriculum, Training, Communications, Finance, Operations, and Downstream Partner Management).
- Ensure timely and high-quality delivery of training programs, mentorships, market linkages, and internship placements.
- Facilitate alignment between Next Creata's national operations and the downstream partners' localized implementation.
- Ensure coherence between curriculum content, creative production outputs, and employment outcomes.
C. Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement - Maintain strong relationships with consortium partners, government agencies, creative industry stakeholders, and private sector partners.
- Represent Next Creata in consortium coordination meetings, steering committees, and partner events.
- Negotiate and manage MOUs, subcontracts, and partner frameworks under the program.
- Drive partnerships for sustainability (creative hubs, brands, studios, and academic institutions).
D. Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning - Oversee implementation of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework, ensuring data accuracy and timely reporting.
- Lead quarterly reviews, partner assessments, and adaptive learning sessions.
- Ensure high-quality quarterly and annual program reports are submitted to Bayimba/ITC.
E. Financial & Operational Oversight - Work closely with the Program Accountant to ensure prudent use of program funds and compliance with donor and audit requirements.
- Approve partner disbursements, operational budgets, and activity advances within approved thresholds.
- Monitor financial burn rates and program value-for-money indicators.
F. Representation & Advocacy - Serve as the face of the Next Creata Program in stakeholder engagements, media events, and consortium-level discussions.
- Champion the visibility of the program and communicate its impact through evidence-based storytelling.
- Advocate for inclusion of creative economy skilling and women's participation in national policy dialogues.
Required Qualifications and Experience - Education: Master's degree in Project Management, Media Studies, Creative Industries, Development Studies, or related field.
- Experience: Minimum 8 years of progressive leadership experience in program management within development, media, or creative sectors. Experience managing donor-funded (preferably Mastercard Foundation/UN) programs is an asset.
- Technical Competence: Strong grasp of creative industry value chains, training systems, gender inclusion, and financial inclusion strategies.
- Leadership Skills: Proven experience managing multi-disciplinary teams and consortium-based projects.
- Financial & Compliance Skills: Experience in program budgeting, reporting, and fund management under strict donor compliance frameworks.
- Communication Skills: Excellent negotiation, writing, and presentation abilities in English (Luganda or other local languages an asset).
- ICT Skills: Proficiency in project management tools (Trello, Asana, Excel, PowerBI) and digital collaboration platforms.
Competencies - Strategic thinker with results-oriented leadership.
- Strong interpersonal and partnership-building skills.
- Deep understanding of Uganda's creative economy and youth ecosystem.
- Ability to balance innovation with operational discipline.
- Integrity, transparency, and commitment to inclusive leadership.
Performance Indicators - Program Delivery: 100% achievement of quarterly deliverables and cohort targets
- Financial Stewardship: Budget burn rate within 90–110% of forecast
- Partner Coordination: 95% partner reporting compliance
- Impact: ≥ 80% participant transition to dignified work pathways
- Visibility: ≥ 3 national showcases and 10+ media features annually
- Compliance: Zero audit queries; full safeguarding compliance
Work Hours: 8 Experience in Months: 96 Level of Education: postgraduate degree Job application procedure Click Here to Apply Now
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