Project Manager

RTV will implement a research and innovation project, focused on rapid-cycle testing and applied research. Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation over a three-year period, this restricted project will generate critical internal insights to inform RTV’s operations, strengthen sector-wide best practices, and contribute to the global learning agenda through public outputs.

The Project Manager will be the central driver of this strategic effort, responsible for end-to-end coordination, planning, and execution of all experiment-related activities. This role demands exceptional organizational skills, cross-functional leadership, and the ability to deliver complex, multi-phase projects on time, on budget, and to the highest quality standards. 

Key responsibilities include managing timelines, budgets, and implementation progress across multiple teams and partners; serving as the primary liaison between several teams: Planning, Design & Implementation, Data & Analytics and Tools & Technology (Venn), Finance, and Applied Learning teams; as well as leading coordination for reporting, donor communications, and internal reviews with the Grants Management & Reporting team. The Project Manager will ensure each project milestone is implemented with fidelity and that cross-team workflows remain aligned and efficient.

Project Management, Planning, and Coordination

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all Gates Foundation-related project deliverables, communications, and project coordination.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive work plans, timelines, and resource allocation schedules covering all project phases, from design to dissemination.
• Coordinate implementation activities across internal RTV teams (Implementation, Planning & Design, Venn, Applied Learning, and Partnerships) as well as with external partners.
• Align experimental design requirements with operational realities and field delivery schedules.
• Identify operational risks and bottlenecks early, and develop mitigation strategies with relevant technical leads.
• Work closely with field implementation teams to ensure activities and milestones are completed on time and to standard.
• Monitor project expenditures, track budget performance, and ensure financial compliance across experiments with the Finance team.
• Oversee timely completion of pre-analysis plans, surveys (baseline, midline, and endline), and other critical learning outputs.
• Support quality assurance processes by coordinating and conducting data accuracy and completeness checks with the Venn team.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

• Lead preparation and delivery of high-quality donor updates and reporting inputs in collaboration with the Grants Management & Reporting team and the Partnerships Team. 
• Support the design and delivery of knowledge products, including learning briefs, white papers, and dissemination packages in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, including the RTV Applied Learning and Communication teams.
• Support in the organization and facilitation of webinars, stakeholder convenings, and presentations at sectoral forums to share findings and promote uptake.

Team Leadership and Cross-Functional Alignment

• Facilitate coordination between all participating teams to ensure smooth workflow and timely problem-solving.
• Support capacity-building of field-based project officers and assistants to deliver high-quality interventions.
• Foster a collaborative, learning-oriented project culture that encourages adaptive management and continuous improvement.

Knowledge Management and Evidence Uptake

• Ensure systematic documentation of lessons learned, adaptations, and operational decisions across all experiments.
• Coordinate the production of dissemination materials for internal and external audiences. 
• Support sectoral engagement to promote the adoption of project findings in the wider development community.

• Minimum of 4 years of experience in project management, preferably in international development, applied research, or large-scale program implementation.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate, and deliver multi-phase projects with multiple stakeholders, timelines, and budget lines, ensuring adherence to quality standards and donor requirements.
• Strong understanding of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) frameworks and M&E processes, including survey design, data collection, analysis, and integration of findings into adaptive program management.
• Demonstrated experience with research and innovation projects in an implementation environment, with the ability to translate findings into operational improvements.
• Experience with high-profile funders (preferably Gates Foundation projects) strongly preferred.
• Proven track record of leading or coordinating cross-functional, multi-site, or multi-country teams and projects across time zones.
• Exceptional attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative working style, with the ability to integrate feedback and work effectively across diverse teams.
• Proficiency with project management tools and data collection platforms.
• Bachelor’s degree in International Development, Public Policy, Project Management, or related field (Master’s degree preferred).