About Samaanta Foundation
Samaanta Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive higher education Fellowships to meritorious students from underserved communities in Nepal. We provide a fully residential program that includes language and computer training, civic engagement and leadership workshops, mentorship, and other forms of support, including a monthly stipend, to ensure that our Fellows not only p articipate but succeed in the system. Samaanta Foundation is in its 15th year of operation, and we have now grown to support 140 Fellows over this period. As we strengthen our model and expand our Fellowship in the coming years, we are looking to hire a driven, passionate, hardworking, and self-sufficient leader in the role of Program Director to help grow and strengthen the organization further.
Position: Program Director
Job Description
The Program Director is a new position at Samaanta. They will hold overall responsibility and accountability for leading the internal team at Samaanta effectively. This will involve all Samaanta programs and activities, including selection, academic and personal growth and welfare of the Fellows, monitoring and evaluation, staff management, and alumni engagement. The Program Director will also support the Board in building and maintaining relationships with all partners and stakeholders. This leadership role will be instrumental in institutionalizing the organization, helping build effective systems, processes, and partnerships that hold Samaanta’s culture and ethos at their core.
The key roles and responsibilities of the Program Director are listed below, but these are meant to be illustrative rather than exhaustive. The Board retains the right to add or change these roles and responsibilities, which will be done in consultation with the Program Director.
Strategy and Program Oversight
- Work with the Board of Directors to refine the vision and future direction of the organization
- Lead the delivery and implementation of this vision
- Provide organizational leadership, oversight, and guidance to ensure effective delivery and alignment of programs
- Develop annual budget, regularly monitor and review progress against budget, and plan the medium term (3–5 year) financial strategy for the organization
- Develop, oversee, and monitor a plan of action, including an annual calendar of programs – including workshops, training, and events – based on consultation with the Board, Friends of Samaanta, funders, and other external stakeholders.
- Develop an alumni engagement strategy including an alumni tracking system and an annual plan of activities
- Report to the Board regularly on the organization’s activities, progress, and challenges
Staff Management
- Mentor, supervise, manage, and motivate all staff and interns to build a strong team who are geared toward delivering on their tasks and the organization’s mission
- Lead regular staff meetings, with a focus on agreeing goals, reviewing performance, identifying opportunities, improving collaboration, and improving efficiency
- Lead an effective, collegiate, supportive, and motivated organizational culture among all staff
- Lead on the recruitment of new staff and their onboarding
- Set clear goals and objectives and conduct annual appraisals for all staff, supported by ongoing reviews throughout the year
- Periodically review staffing to be aligned with the ambitions of and resources available to the organization
Communication and Public Relations
- Represent Samaanta in public, helping the organization find its voice as a key provider of comprehensive higher education Fellowships in Nepal
- Help leverage Samaanta’s institutional learning to establish Samaanta as a stakeholder in the policy arena in higher education
- Oversee the development and implementation of the organization’s Communications strategy, in collaboration with the Strategic Partnerships Officer and the Board
Fundraising and Partnerships
- Help develop and oversee a fundraising strategy for the organization
- Support and guide the Strategy and Partnership Officer – and other colleagues as needed – to identify new partners, develop funding proposals, and pursue fundraising activities
- Cultivate new and manage existing partnerships with stakeholders in education, public sector, development agencies, and corporate sectors to promote and strengthen Samaanta’s mission
Program Delivery
- Support and guide the Program Officer (PO) – and other colleagues as needed – to manage the annual selection of new cohort of Fellows
- Support PO in college placement and academic support to the Fellows
- Design, manage, and systematize an annual calendar for Samaanta, with a focus on the all-round development of the Fellows. This will include supporting and leading on extra-curricular sessions, skills development, internships, and work placements for the Fellows
Finance, Administration, and Compliance
- Support and guide the Program Officer – and other colleagues as needed – to maintain detailed records of all activities and expenditures
- Monitor the budget on a regular basis
- Enhance recordkeeping systems, train and enable the team towards the systems, and regularly review the systems and processes to ensure they are fit for purpose
- Ensure Samaanta’s legal, financial, and governance compliance in terms of annual reports, audits, grant requirements, and any other requirements
Governance
- Keep the Board informed about key updates, challenges, and opportunities on an ongoing basis, seeking support and escalating on issues as appropriate
- Work closely with the Board on strategy development, Fellowship co-design, fundraising and partnership development, and systemic influencing
Reporting
The Program Director is accountable to Samaanta’s Board of Directors, and will report to the relevant Board member. The Program Director is a permanent position, with a probation period of six months, and six-monthly reviews thereafter.
Qualifications
- Extensive experience of building systems and processes in a growing organization
- Empathetic, proven leader with a commitment to equity in education and social justice
- At least five years of work experience in leadership roles, including in managerial positions, in the development, not-for-profit, and/or education sector in Nepal
- Understanding of and commitment to Samaanta’s mission and values of service, leadership, and paying it forward
- Minimum one year experience of working with and mentoring young people (aged 16–25)
- Demonstrated history of effective line management, teamwork, and collaboration with diverse team members
- Entrepreneurial mindset with ability to work independently, with minimal supervision, on multiple assignments simultaneously
- Ability to work flexibly, and in an iterative and adaptive manner
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills in Nepali and English
Location: The Program Director will be based in Kathmandu, with a few visits each year to different parts of Nepal for recruitment and other relevant organizational activities.
Salary: NPR 65,000 – 75,000 per month, with some room for negotiation commensurate with qualifications and experience
Start date: As soon as possible
Candidates interested in joining a well-networked team are requested to submit a cover letter with salary expectations (pdf) and their CV (max 2 pages, pdf) to info@samaantafoundation.org, with “Application for Samaanta Program Director” as the subject line. We will be interviewing candidates on a rolling basis, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Samaanta Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.