1. Background
Tiny Totos is a pioneering social enterprise transforming childcare in East Africa by turning informal daycare centres into sustainable, high-quality small businesses. The organization empowers caregivers with training, tools, data, and financing to deliver safe and stimulating childcare, while supporting parents especially women to work productively and improve family incomes.
After a decade of success in Kenya and a growing presence in Uganda (Kampala), Tiny Totos is expanding to Northern Uganda through a pilot in Elegu Market, a high-traffic cross-border hub along the Uganda - South Sudan border. This pilot aims to demonstrate the viability of market-based childcare models in fragile and low-income trading environments, and to establish a foundation for scaling operations across Northern Uganda.
1. Role purpose
The Program Manager – Northern Uganda will be responsible for leading the implementation of Tiny Totos’ operations in the region.
This role combines strategic program management, partnership development, and team leadership to deliver high-quality pilot results, establish the Gulu regional base, and build the learning and partnership infrastructure required for scale-up. The Manager will represent Tiny Totos with key stakeholders including district authorities, market associations, and local partners and will ensure effective coordination of field operations, reporting, and compliance in line with donor and Tiny Totos standards.
2. Key responsibilities
A. Program leadership and implementation
- Lead planning, coordination, and delivery of all Tiny Totos activities in Northern Uganda, starting with the Elegu pilot.
- Develop detailed workplans and ensure activities are implemented on time, within budget, and to the required quality.
- Supervise field operations and provide day-to-day oversight to the Field Officer and other support staff.
- Lead data-driven decision-making, ensuring continuous learning and adaptation based on field realities.
- Ensure adherence to Tiny Totos programmatic standards, safeguarding, and ethical conduct policies.
B. Stakeholder and partnership management
- Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with district and town councils, market associations, and community leaders.
- Represent Tiny Totos in local coordination meetings, joint planning sessions, and strategic stakeholder fora.
- Identify and cultivate partnerships with NGOs, microfinance institutions, and private sector actors supporting women traders.
- Support the negotiation and development of MoUs with local authorities and strategic partners.
C. People management and capacity building
- Recruit, mentor, and supervise the Northern Uganda team (including the Field Officer).
- Foster a high-performance culture that values accountability, learning, and innovation.
- Facilitate regular team reflection and learning sessions to drive continuous improvement.
- Identify capacity gaps and coordinate training, coaching, and knowledge-sharing across the regional team.
D. Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting
- Ensure robust data collection and reporting systems are in place to track pilot outcomes and operational performance.
- Contribute to the development of quarterly and annual reports for donors and Tiny Totos HQ.
- Support qualitative documentation — case studies, lessons learned, and best practices from the Elegu pilot.
- Use insights and evidence to inform program adjustments and future scale-up strategy.
E. Financial oversight and compliance
- Oversee Northern budgets, expenditure tracking, and adherence to procurement guidelines.
- Ensure financial accountability and value-for-money across all field activities.
- Prepare monthly budget forecasts and activity-based financial reports.
- Support compliance with donor regulations and internal audit requirements.
F. Strategy and scale-up preparation
- Support the Uganda Country Program on the development of a regional roadmap for Tiny Totos’ growth in Northern Uganda
- Identify new market opportunities (e.g., Gulu, Lamwo, Adjumani) based on data from the pilot.
- Contribute to funding proposals and presentations for donors and potential partners.
- Actively participate in organizational strategy sessions and cross-country learning exchanges.
3. Qualifications and experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Education, Business Administration, or related field (Master’s preferred).
- 5+ years’ experience in program or project management within NGOs, social enterprises, or development programs.
- Proven track record in stakeholder engagement, government liaison, and team supervision.
- Demonstrated experience managing field-based teams in complex, multicultural, or cross-border contexts.
- Sound understanding of market systems, livelihoods, or women’s economic empowerment approaches.
- Experience in financial oversight and results-based reporting.
- Excellent written and spoken communication in English; proficiency in Acholi, Luo, or Kiswahili is an added advantage.
- Strong interpersonal skills, integrity, and adaptability in fluid operational contexts.
5. Core competencies and values
- Strong leadership and decision-making capacity in resource-limited environments.
- Entrepreneurial mindset — practical, adaptive, and focused on scalable solutions.
- Excellent coordination, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
- Commitment to Tiny Totos’ mission of empowering mothers and children through quality childcare.
- Culturally sensitive, emotionally intelligent, and collaborative.
- Willingness to travel frequently between Gulu, Amuru, and Elegu.
This position was originally posted by Tiny Totos and has been curated by PurposePhil Career. To apply, please visit the original listing on the "apply" link on the side. We are not affiliated with the employer organization of this job ad or consultancy, and provide this curated listing as a service to our users.
