Program Manager (Volunteer Cooperation Program), Sri Lanka

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

POSITION TITLE           : Program Manager (Volunteer Cooperation Program), Sri Lanka

POSITION LOCATION  : Colombo, Sri Lanka with frequent travel 

REPORTS TO                  : Senior Manager, VCP Programs & Sri Lanka Country Director

CONTRACT TERM        : Two years 

 SALARY LEVEL              : Remuneration LKR 375,000–400,000 per month, based on experience and qualifications

APPLICATION DEADLINE        :09th December, 2025

EXPECTED START DATE          : ASAP

Are you an experienced global development manager? Do you believe in sustainable and inclusive changes to create a better world for youth? WUSC is currently looking for a Program Manager to lead our Volunteer Cooperation Program in Sri Lanka.

BACKGROUND

WUSC (World University Service of Canada) is a Canadian non-profit organization working to create a better world for all young people. We bring together a diverse network of students, volunteers, schools, governments, and businesses who share this vision. Together, we develop solutions in education, economic opportunities, and empowerment to overcome inequality and exclusion for youth around the world, particularly young women and young refugees. WUSC currently works in 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $40 million. We have over 90 staff in our Ottawa office, and over 200 people overseas implementing 16 development projects in collaboration with donors such as Global Affairs Canada, the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the African Development Bank. 

Volunteering for development is one of the important ways in which WUSC pursues its mission. WUSC’s Volunteer Cooperation Program (VCP) has ambitious targets to mobilize hundreds of skilled Canadian volunteers each year to support partners in developing countries where we are working to advance gender equality and facilitate economic opportunities for poor and marginalized young people, especially young women and refugees. Overseas, our volunteers collaborate with a wide variety of partners, including enterprise and social enterprise development incubators, skills training centres, enterprises, women's organizations, and youth groups. In Canada, WUSC works with institutions and individuals to identify, prepare, and support volunteers who travel overseas to support our partners for various durations of time. Our network in Canada also works with WUSC to raise awareness among Canadians to inspire greater action on global development issues. Our collective focus is on sustainable and inclusive changes to create a better world for youth. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Senior Manager, VCP Programs, and the Sri Lanka Country Director, the Program Manager will be responsible for implementing the Volunteer Cooperation Program in Sri Lanka. She/he shall ensure the coordination of all VCP activities and is responsible for managing its human resources (employees and volunteers) and its material and financial resources. She/he shall represent the Program in dealings with different agencies and organizations and ensure linkages and synergies between the Program and the other WUSC projects and activities in the country. The Program Manager (Sri Lanka) is the main point of contact for the Program’s partners and volunteers. She/he is responsible for developing a solid network of partners – from public and private sectors, and civil society – to achieve the Program’s objectives. In carrying out this mandate, the Program Manager (Sri Lanka) will be supported by local country employees, including a Senior Program Officer and Program Support volunteers. The Program Manager (Sri Lanka) may count on the support of colleagues from the region and teams in Canada for volunteer mobilization, financial management, training, sectoral analyses, and monitoring and evaluation.

Responsibilities: As Program Manager (Sri Lanka), you are in responsible for:

Program Management and Coordination

• In collaboration with the Senior Manager (VCP Programs), and other colleagues in the region, design and implement the VCP Program in-country in a coherent and effective manner in relation to the country and regional development priorities.
• Manage the Program in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the VCP Program and by WUSC. 
• Develop work plans, annual budgets and annual reports for the Program.
• Manage and support the Senior Program Officer, partners and volunteers in relation to the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of VCP programming in the country.
• In collaboration with the Country Director, represent the Program on behalf of WUSC in liaising with in-country governmental agencies, the Canadian government (Embassy/CHC, Global Affairs Canada), other funders, other volunteer cooperation agencies and strategic partners in the country.
• As the primary relationship holder of VCP partnerships in Sri Lanka, lead on new partner scoping, agreements, partner meetings, capacity and performance evaluations, reporting, health checks, issues, exits and the project’s Partner Innovation Fund.
• In collaboration with the Senior Manager, VCP Programs, and the Sri Lanka Country Director, participate in studies, analysis and strategic planning in sub-sectors concerning the implementation of the systems approach.
• Ensure the delivery of the Program’s expected results in-country by leading the planning, activities monitoring and results reporting, in collaboration with VCP MERL team
• In collaboration with local partners, program support volunteers and the Senior Program Officer, implement procedures to support volunteers over the duration of their assignment, addressing aspects such end of contract issues, volunteer management issues, safeguarding and medical issues and emergency medical evacuations, with due consideration for how conditions may affect women and men differently.
• In collaboration with WUSC Sri Lanka Country Director and WUSC’s Program Development team, participate in program development and design initiatives for the Sri Lanka program
• Support with the identification and securing of additional funding resources to support Program partners’ programming.
• Support the implementation of the VCP program’s approach to improve organizational capacities and performance, advocate for gender equality, and implement more sustainable, innovative, and inclusive initiatives and services for poor and marginalized young women. Mobilize staff, volunteers and Program partners with regards to 1) the documentation of results and good practices and 2) the generation of content and knowledge, with the goal of the communication and dissemination thereof, both internally and externally.
• With the support of the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Advisor (GESI), volunteers and partners, integrate or ensure the integration of Gender Equality concerns in all Program activities; organize training sessions, if necessary.
• Ensure the integration of Results Based Management (RBM) in activity planning and reporting of results; organize training, if necessary. 
• Lead on all VCP Communications for the Sri Lanka office, including development of knowledge products to increase visibility and support in-country recruitment, in collaboration with WUSC Communications team and VCP Mobilization team.
• Generate and distribute positive messaging about the WUSC and the VCP’s achievements, initiatives, and values, while monitoring for risk and reputational issues for the VCP and WUSC. 

Volunteer Management, Security and Safeguarding

• Lead on management and coordination of all medium-high risk volunteer management issues, in collaboration with SPO and with WUSC Canada Management Team.
• Lead on management of complaints, medium-high risk performance management, and terminations.
• Lead on management of volunteer-related emergencies and security incidents, including health emergencies, in collaboration with the Country Director and the WUSC Canada Management Team. 
• Oversee and meet annual volunteer targets and expected person-days within the volunteer costs budget, and participate in the monthly budget projections meeting.
• In collaboration with the WUSC Sri Lanka Finance team, oversee payment of non-Canadian volunteer allowances and reimbursements of in-country volunteer expenses.
• Support SPO to ensure that volunteers receive timely and effective support in securing accommodation
• Lead on planning the overall In Country Orientation process for volunteers, in collaboration with SPO, and facilitate some ICO sessions such as WUSC Sri Lanka Program Overview, Country Security, etc. 

Management and administration

• Lead on recruitment, training, and performance reviews in accordance with current policies and practices to ensure comprehensive VCP staff management in-country.
• In collaboration with the Senior Manager, VCP Programs, the Finance Portfolio Manager in Canada, and with the country office finance team, plan and manage financial and material resources in accordance with Program guidelines and the policies and procedures of WUSC. 
  
• Produce budgets and ensure effective budget monitoring.
• Authorize Program expenditures and approve the required financial reports.
• Ensure that the emergency and security procedures established by WUSC with respect to volunteers and Program personnel are implemented, updated and enforced.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

 Education

• An advanced university degree in a relevant discipline (international development, economic development, business development or development studies) or equivalent years of professional experience. 

Experience & Competencies

• Ten years of experience in managing development cooperation programs.
• Two years of experience in coordinating intercultural teams and experience in volunteer management an asset.
• Experience in needs analysis, capacity building and training.
• Experience in personnel management.
• Experience in budget development and budget management.
• Experience in project development and project management.
• Work experience in an intercultural context.
• Excellent communications and representation skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of national development strategies, particularly in relation to the economic sector, businesses, entrepreneurship, employability, and vocational and technical training.
•  An entrepreneurial spirit.
• Proficiency with information technologies and computer skills (Word, Excel, the Internet, etc.) and familiarity with Google Drive, Gmail and Salesforce is an asset.
• Knowledge of the economic development sector.
• Adherence to the Gender Equality approach and the values of social inclusion.
• Knowledge of Results-Based Management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Curious, enthusiastic and willing to innovate and adapt.

Languages

• Complete fluency in English is required. 

WHY WORK WITH WUSC?

Join Us. Our work is important, cutting-edge, and fast-paced. We encourage curiosity, innovation, and flexibility. And we provide a phenomenal learning experience. 

WUSC offers a dynamic international work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce. We offer employees exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference in the lives of youth around the world. Employees at WUSC work hard to create lasting change in education, economic opportunities and empowerment.

The WUSC office is centrally-located in Sri Lanka.  We offer competitive benefits, 21 days of annual leave (for full-time employees), safe and healthy working conditions, and fair compensation.

APPLICATIONS

WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion, sexual exploitation or abuse of any form. Successful applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced criminal record check where appropriate.

WUSC is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone calls please.

Sri Lankan nationals or applicants with permission to work in Sri Lanka will be strongly preferred for this role.