Program Manager, Economic and Climate Prosperity

osfglobal; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

osfglobal seeks a Program Manager for Economic and Climate Prosperity in Johannesburg. You will lead country-level design and implementation, working to advance climate finance, green policy and reform agendas in South Africa (and Senegal) through policy engagement, grants and partnerships.

The role requires strategic planning, strong stakeholder relationships, and the ability to translate technical evidence into policy options.

Qualifications

• Essential: university degree or equivalent.
• Substantial experience in green industrial policy, international finance and trade systems.
• Ability to translate technical evidence into policy options and briefs.
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with government and development institutions.
• Willingness to travel internationally.

Responsibilities

• Lead country-level work plans for South Africa and Senegal.
• Engage policy makers and partners to influence design and accountability.
• Represent the program in policy forums and build relationships with government and finance institutions.
• Manage grant-making processes and oversee consultant contracts.
• Monitor progress, risks and reporting to the Associate Director, Programs.

Skills

Policy analysis

Grant management

Stakeholder engagement

International travel

English proficiency

Education

University degree or equivalent

Job description

Program Manager, Economic and Climate Prosperity. Johannesburg. Posting Date: 10/16/2026. Deadline: 10/29/2026

Role Title: Program Manager, Economic and Climate Prosperity

Contract Type: Permanent

Workstyle Arrangement: Hybrid

Reporting To: Associate Director, Programs

Department: Programs

Location: Johannesburg, Nairobi

Team Name: Economic and Climate Prosperity

Opportunity or Team description

Join the Economic and Climate Prosperity team to lead the design, implementation and ongoing development of country-level work in South Africa and Senegal. You will combine technical analysis, policy engagement, grant-making and partnerships to advance national and regional priorities.

The opportunity explores how Global South countries can shape decisions on climate change, finance and the global fiscal landscape, including climate finance, loss and damage, equitable debt reform and global tax reform. Strong knowledge of South Africa's policy environment will be central to your work.

Role Purpose

The Program Manager will lead the design, implementation and ongoing development of Economic and Climate Prosperity's country-level work in South Africa and Senegal, while contributing to selected regional and pan-African initiatives

Combining technical policy expertise, political-economy analysis, grant-making and partnership development, the role will advance national and regional priorities in green industrial policy, international finance and trade systems. Strong understanding of South Africa's policy environment and trusted relationships with government, development finance institutions and other partners will be central to identifying opportunities and influencing policy design, implementation and accountability.

Key responsibilities

Strategy and Country Planning

• Develop country-level work plans including mapping of policy windows and politically feasible pathways for reform
• Effectively manage the grant-making process by communicating with grantees for proposal submission, assisting in grant record preparation, grants processing, payments, reporting, and other related processes

Policy Analysis and Influence

• Translating technical evidence into policy options, briefs and engagement strategies
• Supporting partners to influence policy design, implementation and accountability

Stakeholder Relationships and Representation

• Represent ECP in relevant policy forums and build trusted relationships with government, public finance institutions, civil society, research organisations, private-sector actors and regional institutions
• Managing sensitive relationships in complex or contested political environment.
• Convening stakeholders with different interests
• Work collaboratively with other members within ECP and with colleagues across OSF to ensure the opportunity is effectively leveraging OSF's capabilities to reach the agreed outcome.
• Build relationships with senior government officials, public institutions, development finance institutions, civil society, researchers, private-sector actors and regional bodies

Grant and Consultant Contract Management

• Effectively manage the grant-making process by communicating with grantees for proposal submission, assisting in grant record preparation, grants processing, payments, reporting, and other related processes
• Contribute to larger opportunity strategy
• Process and oversee progress of consultant contracts

Monitoring and Reporting

• Monitor progress implementation, project risks, and other relevant status updates and communicate to Associate Director of Programs regularly

The ideal candidate (essential criteria)

Essential Education

University degree or equivalent experience.

Essential Experience

• Substantial relevant experience in green industrial policy, international finance and trade systems.
• Experience working with national governments, national development banks and/or other development finance institutions.
• Strong understanding of South Africa's political and policy environment, with demonstrated ability to navigate policy processes.
• Ability to assess how political institutions, stakeholder interests, incentives and power dynamics affect policy design and implementation.
• Proven ability to build and maintain trusted relationships with government officials, policymakers and other relevant stakeholders.
• Ability to translate technical evidence into policy options, briefs and engagement strategies.
• Experience collaborating with stakeholders across countries.
• Excellent command of English.
• Extensive experience in program/grant management, climate policy, or sustainable finance or similar
• Willingness to travel internationally and adjust working h

Desirable Experience

• Experience bringing grassroots community-based organizations (CBOs), climate activists, and government together to create unified policy positions that can influence government decisions
• Background in creating and executing log-frames and theory-of-change models
• Experience designing Requests for Proposals (RFPs), eva