Principal Program Manager- 12 mths

Principal Program Manager - Santos Foundation PNG- 12 mth Fixed Term Contract Location : Port Moresby, PNG
The Santos Foundation is seeking an experienced and passionate Principal Program Manager to support the delivery of impactful community development programs across Papua New Guinea. This is a senior leadership opportunity for a development professional who thrives on building partnerships, leading teams, and delivering sustainable outcomes aligned with PNG's development priorities.

What You'll Do
- Provide leadership and support to the Head of Programs & Partnerships PNG and contribute to the strategic direction of the Santos Foundation.
- Lead and oversee a portfolio of community development programs, ensuring effective, efficient and sustainable delivery.
- Manage and support Program Managers to achieve program objectives and outcomes.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with government, community, donor and implementing partners.
- Represent the Santos Foundation at key stakeholder forums, meetings and industry events.
- Contribute to program design, proposal development, grant management and strategic planning activities.
- Work closely with internal teams to ensure high-quality reporting, monitoring and compliance requirements are met.
- Provide strategic advice on development practice, program risks, stakeholder engagement and partnership opportunities.
- Ensure all programs operate in accordance with governance, safety, risk and compliance requirements.
- Champion a culture of collaboration, accountability, safety and continuous improvement across the Foundation.

What You'll Bring
- Significant experience leading international aid, development or community investment programs.
- Significant senior leadership experience within Papua New Guinea, including working in complex stakeholder environments.
- Proven ability to build trusted relationships with government agencies, communities, NGOs, development partners and private sector stakeholders.
- Strong understanding of development practice, program design, monitoring and evaluation principles.
- Demonstrated experience managing large-scale programs, budgets and multidisciplinary teams.
- Exceptional stakeholder engagement, communication and influencing skills, including public speaking.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving and strategic thinking capabilities.
- Experience developing funding proposals, grants and donor reports.
- Experience working with the Government of PNG, with DFAT and other donor organisations highly regarded.
- A degree in Development, Public Health, Business, Science or a related discipline. A postgraduate qualification in Development, Project Management or a related field will be highly regarded.
Why Join Us? At Santos Foundation, you'll play a critical role in creating meaningful and sustainable community outcomes across PNG. Working alongside a dedicated team of development professionals, you'll help shape programs that deliver long-term social impact while contributing to the strategic priorities of both the Foundation and the communities we serve.