Project Manager, Bahir Dar Specialty Eye Center Project

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE:

For more than 43 million people, blindness is a daily reality; another 295 million suffer from moderate to severe vision impairment. 90% of these people live in low-and middle-income communities where access to eye care is limited and the challenges for those who can’t see are severe. But there is hope: 80% of this burden is treatable or preventable. For example, 17 million blind people could be cured with a 10-minute cataract surgery. Millions more suffer from corneal blindness, which is often preventable or treatable. At the Cure Blindness Project, we believe avoidable blindness can – and must – be overcome. For more than 25 years, we have worked alongside a capable network of collaborators to help people around the world retain and regain their sight by developing high-quality, cost-effective eye care systems in underserved areas of the world. With the help of partners in more than 25 countries, Cure Blindness has provided more than 1.4 million sight-restoring surgeries and screened more than 14.5 million people to provide care and basic treatments. We’ve trained more than 19,500 eye health professionals and have established 5 eye hospitals. There is more work left to do, but we can overcome the mountain of global blindness, together.

Cure Blindness Project is expanding its team to meet new challenges, scale its work, and broaden its reach. We are seeking individuals who are passionate about changing lives and want to be a part of a team that works together to reach new heights. We want leaders who can aim high, make things happen, and are invested in building a dynamic positive team to bring work to life.

VISION: We will be the catalyst to create a world in which no one is needlessly blind.

MISSION: We enable countries to end avoidable blindness by developing high quality, 

cost-effective eye care systems in underserved areas of the world so everyone everywhere can regain or retain their sight.

SCOPE OF WORK

Under the direct supervision of the Ethiopia Country Director, the Project Manager will oversee two key phases of the Bahir Dar Specialty Eye Center project:

• Development of an Operational Readiness Plan (ORP)

• Implementation of the ORP through the successful “go-live” phase

This role requires exceptional project management skills to coordinate across multiple stakeholders, ensure timely completion of deliverables, and maintain alignment with Cure Blindness standards and donor requirements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Planning & Execution

• Working primarily with the Country Director and Bahir Dar Specialty Eye Center (BDSEC) Project team to define project scope, objectives, and deliverables to get this project to and through the go-live phase.

• Develop and implement a comprehensive Operational Readiness Plan (ORP) with clear timelines, milestones, and resource requirements

• Identify critical dependencies and establish project governance structures

• Monitor progress against key performance indicators and provide regular status updates

• Implement corrective actions as needed to keep the project on schedule and within budget

Stakeholder Management

• Collaborate with Cure Blindness teams across Ethiopia country office, Bahir Dar Specialty Eye Center and HQ 

• Maintain effective communication channels with all teams

• Support the Country Director in managing stakeholder relationships and addressing concerns

Project Oversight

• Oversee day-to-day implementation of the ORP activities

• Establish systems to identify and mitigate potential risks in conjunction with Risk Manager

• Ensure compliance with donor requirements and organizational policies

• Monitor financial expenditures and support budget management

• Track and monitor regular project meetings, share status updates, and track the implementation of agreed actions.

• Provide guidance to the Bahir Dar Specialty Eye Center project teams

• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing

Perform other duties as assigned by the Country Director.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Based in Addis Ababa with regular travel to Bahir Dar

• May require occasional weekend or evening work to meet project deadlines

Reports To:  Country Director  

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Position Type: Temporary Contractor for 6 months 

Required Experience & Education

• Master’s degree in project management, public health, or related field

• Minimum 5 years of project management experience in NGOs, healthcare settings, or clinical environments

• Demonstrated experience in managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects

• Experience with construction management or healthcare facility operationalization preferred

Essential Skills

• Advanced project management methodologies and tools

• Strong financial management and budgeting capabilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English

• Proficiency with project management software (Asana) and Microsoft Office/Google Workspace

• Ability to analyze complex situations and develop effective solutions

Personal Attributes

• Diplomatic and culturally sensitive approach to working with diverse stakeholders

• Detail-oriented with exceptional organizational skills

• Adaptable and resilient in changing environments

• Demonstrated commitment to healthcare access and quality improvement

• Professional demeanor with ability to maintain confidentiality

How To Apply

We invite qualified candidates to submit a resume and cover letter.  Please send materials via email to: jobs@cureblindness.org. 

The Cure Blindness Project encourages applications from people of all races, religions, national origins, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and ages, as well as veterans and individuals with disabilities.