The Foundation
We are the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on a simple premise: people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. We believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve. We provide an exceptional benefits package to employees and their families which include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in several employee communities. As a workplace, weโre committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.
The TeamThe Africa team is dedicated to facilitating the foundation's ambitious objectives of expanding evidence-based interventions addressing various diseases and socio-economic challenges prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The team fulfills its role by engaging directly with countries to implement interventions and delivery models. Additionally, they establish partner networks to replicate successful interventions and models across multiple countries. The Africa regional team's efforts encompass initiatives aimed at enhancing health, gender equality, and economic development.
Application Deadline: 13/2/2026
The Role
The Program Assistant is an integral member of the team, ensuring that all administrative and scheduling functions are completed in a timely manner allowing for highly productive environments! The focus of the West & Central Africa team is to enable collective impact for the foundation in the region by influencing policy and finance towards key development priorities, strengthening capacity and enabling systems for delivery, and innovating and leveraging cross-cutting enablers for impact at scale.
In this capacity, the Program Assistant will offer comprehensive organizational and administrative support to the leaders and staff within the Kenya office collaborating with a small team of fellow assistants to facilitate the overall workflow and ensure the smooth operation of the designated offices.
This role is based in the Senegal office located in Dakar and will report to the PA Manager, Continental Team.
What Youโll Do
The selected candidate will be responsible for the following tasks:
Schedule numerous appointments and meetings while managing complex calendars for multiple people and making travel arrangements.
Proactively review upcoming weeks/months and support principals with planning, recognizing potential bottlenecks and making recommendations for how to best allocate time/make trade-offs when scheduling issues arise.
Assist in scheduling and planning for events, such as meetings, conferences and presentations, which may include coordinating arrangements for participants, handling logistics, preparing and disseminating materials.
Provide communications support and assistance to ensure timely responses to inquiries including answering and prioritizing calls, email and mail communications.
Maintain organized files and records and a system for tracking, monitoring and prioritizing tasks and projects.
Compile and process expense reports, reimbursement, and check requests.
Work on special projects as needed. May include conducting basic research and analysis of data to respond to requests.
Establish and manage relationships with grantees in the field as well as internal and external partners.
Strong organizational skills reflecting ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail.
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with internal staff, grantees, high level officials and other partners.
Proactive approaches to problem-solving with strong decision-making capability.
Highly resourceful team-player, with the ability to also be effective independently.
Demonstrate ability to handle confidential information with discretion, be adaptable to opposing demands.
Clear capabilities in working across multiple time zones and cultures.
Knowledge of the Senegal environment and standards is required.
Experience in providing guidance to and supervising the work of others is desirable.
Ability to track rhythm of business while also dealing with ambiguity and change.
Experience establishing organizational systems to improve efficiency and functioning in a changing environment.
Demonstrated proficiency using Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint is required. Experience in learning and mastering new software applications.
Sets priorities and meets goals while balancing needs of providing support for multiple individuals, including complex calendar, travel, and event planning.
Able to communicate effectively with internal and external contacts and can adjust to a wide variety of working styles.
Experience in an environment requiring diplomacy and good judgment in managing interactions inside and outside an organization, with individuals at all levels, including senior executives and other high-level officials.
Proven positive, collaborative approach to work, including a dedication to client-service and problem solving.
Required Experience
An academic background in foreign languages, diplomacy, communications, administration, or a related field of study is required.
A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in administrative responsibilities, intricate calendar management, executive or virtual assistance, program management, and project management.
Proficiency in the French language, encompassing effective verbal and written communication, with the capability to articulate technical concepts, information, and analytical insights to support strategic decision-making.
Proven track record of providing support to senior staff or leadership teams at a global or regional level within the framework of a matrix organizational structure.
Experience establishing organizational systems to improve efficiency and functioning in a changing environment.
Flexibility in meeting changing organizational and team needs to be accompanied by a willingness to work with shifting role priorities to prioritize collaboration and teamwork.
Open to feedback and an ability to adjust to diverse communication styles.
Demonstrated proficiency with Outlook, Microsoft Office, and OneNote, is required.
Previous experience with MS SharePoint and MS Teams preferred. Experience in learning and mastering new software applications.
Other Attributes
Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
Adept at navigating various cultural, geographic, and operational contexts while exhibiting cultural sensitivity when interacting with a diverse range of individuals.
Capability to undertake domestic and international travel, up to 25% of the time.
Hiring Requirements
As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
Candidate Accommodations
If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.
Inclusion Statement
We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion โ of voices, ideas, and approaches โ and we support this diversity through all our employment practices.
All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.