Program Manager

About Masakhane

Masakhane is a pan-African initiative aimed at tackling the under-representation of African languages in natural language processing (NLP) and AI. Our mission is to bring together researchers, technologists, linguists, and community members from across the continent to collaborate on AI that is inclusive and representative of Africa’s linguistic diversity. By working collectively, we are democratizing access to cutting-edge AI research and contributing to the global growth of African NLP.

About the Masakhane AI Hub for African Languages

The Masakhane AI Hub for African Languages (“the Hub”) is a new initiative to address the critical under-representation and misrepresentation of African languages in artificial intelligence (AI). Anchored by the Masakhane Research Foundation (MRF), the Hub will develop datasets, models, and use cases to catalyze innovation in sectors such as healthcare, education, and agriculture. With a vision to unlock AI’s benefits for over 1 billion Africans, the Hub fosters community-driven approaches and long-term, sustainable partnerships across the African NLP ecosystem.

Our mission is to empower marginalized communities, build local capacity, and ensure African languages and cultures are fully represented in the AI-driven future.

Position Overview

The Program Manager will play a central role in ensuring the success and impact of the Hub’s flagship projects by overseeing project management, operational excellence, and performance tracking. This position combines strong project management expertise with robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) skills to track and improve the effectiveness of the Hub’s programs.

Reporting to the Hub Director, the PM/MEL Lead will drive the development of detailed project plans, establish and maintain MEL frameworks, and ensure smooth coordination across teams and stakeholders. The PM will also support the Director to engage the Steering Committee and Masakhane Board, helping to manage board relationships and setting the agenda for these bodies and the strategic feedback needed to drive project execution.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to impactful projects at the intersection of AI and African languages while supporting the delivery of a new groundbreaking initiative.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Management

• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, timelines, and budgets for the Hub’s flagship initiatives.

• Act as the primary point of contact for project stakeholders, including funders, partners, and internal teams.

• Proactively identify risks and implement mitigation strategies to ensure project success.

Cross-Functional Team Management

• Serve as a key thought partner to the Director in the building of the Hub, by tackling high-stakes projects and solving complex problems as they arise. As needed, lead cross-functional projects, from launching new flagship initiatives to refining operational processes.

• Coordinate and manage project teams as needed to ensure efficient communication, alignment, and resource allocation.

• Facilitate regular check-ins, retrospectives, and team-building activities to ensure high team performance and morale.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

• Design and implement a comprehensive MEL framework to measure progress, effectiveness, and impact across all Hub initiatives.

• Establish performance indicators and data collection systems to track delivery against project targets and course-correct project delivery.

• Develop periodic MEL reports for internal use, funders, and stakeholders.

• Prepare high-quality reports, presentations, and updates for funders, the Advisory and Steering Committees, Board, and other stakeholders.

Institutional Capacity Building

• Identify capacity-building needs within the Hub’s teams and work with the Director to address them.

Requirements:

Experience

• Proven experience managing projects end-to-end, coordinating a range of stakeholders and ensuring results are achieved.

• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

• Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com, Microsoft Project).

• Strong understanding of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) frameworks and tools.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present findings to diverse audiences.

• Demonstrated ability to manage and inspire cross-functional teams.

• Familiarity with natural language processing (NLP) or AI technologies.

• Experience working in or with the African NLP research community.

• Knowledge of open-source principles and collaborative software development practices.

• Previous experience in MEL roles within a digital health, education, or technology-focused organization.

• Certification in project management methodologies (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2, Agile).

Values & Mindset:

• A passion for languages and the transformative potential of technology to advance underrepresented cultures.

• A proactive, self-starter who is comfortable working remotely and independently.

• Strong interpersonal skills with a commitment to inclusivity, collaboration, and cross-cultural understanding.

Why Join Us:

• Be part of a cutting-edge initiative that is pioneering the future of African languages in AI.

• Work in a collaborative and mission-driven environment with experts from across Africa and around the globe.

• Enjoy the flexibility of remote work with opportunities to connect with a vibrant community of innovators.

• Contribute to a project that promotes inclusivity, social good, and the democratization of AI technologies.

• Competitive salary and benefits, with opportunities for professional development.

Application Process:

Please send your CV and a brief cover letter explaining why you are interested in this role and how you would contribute to building and sustaining Masakhane’s community by sharing them via this form. Include any relevant work samples or links to previous community initiatives you’ve managed in your cover letter and/or CV.