Senior Program Manager

Title: Senior Program Manager

Employee Working Location: Partially Virtual / Hybrid (Canada)

Employment Status: Permanent Full-time

The Canadian Red Cross (Red Cross) – an inspirational not for profit organization, helps people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and supports them in strengthening their resilience. As aCanada’s Best Employers 2026, we are committed to having an accessible, diverse, inclusive, and barrier-free work environment. 

The Senior Program Manager is responsible for leading strategic programs, service innovations, and operational improvement initiatives across the Health in Emergencies (HIE) portfolio. The role focuses on the development, piloting, implementation, and evaluation of new programs, services, and operating models that strengthen HIE's ability to deliver effective domestic health emergency preparedness, response, and recovery activities. The position provides oversight of multiple concurrent programs and projects, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, operational needs, and community impacts. Working collaboratively with technical health specialists, relief/recovery and operational teams, and cross-functional stakeholders, the Senior Program Manager establishes standardized project and program management approaches, systems, governance processes, and reporting mechanisms to enhance consistency, accountability, and performance across HIE. The role drives continuous improvement, supports evidence-informed decision making, and contributes to the successful scaling and sustainability of priority services and programs.

In this role, you will:

• Support the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of strategic programs and initiatives within the Health in Emergencies portfolio.

• Design, pilot, and assess new services, programs, and operating models to address emerging organizational and community needs.

• Apply strong analytical and problem-solving skills to interpret data, identify trends, assess risks, and support evidence-based decision-making.

• Analyze program data, budgets, financial forecasts, operational metrics, and stakeholder feedback to drive informed decision-making and continuous improvement.

• Identify opportunities to enhance program effectiveness, operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and service delivery through innovation and process improvement.

• Manage multiple concurrent programs and projects, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities, operational requirements, budget allocations, timelines, and performance objectives.

• Monitor program progress, dependencies, risks, issues, financial performance, and resource requirements, implementing mitigation strategies as needed.

• Develop and maintain program plans, project schedules, governance frameworks, performance indicators, budget tracking mechanisms, and reporting processes.

• Lead the development and implementation of standardized project and program management methodologies, tools, templates, and processes across Health in Emergencies.

• Support the optimization and adoption of project management, reporting, and collaboration platforms to improve coordination, visibility, financial accountability, and operational effectiveness.

• Establish and maintain consistent approaches to project intake, prioritization, resource allocation, budgeting, tracking, reporting, and evaluation across the department.

• Prepare reports, dashboards, presentations, financial analyses, and briefing materials to support senior leadership decision-making.

• Collaborate with technical health experts, operational teams, emergency management personnel, and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure successful program delivery and responsible stewardship of resources.

• Foster stakeholder engagement and build strong working relationships to advance strategic objectives and achieve program outcomes.

• Support organizational change management initiatives related to new programs, systems, processes, and service delivery models.

• Develop and implement monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks to measure program performance, outcomes, financial sustainability, and impact.

• Capture and share lessons learned, best practices, and recommendations to support knowledge transfer and organizational learning.

• Contribute to domestic emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and surge operations by providing program management leadership, resource coordination, and budget oversight.

• Ensure programs and initiatives remain adaptable and responsive to changing operational priorities, emerging risks, budget pressures, and evolving organizational needs.

• Represent Health in Emergencies on internal working groups, committees, and project teams, as required.

• Perform other related duties in support of Health in Emergencies strategic and operational objectives.
   

What we are looking for:

• University degree in Public Health, Health Sciences, Emergency Management, Business Administration, Project Management, Finance, or a related discipline; Master's degree considered an asset. 

• Minimum 6+ years of experience managing complex programs, projects, strategic initiatives, and associated budgets within health, emergency management, humanitarian, public sector, or related environments. 

• Demonstrated experience managing multiple concurrent programs and projects, including budget oversight, resource allocation, and financial forecasting in a fast-paced and evolving operational environment. 

• Experience leading the design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and financial management of programs, services, or strategic initiatives. 

• Experience establishing or enhancing project management frameworks, governance structures, financial controls, systems, and reporting processes. 

• Experience leading pilot projects, service innovation initiatives, continuous improvement efforts, or organizational change initiatives. 

• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams, including technical subject matter experts, operational personnel, and finance stakeholders. 

• Experience developing and presenting reports, briefings, dashboards, financial analyses, and recommendations for senior leadership. 

• Strong knowledge of program and project management principles, methodologies, governance practices, and financial management best practices. 

• Strong planning, organizational, portfolio management, and budget management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines. 

• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. 

• Strong facilitation, communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills. 

• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence and coordinate work across teams without direct supervisory authority. 

• Experience developing performance measurement, monitoring, evaluation, financial reporting, and accountability frameworks. 

• Knowledge of risk management, change management, financial stewardship, and continuous improvement methodologies. 

• Ability to translate strategic objectives into operational plans, resource requirements, budget plans, and measurable outcomes. 

• Proficiency with project management, collaboration, reporting, financial analysis, and business intelligence tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, Planner, SharePoint, Power BI, Power Platform, or equivalent). 

• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret financial, operational, and performance data to support decision-making and resource optimization. 

• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment and adapt to changing priorities, operational requirements, and budget considerations. 

• Knowledge of emergency management, public health, health systems, or humanitarian operations is considered an asset. 
  PMP, PgMP, PRINCE2, Agile, Lean, Change Management, or other relevant professional certification is considered an asset. 

• Ability and willingness to support domestic emergency response operations, including deployment or surge assignments as required.
   

Working Conditions:

• Occasional requirement for prolonged standing with infrequent breaks in order to perform the requirements of the role. 

• Requires significant attention to detail and concentration and ability to mentally process large amounts of information.

• The work pace is often unpredictable with significant time pressures.

• Ability to adapt to frequent and often urgent changes in priorities, and make decisions under pressure, work at an unpredictable pace. 

• The role includes fieldwork, deployment to emergency operations, and office-based work during non-deployment periods.

• Some domestic or international travel to generally safe locations; exposure to moderate adverse conditions requiring attention to personal safety.

• Work requires the ability to work to multiple, conflicting deadlines.

• Work requires interactions with clients who may be agitated, or are experiencing stressful situations. 

• In a large-scale emergency, where staff numbers are compromised or additional resources are required provide disaster relief and/or emergency field operational support.

• Will be required to work extended hours during peak periods on short notice.

• As we work with and support people (managers, colleagues, beneficiaries/customers, volunteers, donors and external partners) and communities in Canada and around the world, applicants whose first language is not English may be required to perform the responsibilities of the role in English. 

• Eligibility to work in Canada: At this time, we welcome applications from candidates eligible to work in Canada. If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, we encourage you to carefully review your visa to find out whether you are eligible to work in the job you are considering applying for. Refer to our FAQ for more information.

• If you are selected for this role, you will be required to complete a successful pre-employment screening process which includes a satisfactory Enhanced Police Information Check (E-PIC).