The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to our mission of saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries. We work at the invitation of governments to support them and the private sector to create and sustain high-quality health systems.

CHAI was founded in 2002 in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, with the goal of dramatically reducing the price of life-saving drugs and increasing access to these medicines in the countries with the highest burden of the disease. Over the following two decades, CHAI has expanded its focus. Today, along with HIV, we work in conjunction with our partners to prevent and treat infectious diseases such as COVID-19, malaria, tuberculosis, and hepatitis. Our work has also expanded into cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and other non-communicable diseases, and we work to accelerate the rollout of lifesaving vaccines, reduce maternal and child mortality, combat chronic malnutrition, and increase access to assistive technology. We are investing in horizontal approaches to strengthen health systems through programs in human resources for health, digital health, and health financing. With each new and innovative program, our strategy is grounded in maximizing sustainable impact at scale, ensuring that governments lead the solutions, that programs are designed to scale nationally, and learnings are shared globally.

At CHAI, our people are our greatest asset, and none of this work would be possible without their talent, time, dedication and passion for our mission and values. We are a highly diverse team of enthusiastic individuals across 40 countries with a broad range of skill sets and life experiences. CHAI is deeply grounded in the countries we work in, with the majority of our staff based in program countries. Learn more about our exciting work: http://www.clintonhealthaccess.org

CHAI strives to be an equal opportunity employer and promotes fairness, respect, equity and dignity in the workplace. CHAI welcomes applications from all qualified individuals and encourages people from historically disadvantaged groups to apply. CHAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing an environment of fairness, and mutual respect where all applicants have access to equal employment opportunities. CHAI values diversity and inclusion and recognizes that our mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people with diverse experiences, backgrounds, and culture.

Position overview

CHAI is seeking a highly motivated Program Manager to support the South African government in expanding equitable access to mental health services.

Working under the leadership of the National Department of Health (NDoH) and in close collaboration with provincial health departments, SAHPRA, and National Treasury. This program focuses on improving access to affordable, quality-assured psychotropic medications, generating evidence for cost-effective investment, and strengthening integration of mental health into existing HIV, PHC, and NCD platforms.

This senior role involves coordinating multi-stakeholder efforts, adapting global technical inputs for the South African context, and ensuring that all activities strengthen government capacity. The Program Manager will also help position the initiative for transition into a sustainable, multi-year national program.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provide overall direction for the program in alignment with NDoH and provincial priorities.
• Oversee planning, coordination, and delivery of program workstreams, including market analysis, demand forecasting, policy support, and cost-effectiveness adaptation.
• Support NDoH, SAHPRA, Treasury, and provinces to co-design and implement solutions for improved medicine access and service integration.
• Convene and facilitate technical working groups, policy dialogues, and workshops involving government, civil society, academia, and people with lived experience.
• Supervise staff and consultants engaged on the program, ensuring accountability and high-quality outputs.
• Coordinate with CHAI’s global mental health team to bring in technical expertise while tailoring tools and evidence for the South African context.
• Translate technical work (e.g. supplier engagement, cost-effectiveness analysis) into actionable policies and sustainable improvements in access to care.
• Contribute to donor reporting, communication, and relationship management.
• Work with government and partners to secure long-term financing and embed approaches into national systems for lasting impact.
• Execute any other responsibilities as requested by CHAI leadership, ensuring adaptability and responsiveness to evolving program needs.

• Master’s degree in public health, health policy, economics, or a related field.
• At least 8 years of progressively responsible experience in health systems, policy, or program leadership (experience in mental health, pharmaceutical access, or health economics is an advantage).
• A minimum of 5+ years of management experience as a Program Manager.
• Excellent communication skills and demonstrated success in working with or within government at senior levels to shape and implement health programs.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with proficiency in tools such as Excel and PowerPoint for modeling, costing, and presenting evidence.
• Willingness to travel as required.

Advantages

• Experience working directly with institutions such as NDoH, SAHPRA, or National Treasury.
• Previous experience in global health, supply chain management, or market shaping.
• Experience influencing policy processes, drafting briefs, or engaging in high-level stakeholder forums.

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