About the role:

The Uganda Scaling Manager will be responsible for leading efforts to scale evidence-based parenting support in Uganda. We are seeking a talented professional with expertise in the scale-up of behavioural change interventions and digitally enabled programmes in Uganda and experience managing complex scaling projects, coordinating partnerships, and working closely with the government and civil society partners.

As a key member of Parenting for Lifelong Health’s core team, the Uganda Scaling Manager will collaborate with government stakeholders and local academic and CSO partners to adapt our flagship blended-digital programme, ParentApp, to the Ugandan context and co-design a model of delivery at scale that secures its sustainability. This initiative builds on existing efforts to support evidence-based parenting in Uganda through the Parenting for Respectability programme, ongoing research from Makere University, and the National Parenting Agenda Consortium. This position will have overall responsibility for the delivery of work against 5 work packages and lead on national coordination, budget management, and supervise a team of 2 Scaling Associates.

Reporting to our Senior Programme Manager, you will be responsible for managing an ambitious agenda to scale ParentApp, our flagship blended-digital parenting intervention, with the aim of reducing violence against children, improving caregiver mental health, and promoting healthy child development. You will work closely with Parenting for Lifelong Health’s global scaling and innovations teams to coordinate and implement app content adaptations, develop and track reach projections, and manage local partnerships.

Objectives:

This position will deliver on an ambitious plan for scaled parenting support in Uganda, securing the following work packages over 12 months:

Work Package 1. Government Systems Design and Readiness

Objective: Develop the implementation architecture required for government-led delivery of evidence-based parenting support.

• National implementation strategy
• Systems mapping
• Governance structure
• Implementation roadmap
• Detailed Year 1 workplan

Work Package 2. Digital Family Strengthening Platform

Objective: Adapt, localize and deploy ParentApp as a digital family strengthening platform embedded within existing government systems.

• Localized ParentApp
• Facilitator resources
• Deployment package
• Referral pathways
• Technical configuration

Work Package 3. Workforce Development and Quality Assurance

Objective: Develop national capacity to deliver high-quality parenting interventions.

• Master Trainer program
• Curriculum development for frontline service providers (parasocial workers and MOH Village Health Teams)
• Coaching package
• Certification framework
• Quality assurance tools

Work Package 4. Implementation Support and Monitoring

Objective: Provide technical assistance to support high-quality implementation and continuous improvement.

• National monitoring dashboard
• Quarterly implementation support
• Coaching and quality assurance
• Data review and analytics
• Technical troubleshooting

Work Package 5. Sustainability and Scale-Up

Objective: Prepare government partners for sustained expansion beyond Year 1.

• Costing analysis
• Implementation learning report
• National scale-up strategy
• Sustainability roadmap
• Technical handover package

Primary responsibilities

To accomplish these objectives, the Uganda Scaling Manager will have primary responsibility to:

• Lead the development and execution of Parenting for Lifelong Health’s national scaling strategy for ParentApp in Uganda, identifying and advancing pathways to sustainable, population-level reach.
• Lead negotiations and manage partnership agreements, memoranda of understanding, and implementation arrangements with government, development, and civil society partners.
• Identify opportunities to embed ParentApp within existing government and partner delivery systems, including health, social welfare, education, cash transfer, child protection, and faith-based service platforms.
• Work closely with PLH’s Scaling & Innovation team to support the adaptation, implementation, and continuous improvement of ParentApp for the Ugandan context.
• Develop and maintain national scale-up plans, reach projections, implementation roadmaps, and partnership pipelines, monitoring progress against key milestones and impact targets.
• Identify implementation challenges and emerging opportunities, using data and partner feedback to drive rapid learning, product improvement, and iterative scaling strategies.
• Manage country budgets, workplans, reporting, and project delivery across multiple funding streams and partnerships.
• Represent Parenting for Lifelong Health in national technical working groups, government forums, donor meetings, and regional learning platforms, serving as PLH’s primary representative in Uganda.
• Support resource mobilisation by contributing to proposal development, partnership opportunities, budgets, workplans, and donor engagement across Uganda and, where appropriate, Eastern and Southern Africa.

Essential criteria:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent combination of qualifications and experience, e.g. Bachelor’s degree plus substantial relevant professional experience) in public health, international development, business, public policy, psychology, social sciences, technology, or another relevant field
• Minimum five years’ experience leading the scale-up of programmes, digital products, or social innovations in Uganda, ideally through government, NGO, or large institutional systems
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing strategic partnerships with government ministries, UN agencies, NGOs, donors, or other large institutions
• Experience designing and implementing scaling strategies, including conducting ecosystem analyses, stakeholder mapping, and identifying pathways to institutionalisation
• Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects involving government and development partners
• Strong understanding of digital technologies and enthusiasm for learning new platforms and systems, including project management tools, mobile applications, and content management systems
• Strong analytical skills and experience using monitoring, evaluation, and implementation data to inform strategic decision-making and programme improvement
• Excellent relationship-building, facilitation, negotiation, and intercultural communication skills
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a distributed global team
• Commitment to Parenting for Lifelong Health’s mission, values, and collaborative culture
• Professional fluency in English.

Preferred criteria:

• Professional fluency in Swahili or Luganda
• Experience coordinating or managing projects with US Government funding
• Experience embedding programmes within Ugandan government systems (health, education, child protection, or social welfare)
• Experience scaling digital health, education, or behaviour change interventions
• Experience contributing to proposal development, fundraising, or donor engagement
• Excellent public speaking, facilitation, and presentation skills

PLH Values

• Courage: We have the courage to design for the big picture and complex problems with a commitment to creating sustainable solutions that last.
• Evidence: We believe our work transforms the lives of children, families, and communities. Evidence of impact guides every decision, and we are relentless in pursuing the greatest impact with the least investment of time and resources required for parents and providers.
• Playfulness: Parenting and child wellbeing thrives on play — and so do we. We experiment, learn from each other, as well as from parents and children, and create playful and engaging products and programmes that inspire joy, curiosity, and connection.
• Respect: Everyone brings something essential. We show kindness in our team, honesty with our partners, and deep respect and empathy for parents and children, and those who are on the frontline of providing services for them.

PLH has a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity in how we work, who we work with, and what we do. Candidates from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

PLH also has a strong commitment to the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA). All candidates considered for the role will be subject to background and reference checks in their country of residence.

About Parenting for Lifelong Health:

Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH) aims to empower parents to improve child development, reduce family violence, and promote mental health. We give parents the support they need, the skills that work, and trusted advice they can count on to protect and support their children’s health, safety and development. Our parenting courses are developed with families, powered by low-cost and accessible technology, backed by rigorous evidence, and delivered within systems. Originally founded as an initiative in 2012 in collaboration with UNICEF and the WHO, Parenting for Lifelong Health was established as a UK charity in 2022 and since then has reached over 6 million families in more than 35 countries.

• Lead the development and execution of Parenting for Lifelong Health’s national scaling strategy for ParentApp in Uganda, identifying and advancing pathways to sustainable, population-level reach.
• Lead negotiations and manage partnership agreements, memoranda of understanding, and implementation arrangements with government, development, and civil society partners.
• Identify opportunities to embed ParentApp within existing government and partner delivery systems, including health, social welfare, education, cash transfer, child protection, and faith-based service platforms.
• Work closely with PLH’s Scaling & Innovation team to support the adaptation, implementation, and continuous improvement of ParentApp for the Ugandan context.
• Develop and maintain national scale-up plans, reach projections, implementation roadmaps, and partnership pipelines, monitoring progress against key milestones and impact targets.
• Identify implementation challenges and emerging opportunities, using data and partner feedback to drive rapid learning, product improvement, and iterative scaling strategies.
• Manage country budgets, workplans, reporting, and project delivery across multiple funding streams and partnerships.
• Represent Parenting for Lifelong Health in national technical working groups, government forums, donor meetings, and regional learning platforms, serving as PLH’s primary representative in Uganda.
• Support resource mobilisation by contributing to proposal development, partnership opportunities, budgets, workplans, and donor engagement across Uganda and, where appropriate, Eastern and Southern Africa.

• Strong understanding of digital technologies and enthusiasm for learning new platforms and systems, including project management tools, mobile applications, and content management systems
• Strong analytical skills and experience using monitoring, evaluation, and implementation data to inform strategic decision-making and programme improvement
• Excellent relationship-building, facilitation, negotiation, and intercultural communication skills
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a distributed global team
• Professional fluency in English.
• Professional fluency in Swahili or Luganda (Preferred)
• Excellent public speaking, facilitation, and presentation skills (Preferred)

• Master’s degree (or equivalent combination of qualifications and experience, e.g. Bachelor’s degree plus substantial relevant professional experience) in public health, international development, business, public policy, psychology, social sciences, technology, or another relevant field
• Minimum five years’ experience leading the scale-up of programmes, digital products, or social innovations in Uganda, ideally through government, NGO, or large institutional systems
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing strategic partnerships with government ministries, UN agencies, NGOs, donors, or other large institutions
• Experience designing and implementing scaling strategies, including conducting ecosystem analyses, stakeholder mapping, and identifying pathways to institutionalisation
• Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects involving government and development partners
• Commitment to Parenting for Lifelong Health’s mission, values, and collaborative culture
• Experience coordinating or managing projects with US Government funding (Preferred)
• Experience embedding programmes within Ugandan government systems (health, education, child protection, or social welfare) (Preferred)
• Experience scaling digital health, education, or behaviour change interventions (Preferred)
• Experience contributing to proposal development, fundraising, or donor engagement (Preferred)