Position Summary

The Associate Director for Oncology Program provides senior-level operational, and programmatic leadership to support the program in advancing PIH/IMB Rwanda’s cancer care portfolio.

The role oversees PIH/IMB supported national cancer early detection and screening programs, decentralization and expansion of cancer care services, strengthening of the Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence quality of care, oversight of major grants including the project to advance breast cancer care in Rwanda and NIH R01 (MURIKA project), as well as monitoring, evaluation, research integration, and donor reporting.

The Associate Director may also represent the program in high level meetings and workshops organized by the Government of Rwanda, Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), academic institutions, and international collaborators.

Core Responsibilities

1. Cancer Early Detection, Screening & Decentralization

• Provide strategic oversight of women’s cancer early detection programs (breast and cervical cancer).
• Supervise the Women’s Cancer Early Detection (WCED) Program Manager.
• Support national rollout of diagnostic breast ultrasound and image-guided biopsy capacity.
• Guide decentralization of oncology services to satellite cancer centers.
• Strengthen referral pathways and continuity of care between districts and Butaro.
• Support surgical oncology expansion in collaboration with Rwanda Surgical Society and RBC.

2. Butaro Cancer Center Strengthening

• Support quality improvement initiatives in collaboration with the Butaro QI officer.
• Strengthen oncology nursing education and mentorship structures.
• Ensure pathology services function optimally in collaboration with HSS and laboratory leadership.
• Support implementation of updated cancer treatment guidelines and standard operating procedures.
• Ensure high-quality data capture in OpenMRS and other HIS platforms.
• Oversee the palliative care project.

3. Grant Management & Strategic Portfolio Oversight

• Oversee the 3 years grant focused on improving access to breast cancer care in Rwanda.
• Lead the team to implement the NIH R01 MURIKA project (remote ultrasound mentorship pilot).
• Monitor grant performance, budgets, burn rates, and deliverables.
• Lead preparation of quarterly and annual donor reports.
• Coordinate site visits and external partner engagements.
• Ensure compliance with donor, institutional, and ethical requirements.

4. Monitoring, Evaluation & Research Integration

• Oversee oncology program M&E framework and key indicators.
• Support impact evaluation of decentralization and screening programs.
• Collaborate with research teams to translate findings into program improvements.
• Contribute to strategic planning aligned with IMB 5-year strategy and National Cancer Control Plan.

5. Leadership & Team Management

• Supervise the Oncology Program Manager, Women’s Health Program Manager, and selected administrative and M&E staff.
• Provide mentorship and performance management.
• Promote a culture of equity, accountability, and excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery or in clinical medicine or related field
• Master’s degree in Public Health, Global Health, Health Systems or related field preferred.
• Minimum 3years of experience in cancer care program leadership or other health programs
• Experience managing grants preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working with government, corporates and other stakeholders.
• Strong financial oversight and budgeting skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong leadership and mentoring abilities.
• Commitment to equity in cancer care and PIH/IMB values.

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinking and systems building
• Financial oversight and accountability
• Stakeholder engagement and diplomacy
• Quality improvement leadership
• Data-driven decision making
• High-level organizational capacity
• Strong management, communication, mentoring, teaching and leadership skills. Ability to work well with diverse team
• Uphold and live principles of equity in health care and committed to living PIH/IMB values: Ubumuntu- Compassion, Ubupfura-Integrity, Ubunyangamugayo-Honesty, Ubwubahane-Mutual respect, Ubumwe- Solidarity, Agaciro-Dignity, Kugira ishyaka-Determination

At Partners In Health, we are committed to ensuring that those who benefit from our work- including our patients, families and community members – as well as our staff are treated with dignity and respect and protected from sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment.

By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

• Provide strategic oversight of women’s cancer early detection programs (breast and cervical cancer).
• Supervise the Women’s Cancer Early Detection (WCED) Program Manager.
• Support national rollout of diagnostic breast ultrasound and image-guided biopsy capacity.
• Guide decentralization of oncology services to satellite cancer centers.
• Strengthen referral pathways and continuity of care between districts and Butaro.
• Support surgical oncology expansion in collaboration with Rwanda Surgical Society and RBC.
• Support quality improvement initiatives in collaboration with the Butaro QI officer.
• Strengthen oncology nursing education and mentorship structures.
• Ensure pathology services function optimally in collaboration with HSS and laboratory leadership.
• Support implementation of updated cancer treatment guidelines and standard operating procedures.
• Ensure high-quality data capture in OpenMRS and other HIS platforms.
• Oversee the palliative care project.
• Oversee the 3 years grant focused on improving access to breast cancer care in Rwanda.
• Lead the team to implement the NIH R01 MURIKA project (remote ultrasound mentorship pilot).
• Monitor grant performance, budgets, burn rates, and deliverables.
• Lead preparation of quarterly and annual donor reports.
• Coordinate site visits and external partner engagements.
• Ensure compliance with donor, institutional, and ethical requirements.
• Oversee oncology program M&E framework and key indicators.
• Support impact evaluation of decentralization and screening programs.
• Collaborate with research teams to translate findings into program improvements.
• Contribute to strategic planning aligned with IMB 5-year strategy and National Cancer Control Plan.
• Supervise the Oncology Program Manager, Women’s Health Program Manager, and selected administrative and M&E staff.
• Provide mentorship and performance management.
• Promote a culture of equity, accountability, and excellence.

• Strong financial oversight and budgeting skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong leadership and mentoring abilities.
• Strategic thinking and systems building
• Financial oversight and accountability
• Stakeholder engagement and diplomacy
• Quality improvement leadership
• Data-driven decision making
• High-level organizational capacity
• Strong management, communication, mentoring, teaching and leadership skills. Ability to work well with diverse team

• Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery or in clinical medicine or related field
• Master’s degree in Public Health, Global Health, Health Systems or related field preferred.
• Minimum 3years of experience in cancer care program leadership or other health programs
• Experience managing grants preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working with government, corporates and other stakeholders.
• Commitment to equity in cancer care and PIH/IMB values.