How to apply for Project Manager

About Bluesquare

Bluesquare is a social enterprise that builds digital health information systems for governments and organizations in developing countries. The work centers on tools like DHIS2, Iaso, OpenHexa, and BI tools to improve health outcomes. This role suits someone who wants to work on multi-country health system projects with direct client and ministry engagement.

About the role

This is a senior project manager role coordinating complex, multi-country digital health and health information system projects from design through implementation. You act as a trusted advisor to clients and partners, shape solutions and roadmaps with country managers and technical leads, and manage budgets, donor reporting, and contractual obligations. The role requires regular travel to implementation countries (2-3 times per year) and fluency in French and English.

A typical day

A typical day might involve coordinating with country managers and technical leads on project roadmaps, reviewing budgets and donor reports, and participating in functional testing of deliverables. You may also engage with ministries or donors to align solutions with client needs. Regular travel to implementation countries is expected 2-3 times per year.

Who Bluesquare is looking for

• 8-10 years of professional experience in large international development or global health projects, with demonstrated management of medium to large projects in multicultural environments.
• Fluent in French and English at C1 level minimum, with working knowledge of DHIS2, GIS, and data management.
• Comfortable navigating complex institutional environments and engaging ministries, donors, and stakeholders with overlapping roles.
• Able to coordinate with technical teams, participate in functional testing and validation, and ensure deliverables meet client needs.
• Willing to travel regularly to implementation countries and work remotely as part of a distributed team.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific multi-country digital health or health information system projects you have managed, including budget size, donor reporting, and contractual obligations.
• Name the tools you have used: DHIS2, GIS, data management, and any BI tools. If you have used Iaso or OpenHexa, say so explicitly.
• Demonstrate French and English fluency in your application materials. If your CV is in English, note your French level clearly.
• Address the 6-month contract directly. State your availability for a September 2026 start and your willingness to travel 2-3 times per year.
• Show experience working with ministries of health, donors, and multiple stakeholders. Give examples of how you navigated overlapping roles.

What to cover in your cover letter

Emphasize your 8-10 years in international development or global health project management. Describe a specific multi-country digital health project you led from design through implementation, including budget and donor reporting. Explain your hands-on knowledge of DHIS2, GIS, and data management. Confirm your French and English fluency and your availability for a September 2026 start and regular travel.

Research before applying

• Review Bluesquare's technical solutions: DHIS2, Iaso, OpenHexa, and their BI tools. Understand what each does and where it is used.
• Look at Bluesquare's project portfolio and the countries where they implement health information systems.
• Check the backgrounds of Bluesquare's country managers and technical leads to understand how project management interacts with their roles.
• Find recent donor reports or publications from Bluesquare projects to see how they report on health outcomes.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you have managed a multi-country digital health project from design through implementation, including budget and donor reporting.
• Your experience acting as a trusted advisor to ministries of health or donors, and how you shaped solutions or roadmaps.
• Your technical familiarity with DHIS2, GIS, and data management, and how you coordinate with technical teams on functional testing and validation.
• How you navigate complex institutional environments with stakeholders who have overlapping roles.
• Your approach to managing contractual obligations and quality of deliverables across multiple countries.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without demonstrating French and English fluency at C1 level, since both are required.
• Focusing only on general project management and omitting specific experience with DHIS2, GIS, or data management.
• Ignoring the 6-month contract term or the September 2026 start date in your application.