IR/INT/EXT/VN/020.22

February 21, 2022

JOB TITLE: Head of Programs – Ethiopia

BASE LOCATION: Addis Ababa (with frequent travel to field offices across Ethiopia)

REPORTING TO: Country Director

LINE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES: Senior Program Manager, Program Managers, Program coordinators and other Technical Staff as appropriate

PURPOSE OF DIVISION:

Through capacity building and through technical and program support, the International Program Division keeps the organization focused on the socio-economic and humanitarian needs of vulnerable people.

The division reinforces IR’s implementing structure to enable these people and their communities to develop themselves sustainably, and ensures that the organization is prepared to respond promptly and effectively to humanitarian crises.

The division increases the organization’s ability to tackle poverty by developing and fostering partnerships and institutional relationships effectively and proactively, and by ensuring transparent and timely reporting to the organization’s donors.

PURPOSE OF DEPARTMENT:

The purpose of the Country Program Department, besides preparing for and responding to humanitarian crises in coordination with relevant departments, is to guide, support and monitor the country programs to ensure the continuous development of a country program according to the International Strategy.

JOB PURPOSE:

1. To provide strategic leadership and expertise to the program in Ethiopia
2. To ensure the program meets Islamic Relief Quality Standards through regular Program Monitoring, review, supervision and evaluation
3. To provide timely and high quality reports to donors
4. To ensure the development and utilization of best practice for technical interventions
5. To network with, and represent Islamic Relief to partners (government authorities, donors, INGOs,   local  NGOs,  CBOs etc.) as related to programmatic development and reach in coordination with the Program development and Quality Assurance manager

The position is for Ethiopian nationality only.

KEY ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

The Head of Programs is accountable to fulfil his/ her roles and responsibilities in line with IRW’s code of conduct, values and principles, and to report to his/her line-manager regularly on the basis of annually defined key performance indicators (KPIs).

 Program Development (at least 40% of time)

1. Provide strategic direction to the program, to ensure it works towards reducing poverty in a sustainable manner and responds to emergencies effectively
2. Take a lead role in the annual strategic planning process
3. Design programs and projects based on the Country Strategic Plan and Emergency Preparedness Plan
4. Proactively identify opportunities to build key stakeholder relationships, and take the initiative to follow up with necessary action
5. Develop timely and good quality donor proposals to expand the program, using a participatory approach involving all relevant stakeholders
6. Work with the program development and quality assurance manager and the Country Director to diversity the funding base through developing existing or new relationships with donors

Implementation and Quality of the Program (at least 25% of time)

1. Make key decisions in relation to the program implementation, and offer solutions to problems that arise during the implementation of programs
2. Ensure the program meets Islamic Relief Worldwide Quality Standards and international Codes of Conduct
3. Ensure the programs are implemented and evaluated in a consultative and participative manner through regular field visits
4. Ensure the timely submission of high-quality reports to HQ and donors, according to the appropriate guidelines
5.  Management

 Actively participate in the Country Management Team (COMT) and OFR

1. Facilitate team building across the Program, Islamic Relief Ethiopia and the wider organization
2. Supervise, motivate and appraise the program team and ensure they have clear objectives and receive meaningful feedback on their performance
3. Provide HR Management to ensure the short and long-term success of the program, including recruitment, staff development, security etc.
4. Deputize for the Country Director whenever requested to do so (it is estimated this task will involve up to 10% of the Head of Programs time)

Networking and Communication 

1. Build relationships with partners in Government, donors and other INGOs in Ethiopia
2. Ensure that IRE is represented and actively participate in all cluster meetings and
3. Ensure regular and effective communications are maintained within the program, and with the Regional Desk at HQ

 Budgetary responsibility

1. Actively participate in country annual budget formulation and income target setting
2. Ensure that the program team develop, finalize and closely monitor the program budget and implement within set time and thresholds
3. Work closely with the Finance Department to ensure effective financial and budgetary control of the programs, according to IRW’s policy and procedures
4. Ensure corrective measures are taken to address over/under spends in the project budgets

Job Requirements

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL

Qualifications and Experience

• Post graduate qualification in social science, international development, public administration or related field
• At least 10 years’ experience of managing high value and high impact development and or humanitarian assistance programs within International NGO settings in development country context.
• An in depth understanding of national and international development issues in particular in relation to poverty alleviation, climate change adaptation and community development.
• Experience of successfully fundraising and dealing with major international donors such as USAID, EC, ECHO, UN and FCDO/DFID, SIDA. DANIDA and other bilateral and multi-laterl agencies.
• Experience in representation and networking as well as advocacy Government agencies, Institutional donors, INGOs and other stakeholders
• Experience of and commitment to participatory management and maintaining a supportive, open environment to ensure the learning and development of all staff.
• Experience of managing and mentoring local and international staff.
• Familiarity with the Millennium Development Goals, Sphere Standards, Do no harm policy, Red-Cross/Red-crescent Code of Conduct, Humanitarian Accountability Program etc.

Skills

• Good interpersonal skills including the ability to listen, sensitivity to other peoples’ views and perspectives, and conflict resolution.
• Strategic leadership skills
• Proven people management skills
• Good organizational skills and a practical knowledge of support service management
• The capacity to develop and maintain an understanding of and be sympathetic to the social, cultural and political context of the post
• Ability to represent, liaise and negotiate at different levels (national, provincial and local).
• Excellent communication skills
• Knowledge/familiarity/expertise in program areas: e.g. Emergency Response, Community Development, Microfinance, etc
• An ability to work under pressure with limited support.
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel
• Committed to Islamic Relief Worldwide values and code of conduct.

 DESIRABLE

 Experience

• Experience of working specifically towards, and reporting against Millennium Development Goals

Skills

• Knowledge of and familiarity with local context in IRE operational areas (Afar, Somali and Oromia).

Safeguarding and Equal Opportunity

Islamic Relief and Islamic Relief staff considers the welfare and protection of children, young people and people at risk to be paramount to the organization. And must adhere the principle of ‘do no harm and leave no one behind.’ It is critical we do not expose communities or staff we work with to the risk of harm through our interventions. With a zero tolerance approach Islamic Relief have a number of related policies which also describe standards in behavior expected from the organization, its staff and representatives towards each other and those we serve. Islamic Relief is committed to responding swiftly, appropriately and constructively to any and all information children, young people and people at risk have disclosed.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. We participate in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and child abuse during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment before signing the contract agreement.

Islamic Relief believes everyone has the right to be safe, respected and valued regardless of who they are or their circumstances, and an equal employment opportunity to all candidates and qualified applicants, we do not discriminate on the base of age, sex, race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability status and diversity.

How to Apply

Application Procedures

Interested candidates are required to submit a complete Job application form with all required supporting documents (copy of credentials and testimonials) through Ethiopia.HR@islamic-relief.org.et. You can access the Job Application Form with this link: CLICK HERE

NB: Failure to follow the instructions will invalidate your application. Due to the high volume of application, we regret that we will be able to contact only the shortlisted candidates. Female candidates are highly encouraged.  Closing date for the application is March 07, 2022.