Deputy Head of Programme – 1 (one) (100%)

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Caritas Switzerland (CACH) has been working in Ethiopia for 50 years. Currently CACH cooperates with a wide range of civil society, research, and private sector actors in Ethiopia. Registered as an International Foreign Charity Organization in Ethiopia, CACH is also operational at project implementation level. CACH’s main working fields are economic development, agricultural development and value chain, market system development, WASH as well as emergency and relief response.

CACH is seeking an experienced, energetic, and dynamic Deputy Head of Programme to support the strategic and technical leadership of its programme in Ethiopia.

Job summary: 

The Deputy Head of Programme (DHoP) is expected to assume a senior and leading role within the Programme Unit of CACH in Ethiopia. Beyond this, the incumbent is expected to be open-minded and actively engaged as part of the global CACH team, and to be prepared to take on responsibilities within CACH's holacratic management system.

In Ethiopia, the DHoP will guide and support the team in achieving its programmatic goals. Key responsibilities include active involvement in CACH's acquisition efforts, networking, project co-steering, and serving as a sector specialist in areas such as graduation, gender, and/or conflict sensitivity. Ideally, the candidate will also have expertise in market systems development (MSD), systems strengthening approaches, policy dialogue and advocacy. Additionally, the role includes acting as a focal person for both internal and external communication and collaboration with donors, partners, and government entities.

Expected key results:

• Co-leading the programme unit with a focus on development projects;

• Sectoral: Assume the role as focal person for Gender and/or Conflict Sensitivity, Graduation Approach, MSD / system strengthening approaches, policy dialogue/advocacy;

• Active contributions to CACHs acquisition opportunity creation and stakeholders’ engagement (liaison);

• Drive innovation within development programming by piloting new approaches, scaling effective solutions, and fostering a culture of continuous learning across the programme unit.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic and technical guidance to the programme unit in Ethiopia

• Actively contribute to project acquisition and co-steering

• Ensure effective integration of gender and conflict sensitivity into all programming

• Lead or support initiatives related to Graduation programming and systems strengthening

• Engage in internal and external coordination and representation            

• Contribute to the global CACH team and holacratic governance processes

Representation

• Present, explain and defend CACH strategy broadly as well as the project specifically to secure the agreement of relevant government offices and other stakeholders (e.g. donors, partners), and secure the collaboration of concerned sector offices during the implementation of the project / programme; 

• Seek the support of relevant authorities in case of facing challenges during implementation; 

• Legally and official represent CACH’s interests in the sector / project area.

Management / planning

• Lead comprehensive project cycle management from start-up to close-out including guiding initial launch activities (staff recruitment, partner agreements, inception workshops) and ensuring proper close-out procedures and documentation are completed in accordance with organizational and Ethiopian regulatory requirements​;

• Contribute to the preparation of competitive concept notes and proposals. Coordinate with technical advisors, field teams, and partners to design multi-sector projects that incorporate best practices and lessons learned from existing programs, in alignment with both donor priorities and community needs​;

• Lead coordinated planning process of the project with the project managers (PM) of and implementing partners;

• Support PMs in preparing realistic and participatory detailed implementation plan (DIP) adequately broken down into annual, quarterly, monthly, and bi-weekly plans;

• Engage community and private actors (producers, transporter, sellers) in the planning process;

• Align project plan with the plan of the local and regional government whenever possible and necessary.

Coordination, implementation, monitoring and reporting

• Follow up reporting deadlines in line with the CACH CO internal processes, donor and other deadlines and as per CACHs reporting table;

• Follow up with the PMs that project launching events, and all related and relevant documents and procedures are planned and conducted (MEAL plan, procurement plan, Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) etc.) and that all concerned staff and stakeholders are represented during those events;

• Follow up with the PMs that the MEAL, procurement plans, and DIP are followed and if needed updated;

• Conducting and facilitating monitoring visits of donors, government officials and other concerned staff and stakeholders upon need and requirement;

• Facilitate disbursement of fund for timely procurement, labour mobilization, transportation, and supervision of project activities;

• Follow up with the PMs that project activities are adjusted according to seasonal variability if allowed and required; 

• Facilitate regular meetings with co-implementing partners to discuss pending project matters and to jointly plan activities;

• Follow up with the PMs keeping track of the project log frame indicators during monitoring. Instil the habit of log frame monitoring among the other co-implementing partners;

• Quality and content control reports as per government, donor and internal requirements and revise reports as per the comments of CACH Head of Programme/CD.

Leadership and resource management

• Acting as supervisor for selected PMs;

• Technical leadership for Graduation, Conflict Sensitivity, MSD and selected other sectors or sub-sectors.

Programme approach

• Use and encourage partners to use participatory approaches as far as possible throughout the project cycle in site identification, implementation operation and maintenance of schemes;

• Be informed about local context and needs and make use of indigenous knowledge to check the appropriateness propose activities, technologies and approached;

• Take account of gender, Do-No-Harm environment and other important cross-cutting concerns in programme design, implementation, and reporting; carryout activities in a way that reflects the needs of specific groups and individual’s e.g., elderly people, women, children, and people with disabilities.

• Support the implementation of the HDP Nexus approach through regular coordination and information exchange with the Humanitarian Aid unit;

• Support the development of country program strategies and plans (e.g. country strategic frameworks, sectoral plans).

Other and specific tasks

• Co-signatory on specific contracts and documents as per the demarcation of authority for the Country Office;

• Staying up to date with internal and donor as well as government standards and tools;

• Advisory services for staff and partner organisation in the assigned field;

• Facilitating meetings and taking of meeting minutes as required;

• Other duties as assigned to her/him in the scope of his assignment.

Administration and logistics

• Provide necessary support for tenders, ensure that tenders meet CACH, donor and government requirements in line with government, donor and CACH CO internal processes;

• Regularly (usually monthly/quarterly) reviewing finance progress (expenditures) against the physical progress and support PMs in controlling correct cost allocations and pro-actively identify expected overspendings or budget savings and making suggestions how to handle this;

• Follow up under the guidance of the HR unit that concerned project staff plan their leave days adequately without accumulating leave days by the end of the year and according to the national staff regulation;

• Follow up under guidance of the finance unit that concerned project staff settle advances on time and according to the national staff regulation.

Communication

• Pro-actively inform about donor and government rules and regulations and share the information to all concerned staff and partners;

•  Regular direct reporting to the Unit, Country Director (CD) and/or Regional Director (RD);

• Facilitate effective internal communication between the programme, finance, MEAL, logistics, HR and senior management to ensure smooth project implementation and timely decision-making. Ensure that critical updates from the field are documented and shared with relevant units;

• Reporting to the supervisor in case of difficulties, problems, and uncertainties with regard to Finance, HR or Logistics. Pro-active communication with both, the supervisor and the technical supervisor (if applicable and different), by this ensuring that activity and work plans are communicated to all concerned people to create the highest possible level of transparency (related also to daily works, extraordinary works, leave days, travel plans and others);

• Promote transparent and inclusive communication channels with target communities, ensuring that feedback mechanisms are embedded in programme/project implementation. Ensure community concerns and feedback are shared and integrated into programme design and adjustments;

• Maintain time recording adequately and regularly via CACH's HR online system, using it for leave/work day management;

• Using the MS Outlook calendar and all its functions in a way that work schedules are planned and recorded there;

• Assume direct communication with the concerned staff at the HO in the scope of her/his assignments.

Competences and disciplinary tasks

• Supervise, coach, and motivate staffs, and participation in recruitment and dismissal of staff under her/his responsibility and in close consultation with the Head of Programme and/or CD and the HR unit;

• Set clear work plans and performance objectives, conduct regular performance appraisals, and maintain a high level of motivation and results-oriented performance;

• Resolve routine problems as per the staff regulation and refer to difficult ones to the next supervisor as deemed necessary;

• Acceptance or dis-acceptance of narrative reports from field offices or partner organisations in the area of her/his responsibility.

What we offer 

We offer a competitive salary package with various social security elements and a number of remuneration related benefits. 

Duty stations will be Addis Ababa. The candidate must be willing to frequent travel within Ethiopia, including volatile areas. Travel within the East Africa region (e.g., Uganda, South Sudan) and potentially beyond may also be required.

Required Number: 1 (one)

Job Requirements

Educational qualification: 

• Master’s degree in International Development, Social Sciences, Economics, Public Policy, or a related field.

• Additional certifications or training in innovation management, systems thinking, or results-based management are considered an asset.

• Strong understanding of development theory and applied methodologies, particularly in gender, conflict sensitivity, or market systems development.

Work experience: 

• Have a solid 10 years of experience, including a minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in international development, with a strong track record in managing or co-leading program units or development projects.

• Demonstrated expertise in at least one of the following areas: Graduation Approach, MSD.

• Additional expertise in at least one of the following areas: Gender and Social Inclusion, Conflict Sensitivity, or policy dialogue/advocacy.

• Proven experience in designing and implementing innovative approaches in development programming, including piloting, scaling, and adaptive management.

• Strong background in stakeholder engagement, partnership development, and resource acquisition.

• Experience working in cross-cultural teams and fostering inclusive work environments, with a strong commitment to gender equality. 

Demonstrated experience in graduation programming

• Strong familiarity with and proven track record in developing and implementing gender and/or conflict sensitivity frameworks.

• Experience and solid knowledge of MSD and/or systems strengthening approaches

Desirable assets

• Experience with gender-transformative approaches, policy dialogue, and advocacy

• Regional experience across East Africa

Skills and competencies:

• Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.

• Strong analytical and research abilities.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Proficiency in English (spoken and written).

How To Apply

Applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than three pages) as PDF format, including a minimum of three recent employment references from assigned line managers. Both your cover letter and CV must be in the same language as this vacancy note. Applications in any other format (Word, JPG, etc.) will be automatically rejected.  At this stage, no other documents are required to be submitted.

Applicants must fill out the required information and submit the application/cover letter and CV through THIS LINK

Deadline for application is June 01, 2025. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

Women are particularly encouraged to apply, in line with our commitment to gender equality and inclusive leadership in development programming.