About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger-USA is part of Action Against Hunger International network, which provides humanitarian relief in over 40 counties worldwide in the sectors of nutrition, health, water/sanitation, food security & Livelihood and protection. Action Against Hunger-USA, an independent NGO, currently manages operations in 8 countries: Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia & Haiti. Action Against Hunger-USA has over $110 million in programs, and approximately 2500 staff based in the various country offices, Head Quarter in Washington DC and Operational Center in Nairobi. Additional growth is anticipated.

About the Country Program in Ethiopia

Action Against Hunger has been operational in Ethiopia since 1984 responding to both chronic and acute needs through a multi-sectoral strategy where Nutrition, Health, Food Security and Livelihoods, WASH and Protection, Gender & Mental health and psychosocial support are integrated to have a meaningful impact on people’s resilience

 Action Against Hunger currently operates in 6 different regions with an anticipated 2023 yearly portfolio of 40m USD of emergency and resilience building programs, research and innovation. We have a country team of about 900 staff working out of 27 field offices across Ethiopia. Our main donors in Ethiopia are: USAID/ BHA, BPRM, ECHO, EU, GAC, SIDA, GFFO, CIAA, CDCS, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNOCHA/EHF, WFP and others.

I.                    Summary of position 

Action Against Hunger is looking for a dynamic, energetic, ambitious and results oriented Program Director who will be responsible for driving cross-functional engagement in the development and delivery of our Country Strategy, developing annual plans and reporting on results. S/he is responsible for ensuring development and delivery of high quality and evidence-based programs that contribute to our 2021-2025 International Strategic Plan (ISP).

The program Director will ensure that a robust monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) system is in place that the country office engages in the collection and use of evidence, that this is shared across the organization, and that reliable data is used for decision-making. One key aspect of the role is ensuring capacity building, mentoring and coaching of technical specialists in order to support program quality in line with global standards and key performance indicators. As a senior leader in the Country Office, s/he plays a representational role with the government, donors, partners, peer agencies and others. The Program Director supports strategic positioning with donors and partners and leads on project design to ensure that the country office strategy can be delivered in line with humanitarian principles.

The Program Director role’s Purpose, Engagement and Delivery is:

The Program Director supports strategic positioning with donors and partners and leads on project design to ensure that the country office strategy can be delivered in line with child rights programming principle. The program Director also gives an overall insight and guidance for the mission to ensure quality and timely implementation of all programs. As a senior leader in the Country Office, s/he plays a representational role with the government, donors, partners, peer agencies and other. One key aspect of the role is ensuring capacity building, mentoring and coaching of technical specialists in order to support program quality in line with global standards and key performance indicators. The Program Director will ensure that a robust monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) system is in place that the country office engages in the collection and use of evidence, that this is shared across the organization, and that reliable data is used for decision-making.

I.                    Essential Job Duties

Oversee and occasionally lead the project development process of emergency, development, research and innovation projects

• Ensure that new programs are coherent with the Country Strategy and feeding into the 2021-2025 International Strategic Plan (ISP)

• Engage into donor/business intelligence and prepositioning with major donors, consortia and alliances. Ensure that the Country Office has up-to-date knowledge of donor strategies and frameworks, funding mechanisms

• Ensure good coordination between the mission BD team, the US Business Development Unit, HEARO and external grant writers

• Ensure that incoming information is analyzed and provide relevant future propositions for geographic and sectoral interventions throughout the country to the Country Director

• Ensure high quality proposals, validate final proposal packages including narratives, program budgets, project organograms etc.

• Ensure protection and gender mainstreaming in proposal design and project implementation

• Promote, assist, and oversee the technical integration of Action Against Hunger’s programming at every levels.

• Directly contribute in proposal writing during busy times and overlapping deadlines

Overall supervision of project, startup, implementation and close out including budget management, MEAL and donor reporting

• Ensure timely project startups including staff recruitment, preparation of project procurement plans, detailed implementation plans, MEAL plans by the respective teams and departments

• Visit Action Against Hunger field activities regularly, report on challenges, troubleshoot and liaise with the Field Coordinators and the Base Program Managers

• Participate in the monthly Grants Management Meeting, review progress and provide feedback as needed.

• Review the monthly Grants Management Tool and ensure program objectives, timelines and budgets are respected and raise the alarm where/when significant delays are observed

• Ensure the timely preparation of project reports at the highest quality and provide feedback as necessary

• Ensure that donor guidelines are respected by the Program Managers and Technical HoDs

• Lead donor and HQ visits, attend technical meetings, participate in Cluster and ICCG meetings, represent action consortia review

• Ensure integration of MEAL in all aspects, from annual data collection to capitalization documents production. Create a MEAL culture across all program departments and functions

• Participate in the development of Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans.

III.     Supervisory Responsibilities

Human resources management and coaching of the technical and program teams

• Direct management of the Nutrition, WASH, FSL, Protection and MEAL Heads of Departments (5), deputy program director (1) and the Program Development lead (1).

• Set the job objectives of all direct subordinates, hold monthly regular conversations, organize appraisals and conduct the annual performance review for his/her staff

• Hold regular program follow up meetings at capital level, coordinate action points and monitor progress

• General leadership, coaching and mentoring of program staff and Technical Departments acting as a liaison between CD and the Support Departments

• Revision of all job descriptions for technical positions in collaboration with the Heads of Department as needed.

• Provide input to BD on program issues relating to human resources and budgeting.

• Initiate disciplinary measures where needed in accordance with the HR regulations

• Ensure program staff is motivated and committed to the Action Against Hunger charter and programs

• Contribute to the career development for program staff in collaboration with the HR department in order to identify needs of training

• Collaborates with: Country Director, Director of Operations, Field coordinators and Heads of Support Departments, US Business Development Unit and East Africa Regional Office

IV.        Gender Equality Commitments 

• Foster an environment that supports the values of women and men, and equal access to information.

• Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.

• Respect beneficiaries (women, men, children (boys and girls)) regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.

• Value and respect all cultures.

 V.     Fiscal Responsibility

• Overall/ high level coordination of project, startup, implementation and close out including budget management, MEAL and donor reporting.

 VI.     Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with many interruptions. Must be able to proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis.

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

VII.        Working Conditions, Travel, and Environment

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.

• Must be able to travel regularly for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high-security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases.          

Job Requirements

VIII.   Required Qualifications and Professional Experience

• Minimum of bachelor’s degree in political science, development studies, public health or related field.

• A postgraduate degree will be considered as an added advantage.

• At least 10 years of related experience with an INGO including senior management program positions

• Experience in at least one of Action Against Hunger’s core technical sectors: Nutrition and Health, WASH, Food Security and Livelihoods in development and/or emergencies.

• Experience in managing complex development and resilience building projects for donors such as USAID, BHA and the European Commission

 IX. Required Skills & Competencies

• Familiarity with project design methods and tools (including assessments, logical frameworks and theory of change) and strong appreciation for innovation and partnership as part of project development.

• Good analytical skills with ability to positively influence cross-departmental and cross sector working.

• Strong results orientation, with ability to meet deadlines and produce high-quality products.

• Strong cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

• Ability and willingness to change work practices and hours, and work with the proposal development teams to meet deadlines.

• Substantial experience and skills in establishing and maintaining external relations with government, community stakeholders and civil society.

• Fluency in English (business level), both verbal and written

• Proficiency in computer e.g. MS Word, MS Power Point and Excel.

How to Apply

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

If you are interested, please send your application composed of none returnable CV, a Covering Letter with “ Program Director” written in the subject line, and three references, applicants to the following address: 

Through this LINK
         Deadline: Tuesday, 12 September 2023

NB: Only short-listed applicants will be, communicated and the selection process includes a technical test and an interview.

Action Against Hunger-USA provides all staff with an attractive salary & benefits package. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees & qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Action Against Hunger-USA complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.