The role of a Deputy Program Director for Operations (DPDO) typically involves overseeing the day-to-day operational aspects of a program, ensuring its effective implementation, and supporting the Program Director in managing various operational, logistical, and administrative tasks. In summary, the Deputy Program Director for Operations plays a critical role in the successful implementation and management of the program by ensuring that operations are running smoothly, resources are well-managed, and that the program's activities are executed on time, budget and target. This role involves a mix of strategic leadership, operational management, and staff oversight, working closely with the Program Director to achieve the program’s goals.

The incumbent is primarily responsible to oversee the timely and quality implementation of emergency, humanitarian and development responses across the country, ensuring that GOAL Ethiopia’s projects respond to the needs on the ground and achieve stated objectives and results, and are comply with all reporting and implementation rules and requirements. The DPDO will be supporting Area Managers in liaising with the Systems departments (procurement, finance, logistics, HR and others) to ensure timely and appropriate support is provided to the field to ensure timely provision of humanitarian assistance. The DPDO will be directly responsible for programme delivery while supporting in functional management of area managers to ensure programs are implemented meeting humanitarian and development quality standards fostering harmonization and cross-learnings among programmes. 

In addition to programme delivery, the DPDO will work closely with Deputy Program Director for Quality (DPDQ) and technical heads to support in the development of high-quality proposals in the areas of emergency, resilience and development, as required.

The ideal candidate will possess the ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines, responding calmly and diplomatically to unexpected challenges that may impact programme operations. They should have a strong understanding of market systems-based programmes, behavior change concepts, and inclusion practices. Additionally, the candidate must demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity, with a proven ability to build and maintain effective partnerships with government partners at all levels, international organizations and private sector stakeholders. 

Key Areas of Accountabilities\Duties

Programme Delivery and Operational Management 

• The Deputy Program Director for Operations ensures that the program’s day-to-day activities are running smoothly and efficiently

• Managing and allocating resources, including staff, budget, and materials, to ensure program milestones are met on target and budget 

• Workflow Optimization by identifying and addressing operational bottlenecks, implementing process improvements, and ensuring optimal use of resources.

• Developing and executing strategies that streamline processes, enhance productivity, and reduce costs

• Provide leadership and guidance in the delivery of GOAL Ethiopia’s programmes

• Support the PD in oversee the strategic, programmatic and technical elements of the country programme and ensure projects are delivered on time and on budget, are appropriately monitored and evaluated

• Coordinate with finance, logistics and procurement and area manager and relevant departments to make sure area level and woreda level budget, procurement, logistics and work plan is prepared for ease of management of activities and budget

• Ensure GOAL programmes effectively mainstream key elements of Gender, Child Protection, HIV and Environment, and Accountability 

• Coordinate with the M&E function to ensure strong monitoring and evaluation of projects and programmes at Area level, facilitate area level learning reviews on a periodic basis and share and integrate learning into current and future interventions.

• Supporting the Program Director in high-level decision-making, offering advice based on operational realities and data

• Helping to refine long-term program strategies and translating them into actionable operational plans

• Work closely with area managers, technical leads and deputy program director for quality to ensure government reports and agreements are submitted and signed on time respectively 

Team Leadership & Staff Management

• Supervising area managers and other key personnel, ensuring a shared vision, teamwork, effective communication, active engagement, transparency, participatory decision-making and management approaches

• Monitoring staff performance, conducting evaluations, and providing coaching or feedback as needed

• Identifying skill gaps within the team and recommending or organizing training to improve team capabilities

• Provide overall strategic and management leadership in the planning, budgeting, implementation and reporting of projects

• Lead the shift in project implementation from traditional approaches to systems strengthening.

• Lead the transformation of direct implementation to working with/through local partners and consortia

• Closely monitor the annual field country plan and deliver quality results in line with the key performance objective and quality-oriented results

• Ensure harmonization and integration of the humanitarian response and development programmes

• Strictly follow and ensure GOAL policies and procedures for programme implementation, management and monitoring are known and are being implemented

• Deputising the Programmes Director when needed 

• Manage the area managers to deliver on the field strategic plan, providing leadership and guidance and in accordance with GOAL’s HR policies and procedures. 

• Agree on performance objectives and targets, including probation targets for newly recruited area managers and conduct performance and development reviews for all direct reports.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) 

• In collaboration with Head of MEAL and Area MEAL officers, monitoring progress towards program goals, using key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to assess the effectiveness of operations

• Identifying potential issues or risks that could affect the program’s success and developing mitigation strategies

• Together with the Head of MEAL, Implement and manage a MEAL system for programmes in accordance with the MEAL framework.

• Lead area managers to ensure the proper implementation of the MEAL framework

• Lead/support project/programme evaluations and learning

• Ensure implementation of projects with inbuilt MEAL systems that is responsive to donor and GOAL requirements

• Work closely with MEAL Head and team to capture project learnings through documentation and sharing

•  Ensuring that all project implementation and operational activities adhere to regulatory, financial, and organizational standards and best practices

• Closely work with MEAL to lead on need assessments and regular monitoring of programmes

• Ensure programmes are implemented in a safe and accountable manner

• Lead on field level learning events and case stories developed and shared widely to enhance organizational learning

• Assisting in the creation and management of the field program budget, ensuring that spending aligns with operational needs

•  Ensuring financial resources are used efficiently, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and keeping expenditures within budget

• Preparing reports for senior leadership, donors (if applicable), or stakeholders on program performance, financial health, and operational outcomes

• Ensure budget compliance and donor requirements in the entire budget management cycle.

• Lead in annual regional budget reflection, planning and grant management meetings of the programme team

• Ensure GMT reviewed timely and feedback provided, action plan prepared and implemented to avoid potential over and under spending 

• Follow up HO level procurements and provide support to Area Office

• Closely work with Compliance team and ensure Area Managers are supported to do their work in line with GOAL and donor compliance requirements 

• Ensure timely submission of procurement plans from field offices and HO at the beginning of the grant

• Submission and close follow up of procurement plans in collaboration with procurement team

• Engage with key regional and national stakeholders from relevant clusters, local authorities and government agencies on programme implementation issues and relevant sector forums. 

• Meet regional signatory offices and implementing partners on a regular basis to inform programme progress and challenges

• Create a link between GOAL Ethiopia and local CSO/National Platform that aim to exchange programme information and coordination within the humanitarian/development sectors.

• Ensure GOAL’s participation at relevant fora- such as regional sector working groups, coordination meetings and conferences etc to raise GOAL’s profile

• Support proposal development by providing filed level contextual and need-based information and data 

• Prepare Area level budget and work plan in collaboration with finance, MEAL and technical departments

• Ensure Area team regularly attends grant management meetings and provide progress 

• Follow up on the implementation of GMM action points and audit findings 

• Consolidate Area level reports regularly and provide summary report with PD

Budget Monitoring and Management 

• Assisting in the creation and management of the field program budget, ensuring that spending aligns with operational needs

•  Ensuring financial resources are used efficiently, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and keeping expenditures within budget

• Preparing reports for senior leadership, donors (if applicable), or stakeholders on program performance, financial health, and operational outcomes

• Ensure budget compliance and donor requirements in the entire budget management cycle.

• Lead in annual regional budget reflection, planning and grant management meetings of the programme team

• Ensure GMT reviewed timely and feedback provided, action plan prepared and implemented to avoid potential over and under spending 

• Follow up HO level procurements and provide support to Area Office

• Closely work with Compliance team and ensure Area Managers are supported to do their work in line with GOAL and donor compliance requirements 

• Ensure timely submission of procurement plans from field offices and HO at the beginning of the grant

• Submission and close follow up of procurement plans in collaboration with procurement team

Representation & Networking 

• Engage with key regional and national stakeholders from relevant clusters, local authorities and government agencies on programme implementation issues and relevant sector forums. 

• Meet regional signatory offices and implementing partners on a regular basis to inform programme progress and challenges

• Create a link between GOAL Ethiopia and local CSO/National Platform that aim to exchange programme information and coordination within the humanitarian/development sectors.

• Ensure GOAL’s participation at relevant fora- such as regional sector working groups, coordination meetings and conferences etc to raise GOAL’s profile

Proposal Writing & Reporting

• Support proposal development by providing filed level contextual and need-based information and data 

• Prepare Area level budget and work plan in collaboration with finance, MEAL and technical departments

• Ensure Area team regularly attends grant management meetings and provide progress 

• Follow up on the implementation of GMM action points and audit findings 

• Consolidate Area level reports regularly and provide summary report with PD

Safeguarding and Mainstreaming of GESI

• Sign and adhere to GOAL safeguarding and other relevant policies 

• Be example in demonstrating good behaviour and adherence to the code of conduct

• Make sure safeguarding and GESI are mainstreamed and integrated in program implementation

• Closely work with the Safeguarding and GESI focal to ensure field staff have the required awareness and implement programs abiding to GOAL safeguarding and gender policies  

Risk Management

• Risk Identification: Proactively identifying operational risks that could threaten the program’s success, including logistical, financial, or staff-related risks.

• Contingency Planning: Developing contingency plans for potential operational disruptions 

• Crisis Management: Leading or coordinating efforts to address and resolve operational crises or challenges that arise due to conflict, drought, fund cut etc

• Carry out other duties and responsibilities as requested by the Programmes Director

Other

• Carry out other duties and responsibilities as requested by the Programmes Director

Job Requirements

• Master’s degree in project management, public administration, health, nutrition and development studies or other relevant discipline.

• Minimum of seven years’ experience in managing complex development and humanitarian programmes in fragile environments

Required Skills and experience 

• Ability to lead teams, manage cross-functional collaboration, and provide strategic guidance.

• Strong understanding of program operations, resource management, and process improvement techniques.

• Experienced in budgeting, financial analysis, and cost control

• Ability to analyze complex operational challenges and develop effective solutions

• Strong written and verbal communication skills for reporting and stakeholder interaction

• Familiarity with project management tools and methodologies (e.g., Agile management)

• Ability to foresee, assess, and mitigate operational risks

• Ethiopia specific experience in working in the development/humanitarian sector strongly preferred.

• Experience of engaging with the private sector for improved developed outcomes and sustainability.

• Experience in innovative refugee programming

• Senior management experience of consortium type projects, funded by USAID, ECHO, FCDO and other similar donors

• Must have excellent presentation, oral and writing skills and significant experience in proposal development and donor report writing

• Experience in innovative refugee programming

• Senior management experience of consortium type projects, funded by USAID, ECHO, FCDO and other similar donors

• Must have excellent presentation, oral and writing skills and significant experience in proposal development and donor report writing

• In-depth understanding of market system strengthening and a working knowledge of M4P methodologies.

• Comprehensive understanding of management experience of climate change and climate change mitigation and adaptation programming.

• Ability and experience in managing senior management personnel.

• Demonstrated analytical and conceptual skills to plan projects, timetable agreed activities and oversee staff activities. 

• Demonstrated management skills to deal with a large team and a myriad of tasks, sometimes ambiguous ones

• Outgoing personality with excellent communication and training skills.

• Good team player, flexible, adaptable management style and capable of working with an international country team.

• Ability and willingness to travel to locations outside Addis Ababa

• Good computer skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Word and Excel.

• Sensitive to cross cutting issues like gender, HIV/ADIS, child protection and accounting and Gender.

• Strong financial capacity. 

This senior position requires flexibility with regards to working hours. It is also expected that the DPDO would be available outside of the normal working week in case of a crisis or a very urgent issue that needs to be dealt with. The work requires approximately 70% of travel to the field including to the very remote sites. Ability and willingness to travel to locations outside Addis Ababa is a must.

General terms and conditions

GOAL has Standards of Integrity and a Child Protection Policy, which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants and children from exploitation. GOAL also has code of conduct policy and a confidentiality policy ensuring the non-disclosure of any information whatsoever relating to the practices and business of GOAL, acquired in the course of duty, to any other person or organization without authority, except in the normal execution of duty. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to these policies any job offer made is also subject to police clearance. GOAL is an equal opportunities employer.

Note: The job duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

REMUNERATION and BENEFITS: 

• GOAL will pay a competitive basic salary based on the salary grading with addition benefits.

• A chance to develop tangible experience.

• Being part of a team who continue to make a real difference to the lives of the most vulnerable people.  

Commitments: 

GOAL’s recruitment procedure is fair and transparent which is also in line with the organization’s commitment to its integrity, honesty and culture. GOAL is committed to ensure that, its performance complies with the terms and conditions of relevant agreements, applicable laws & regulations. 

GOAL highly promotes Equality, diversity and inclusion and works with women and men, People with disabilities, and employees of various ages including youth, supports their empowerment and appreciates their achievements constantly. GOAL also encourages applications from diverse candidates including women, people with disabilities, people with diverse backgrounds, and youth to apply.

GOAL has zero tolerance to discrimination on the basis of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, religion, race, economic status etc . we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

Hence, pre-employment background checks will be conducted, and employees are required to read, understand, sign and implement different polices including safeguarding and child protection policy, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and abuse policy, sexual harassment policy, code of conducts and any other rules and regulation of the organization. GOAL is strongly committed not to harm the people under its care. 

Safeguarding

Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with GOAL as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates. 

Accountability within GOAL

Alongside our safeguarding policy, GOAL is an equal opportunities employer and has a set of integrity policies. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability:

• Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols.

• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area.

• Report any concerns about inappropriate behavior of a GOAL staff or partner.

You are welcome to include your sex (Male or female) and any disability issues in your CV (please note that this information will only be used to comply with affirmative action policy of the organization)

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants need to submit ONLY once their non - returnable application with CV for one vacancy. The vacancy reference number along with the title & Duty station need to be written in the application letter. 

• Applicants can directly apply through THIS LINK

GOAL strongly encourages female candidates to apply!

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview and exam.

Shortlisted candidates will need to submit other supporting documents upon request at later stage.

GOAL is not able to contribute towards any costs incurred by candidates