Head of Programs Austrian Red Cross

Job Purpose

The Austrian Red Cross (AutRC) is offering a job opportunity for an experienced and highly motivated Head of Program for Ethiopia. The job holder will closely work with the Austrian Red Cross HQ and Ethiopia delegation, relevant ERCS units, branches, and project implementation teams to provide efficient and effective delivery of both activity and budget planning as well as project implementation monitoring. This includes developing fundraising through proactive engagement with the AutRC team, preparing high-quality thematic technical briefs for internal and external uses, leading all Austrian Red Cross supported programs, keeping deliverables on track and of the highest quality, and developing the result measurement and management systems.

The role holder will serve as a senior member of the AutRC-ETH delegation office senior leadership team, and s/he is expected to provide general support to strengthen the project management capacity of the national society both at HQ and at branch level. S/He will also be expected to provide hands-on strategic and programme quality support to the operation by conducting regular field travels.

Description of Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Program Development

• Support AutRC/ERCS proposal team in identification and formulation of new programs / projects / plans at country level: proposals, budgets, and concept notes
• Identify and present innovative and technically sound project ideas, approaches and methodologies that can help the movement effectively achieve its strategic objectives.
• Ensure that high-quality technical and PMER inputs are provided while designing new project proposals.
• In collaboration with relevant departments, ensure current technical knowledge, research and current/previous programming lessons learned and good practices are widely shared and used in proposals.

Project Management

• Support Branch and ERCS Project Staff in monitoring activities concerning AutRC supported projects, including regular travels to the field.
• Provide support in the process of producing accurate, regular, and timely narrative and financial reports related to AutRC supported projects.
• Supports the Country Representative in providing input and guidance to planning and commissioning of evaluations pertinent to the AutRC supported projects.
• Actively involve and support the project planning process, both on operational level as well as financial planning (Budgets and Revisions).

Resource Management:

• Manage program budgets, financial resources, and procurement processes within the delegation office and with ERCS.
• Allocate and optimize resources effectively to support program implementation.
• Monitor and report on financial expenditures, ensuring adherence to budgetary constraints with finance and admin head.

Personnel Management:

• Provide leadership, guidance, and supervision to program staff including project coordinators working with ERCS.
• Work closely with PMER and Progarm manager
• Recruit, train, and mentor team members, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Promote teamwork, collaboration, and professional development opportunities.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including HNS, PNSs, government agencies, NGOs, community representatives, and donors a .
• Collaborate with partners to ensure effective coordination and synergies in program implementation.
• Represent the delegation office in relevant meetings, conferences, and forums in the absence of country representative.

Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning:

• Provide guidance to PMER manager in the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track program performance and impact.
• Ensure the development, review, and implementation of PMER systems, including SOPs, guidance, and tools according to the respective project framework, AutRC/ERCS requirements.
• Ensure development and localization of accountability mechanisms across branches.
• Develop tools that aid documenting, storing, and sharing lessons learned that have implications for refinement of best programmatic practice.
• Ensure information management, lead and design diagnostic studies, evaluations, and surveys for the AutRC projects.
• Ensure that the AutRC projects has a robust monitoring plan in place, developing monitoring and evaluation guidelines, frameworks, and indicators for the project's action plan in close collaboration with ERCS and AutRC team.
• Conduct field monitoring visits and document learnings and share lessons.

Operational Technical Support

• Identify and ensure technical support to the project implementation teams needed for successful and timely accomplishment of project deliverables.
• Support ERCS for AutRC related projects with the technical components of WASH, FGM, Cash and Voucher Assistant (CVA), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), protections, livelihoods, gender, , etc.
• Tracking project deliverable timelines, collect and compile reports from ERCS HQ and branches and submit to the country representative.

Information management and reporting

• Sharing experiences, proposals for improving quality of work and best practices with AutRC Country Office, work with ERCS to document and disseminate best practices.
• Lead and support grants in the write-up/compilation of donor reports according to the agreed deadline.
• Take the lead in the planning and implementation of baseline surveys, needs assessments, mid-term and end-of-project reviews/evaluations including the preparation of Terms of Reference.
• Organize and facilitate meetings with ERCS HQ and branches on project progress, challenges, and the way forward.

Capacity Building

• Strengthen the project management capacity of the National Society through on-the-job training and workshops at HQ and branch level.

Networking and representation:

• Support the Country Representative in representation and networking activities of AutRC in Ethiopia
• Support the Country Representative in further strengthening partnerships with the implementing National Society
• In general:
• Undertake all assigned tasks in close cooperation and good communications with ERCS Branch Level and HQ Staff.
• Carry out all duties and tasks (appropriate to this job description) requested by the AutRC line manager.

Location: Addis Ababa with frequent travels to the field implementing locations

Reports to: Country Representative Ethiopia

Key Relationships: AutRC Ethiopia and HQ team, ERCS HQ and branches, other Partner National Societies (PNS), movement and non-movement partners as needed.

Length of contract: 12 months with high possibility of extensions

QUALIFICATIONS:

• MSc in public health, environmental health, WASH or related fields to the AutRC thematic focuses
• Minimum eight (8) years of experience within the development / humanitarian sector; particularly in the project and program cycle management, monitoring and evaluation
• Experience in capacity building and development of non-governmental local organizations, preferably of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Competencies/Technical Skills:

• Good knowledge of multisector humanitarian and development full-spectrum programming including but not limited to WASH, CASH and Voucher Assistant (CVA), Emergency Medical Service (EMS), gender, and capacity to train others in this field
• Track record of successful work experience and results in project management in NGOs setting
• Result oriented and team player
• Knowledge and understanding of the implementation country policies and standards related to the thematic sectors
• Excellent computer skills: Microsoft Office, MS Project
• Proficiency of English and Amharic
• Firm belief in teamwork, gender equality
• Commitment to values and working styles of Red Cross Movement
• Excellent interpersonal skills builds good relationships with internal and external stakeholders and maintain effective collaboration with all staff
• Ability to manage a complex and demanding workload
• Ability to travel within the country whenever required