Deputy Program Director

10-June-2024

About Action Against Hunger 

Action Against Hunger-USA is a global humanitarian organization that takes decisive action against the causes and effects of hunger. We save the lives of malnourished children and we enable entire communities to be free from hunger. With more than 8,000 staff in over 50 countries, our programs reached 17 million people in 2019. 

 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, Food Security and Livelihoods, WASH, and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support activities are integrated to have a meaningful impact on people’s resilience. Action Against Hunger currently operates in 5 different regions (Oromia, Somali, Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz, and Gambella) with a portfolio of 20m USD/year of emergency, resilience building, research, and innovation programs. We have a country team of around 600 staff in 17 regional and satellite offices. Our main donors in Ethiopia in 2020/2021 are BHA, ECHO, EuropeAid, UNHCR, UNICEF, GFFO, BPRM, SIDA, EHF, WFP, CIAA, and others. 

1. Summary of Position 

The Deputy Program Director will coordinate Action Against Hunger program implementation in Ethiopia, across all regions. This will be carried out through daily management of the humanitarian emergency response team, grants and partnership management as well as reporting team. He/she works enclose collaboration with the head of thematic departments- Health and Nutrition, FSL, WASH, Protection, Gender and MHPSS and program support teams (MEAL,GR, Communication) on a daily basis. The Deputy program director, under the direction of the Programme Director, will also support the development and implementation of countrywide programming through coordination of proposal inputs and providing technical support in the implementation of the Action Against Hunger Ethiopia country strategy (CSP3:2021-2025). 

The role holder is expected to closely work with Action Against Hunger- field Coordinators and support units leads (Finance, Audit, HR, Safeguarding, Logistics, Safety & Access) to monitor Project/Program implementation, grant burn rates, management of changes and modification, as well as alignment of Programs & Projects with organizational Operational Plans and compliance to donor and regulatory expectations. The Deputy Program director will also support Partnership and Consortium Management Focal Points and plays representational role on National multisector coordination platforms in the Absence PD. 

Purpose
To build a resilient, versatile, motivated and time oriented Humanitarian and Resilience program delivery team capacity that ensures high quality and accountable program results, which persistently meets beneficiaries and donors expectation. The purpose must be guided by clear plan, smooth & professional communication, built on consistent engagement with wide range of internal stakeholders (Program departments, Support and Operation including field/base coordination) and external stakeholders, at various levels of program implementation. 

Engagement

Internally, the deputy Program director (d-PD) works closely with program and operation teams at the capital and field levels to improve the pace of program implementation and quality of deliverables while ensuring layout of proper risk management mechanisms focusing on alignment of plans, reports, communication and changes with established organizational procedures, donor rules and regulatory requirement. Externally, with direction from the PD, the incumbent is expected to represent the organization in different coordination meetings and donor visits.

Delivery

The d-PD is responsible to lead regular projects performance analysis and presenting for the PD and SMT (as required) for awareness and decision-making. The incumbent ensures all project have clear budget Plan/BFU, Supply Plan, DIP, MEAL Plan, and Regularly analyze Performance tracking tools [IPTT, ADS, DHIS2) and recommends mitigation plans [Accelerated action plans, request modification and time extension based on need and consultation with respective units).

Deputy Program director will also coordinate and support development of Mission Level ‘Program Operation Risk Management Plan’, Rapid Humanitarian Response/ Contingency  Plan’ and ‘Humanitarian Access management Plan, ‘Grant and Partnership Management Plan’ as well as ‘Communication Plan’ for the Fiscal year! He/she is also expected to organize and facilitate various capacity building, learning [action review, collaborative learning and experience exchange session] for the program and operation team at capital and field level.

Essential job duties 

Support for the project development process of emergency, development, research, and innovation projects (20%)

• Support the program director (PD) and business development by providing up-to-date and timely inputs for proposal development. 
• As assigned by the PD, support, coordinate and lead proposal development in coordination with the field team, technical departments, MEAL, Emergency, and operation teams.
• Ensure that incoming information is analyzed and provide relevant future propositions for geographic and sectoral interventions to the Programme Director and SMT 
• As assigned by the PD, support in the development of high-quality proposals, validate final proposal packages including narratives, program budgets, and project organigrams
• Ensure protection and gender mainstreaming at every level 

Promote the technical integration of Action Against Hunger’s programming at every level.

Coordinate emergency and resilience project, startup, implementation, and closeout including budget management, MEAL, and donor reporting (50%)

• Ensure timely project startup on emergency and resilience programming including staff recruitment, preparation of project procurement plans, detailed implementation plans, and 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.
• 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
• Support the timely preparation of project reports at the highest quality and provide feedback as necessary
• Ensure projects that require modification (in any form) are identified and addressed timely 
• Follow the implementation of donor guidelines at all levels in the implementation of our programs 
• Ensure integration of MEAL in all aspects, from annual data collection to capitalization document production. 
• Ensure the establishment of a well-capacitated and dynamic Emergency Preparedness and Response team and plans

Human resources management and coaching of field and capital program teams (15%)

• Direct management: EPRC (1), Grants and Reporting HoD (1), Sr. Communication Officer (1), and other humanitarian and resilience projects (1+)
• Set the job objectives of all direct subordinates, hold regular conversations, and conduct the annual performance review for his/her staff
• Provide input to PD on program issues relating to human resources and budgeting.
• Initiate disciplinary measures where needed in accordance with the HR regulations
• Ensure PMs, dPMs and other staff under direct supervision are motivated and committed to the Action Against Hunger charter and programs

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

Information sharing (internal) and external representation with donors, partners, and government officials (15%)

• Provide the coordination team (FCs and HoDs) with information relating to humanitarian and development events and initiatives.
• Where directed by the PD, represent Action Against Hunger in donor meetings, donor visits, technical fora, consortia steering committees, etc.
• Facilitate a ‘trickle-down’ of information towards the field team from different coordination platforms in the capital.
• Advance and disseminate Action Against Hunger’s strategic positioning to donors and other stakeholders as this relates to the humanitarian analysis and future financial planning

Supervisory Responsibilities

• The DPD is directly managed by the Programme Director
• The DPD directly line manages the Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator, Grants and Reporting HoD, Sr. Communication Officer, and Other Humanitarian project managers

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, and children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, or religion. race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status. 
• Value and respect all cultures. 

Fiscal Responsibility

• Budgets and all grants are implemented in compliance with Action Against Hunger and donor regulations.

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.

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 and in line with Labor Law.
• Must be able to travel as frequently as required 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. 

Required Qualifications and Professional Experience

• Master’s degree in management, Economics, development studies, public administration, social science or other relevant area or equivalent professional experience
• Eight years’ experience with excellent professional track record with at least three years of NGO project management experience 
• Experience in managing or leading humanitarian response programs e.g. emergency Health and Nutrition, WASH, Early Recovery, C&V Assistance, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Emergency Response, Food Security and Livelihoods

Required Skills & Competencies

• Direct program management 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 a complex emergency, and resilience-building projects for donors such as USAID/ BHA, BPRM, SIDA, ECHO, UN agencies, and the European Commission
• Familiarity with project management methods and tools and a strong appreciation for innovation and partnership as part of project development.
• Good analytical skills with the ability to positively influence cross-departmental and cross-sector working.
• Strong results orientation, with the 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 Excel, MS PowerPoint.

How To Apply

                                APPLICATION PROCEDURE 

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

Through www.ethiojobs.net 

Deadline: Thursday 20- June - 2024

NB: Only shortlisted applicants will be communicated and the selection process includes a technical test and an interview.