Program Director – Implementation

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger is an international, non-governmental humanitarian organization that takes decisive action against the causes and effects of hunger through implementing relief and development programs in different countries of the world.

Action Against Hunger was established in 1979 and has led the global fight against hunger for more than 40 years in over 50 countries, saving the lives of children and working with communities before and after disasters to enable people provide for themselves, see their children grow up strong and build prosperous communities. Working with communities in such humanitarian context, we recognize that our programs and operations put out teams in contact with children and vulnerable adults who may be particularly at risk of harm and abuse.

About the Country Program in Ethiopia

Action Against Hunger’s Ethiopia country office was established in 1985 in response to severe drought and subsequent famine, implementing relief and development projects in Tigray, Amhara and Oromia regions. Action against Hunger currently operates in six regions of Ethiopia (Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz, Gambella, Somali, Oromia and Tigray) and in Addis Ababa city administration responding to different crisis and building people’s resilience 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.

With more than 8,900+staff in over 50 countries, last year, we helped 28 million children and their families across 55 countries. We have a country team of over 900 staff in 17 regional and satellite offices. Our main donors in Ethiopia in 2023/24 are BHA, ECHO, EU RESET, UNHCR, UNICEF, GAC, GFFO, BPRM, SIDA, EHF, FAO, WFP, CIAA, Dutch Government and others. 

1. Summary of position 

• Action Against Hunger in Ethiopia is looking for a dynamic, energetic, ambitious, and results-oriented Program Director who will be responsible for driving cross-functional engagement in the implementation and delivery of our Country Programs. 

S/he is responsible.

• Manage day to day implementation and programmatic reporting
• Manages day-to-day budget execution and financial reporting
• Collaborates with PDQ on budget development and allocation
• Optimizes budget utilization for program implementation and outcomes
• Ensures financial accountability and compliance within the program

Purpose:

• The Program Director is a member of the senior management team and works to ensure program implementation, as well as growth where appropriate , and strong representation. The Program Director directly supervises Field Coordinators ensuring that projects and programs address beneficiary needs and are implemented according to Action Against Hunger global strategy, donor guidelines, approved work plans, and budgets. 

Engagement: 

• The Program Director will internally work closely with the base Field Coordinator, Program Managers, Capital Support, and Program Head of Departments.
• Externally, build relationships with Local INGOs, local government officials, community leaders in the program implementation area, donors and other relevant stakeholders to ensure programs are relevant and impactful.

Delivery: 

• The Program Director will ensure projects and programs are delivered on scope, on time and on budget   

Main duties and responsibilities 

• Ensure the highest standards of quality and accountability through compliance with Action Against Hunger policies, standards and international standards for emergency response, Disaster mitigation, rehabilitation and development. 
• Ensure that systems are in place so that projects are managed on scope, on time and on budget to achieve the desired impact on communities’ resilience and free from hunger. 
• Oversee the alignment with Action Against Hunger program strategy in areas of all programs, including developing a project implementation plan.
• 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
• Participate in the development of Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans.
• Provide leadership to both program and support teams in the field, and provide representation of Action Against Hunger to existing and new funding, implementing partners, stakeholders and local authorities.
• Capitalize on integration management among thematic sectors and Support units to maximize impact and benefit to beneficiaries while optimizing costs/efficiency
• Provide analysis of the current security and socio-economic situation, trends, need, gaps, and activities of external parties in areas served in order to inform the country leadership team.
• Ensure activities and programs are contextually appropriate and meeting the needs of beneficiaries and identify new strategic opportunities.
• Represent Action Against Hunger in external meetings with, partners, clusters, working groups, and other NGOs and government agencies in order to stay informed, report relevant findings to the Country Office, and increase Action Against Hunger’s visibility within the donor and partner community.
• Cultivate strong networks and relationships with external partners, local authorities and others; skillfully manage stakeholders and obtain buy-in for Action Against Hunger Ethiopia activities as needed
• Support proposal assessment, development, and budgeting.
• Collaborate with and support country communications team in production of external & internal visibility products.
• Support Grants Management in compliance and monitoring of all Action Against Hunger Ethiopia grant submissions, program implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
• Manage program finances including cash flows, budget forecasting, and reporting.
• Oversee procurement flows, ensuring timely supply management to the field offices as well as compliance with all application policies and regulations.
• Provide regular updates and summary reports to the Country Director.
• Ensure compliance and understanding of all policies and procedures related to fraud, corruption, transparency, and whistleblowing. 

1. Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly Supervise Field Coordinators
• Collaborates with Capital Program and Support Head of Departments

1. Gender Equality Commitments  

• Foster an environment that supports 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, sex orientation, disability, religion. race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status. 
• Value and respect all cultures. 

1. Fiscal Responsibility

• Overall/high-level coordination of project, startup, implementation, and close out including budget management, MEAL, and donor reporting.
• Budget follow-up (BFU) regularly and ensure the utilization of allocated budget in a timely manner to ensure accurate and effective use of funds in compliance with Action Against Hunger and donor regulations
• Lead and coordinate timely variance analysis and action plan development based on BFU review
• Generate and share routine PFU,SFU and Warehouse stock inventories to respective bases and program units to take timely remedial action
• Ensure timely submission of cash/treasury forecast and disbursement/remittance of cash to base secondary bank accounts
• Ensure Bases under supervision have annual core cost plan and shared costs are charged based on the mission financial plan for the period
• Coordinate and oversight Periodic Audit and Compliance Review and Audit Action plan rollout 

1. 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 the essential functions.

1. 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 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. Expected to perform any duties as assigned by Line Manager.

1. 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

1. Required Skills & Competencies

• Familiarity with project management and 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 non-returnable CV, a cover letter with “Program Director – Implementation – Addis Ababa written in the subject line, and three references, through www.ethiojobs.net

Closing date: 12 September 2024

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