Head of Programmes Unit

Dublin based (with the option of hybrid working for part of week); permanent post; generous benefits; salary €73,742 per annum.

Reporting to the CEO, the role is responsible for leading the direction, coordination and oversight of Christian Aid Ireland’s international programme portfolio, working in close collaboration with the Global Head of Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention. You will manage the Programme Unit (10 staff) and support and oversee the delivery of the International Programme Strategy, working closely with colleagues from country teams and across the organisation. As a member of Christian Aid Ireland’s senior management Leadership Team, you will also contribute to the strategic direction of the organisation, including developing corporate objectives, setting annual plans and targets, and inputting into decisions on the management and governance of Christian Aid Ireland.

Role purpose

Reporting to the CEO, the role is responsible for leading the direction, coordination and oversight of Christian Aid Ireland’s international programme portfolio, working in close collaboration with the Global Head of Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention. You will manage the Programme Unit (10 staff) and support and oversee the delivery of the International Programme Strategy, working closely with colleagues from country teams and across the organisation. As a member of Christian Aid Ireland’s senior management Leadership Team, you will also contribute to the strategic direction of the organisation, including developing corporate objectives, setting annual plans and targets, and inputting into decisions on the management and governance of Christian Aid Ireland.

Key outcomes

• An effective and efficient international programme of work is in place that is in line with and delivers the Christian Aid Ireland Programme Strategy strategic priorities: refine and deepen our partnership approach; deliver high quality programmes; consolidate our thematic and technical expertise; accelerate and sustain funding growth and maintain an appropriate team structure and culture to support our work.
• Christian Aid Ireland Programme Unit, which includes personnel responsible for programme management, thematic priorities, programme performance and programme development and funding, is effectively managed and supported to contribute to the delivery of the Christian Aid Ireland Programme Strategy.
• Strong relationships with key institutional donors are developed and maintained, with a particular focus on Irish Aid as Christian Aid Ireland’s primary institutional donor, and the EC and ECHO, and appropriate representation in donor-facing networks such as the VOICE EU.
• Institutional donor contracts under the Programme Unit are delivered to a high quality and meet all compliance requirements and a strategy is in place and followed to seek and respond to new funding opportunities in line with the Christian Aid Ireland Programme Strategy.
• Strong quality control and oversight, including financial, of Christian Aid Ireland’s international programme work is in place, and key business processes are applied within Christian Aid Ireland’s programme work and processes.
• Christian Aid Ireland is appropriately represented on groups and networks, both internally and externally, which contribute to the development, shared learning and visibility of Christian Aid Ireland’s programmes.
• Strong leadership and appropriate representation of the priorities and requirements of Christian Aid Ireland’s programme work within Christian Aid Ireland’s Leadership Team, including identifying, assessing and managing risk.
• Christian Aid Ireland Programme Unit is appropriately represented at senior level within Christian Aid (Christian Aid International Department Senior Leadership Team) and the Head of International Programmes contributes to and influences organisational decisions that affect our work.

Applied skills/knowledge and expertise

Essential

• Proven management experience, preferably in an NGO environment, and ability to lead, motivate and develop others.
• Strong understanding of programme cycle management, ideally based on significant field operations experience managing programmes in relevant areas of work (governance and human rights, peacebuilding and conflict prevention, gender justice, climate adaptation, humanitarian response and resilience).
• Experience of strategy development and implementation, including demonstrated ability to analyse information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically.
• Demonstrated knowledge of one or more of Christian Aid Ireland’s thematic programme areas: governance and human rights, peacebuilding and conflict prevention, gender justice, climate adaptation, humanitarian response and resilience.
• Track record of engaging with and securing funds from institutional donors, and preferably significant experience and knowledge of working with Irish Aid, ECHO and the EC.
• Substantial understanding of and experience with effective financial and budgetary control.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with demonstrated ability to deliver high quality written deliverables such as programme reports, strategic documents.
• Demonstrated experience of building and maintaining senior level relationships, preferably including with institutional donors.
• Experience of working through partnership and strengthening the role of community-based/ led approaches.
• A deep understanding of the context of countries in the Global South and the need for a strategic focus on poverty, and the role of INGOs in supporting poverty eradication programmes.
• Demonstrable ability tobuild effective working relationships in a global organisation.

Desirable

• Experience at senior management level contributing to the management and strategic direction of the organisation.
• Experience of adaptive management in programme work.
• Basic fluency in Spanish, French, Arabic or a language used in Christian Aid Ireland programme countries.
• Strong facilitation skills.