Head of Programs

Position description

Are you a person of compassion? An advocate for justice? Someone who stands up for the rights of the vulnerable and speaks out for the marginalized, the exploited and the forgotten? Do you believe in our calling as Christians to welcome the least of these and love our neighbor? If you answered ‘yes’, to any of the above, World Relief, and millions of people around the world need you. The Head of Programs is expected to provide strategic leadership to the Programs Department in the areas of program quality, development, and implementation. . A major emphasis in this position is resource mobilization, external representation, program coordination, and technical leadership to ensure that the Country Office has a robust and diverse donor funding base and that programs are implemented fulfilling standards of quality and accountability along with delivering the desired impact in making a significant contribution to reducing poverty and saving lives. Role & Responsibilities 

• • Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  • This role is responsible for supervising others and includes responsibilities consistent with supervising employees including but not limited to monitoring daily work activities, tracking and approving timesheets including approving time off, monitoring performance including entering goals, progress check-ins, and weekly or bi-weekly check-ins, documenting performance concerns, entering staff promotions, transitions, and separations in HRIS within required time frame. Managers at World Relief are also considered spiritual leaders and are expected to lead staff in a manner consistent with our Christian values including but not limited to praying with staff, leading devotionals, and fostering a Christian environment in interactions with staff throughout World Relief.

• • Program Leadership 
  • Deputy for the Country Director in her/his absence.
  • Manage the design of medium and long-term goals under the guidance of the Country Director and Harmonize program and operations objectives in alignment with the strategy. 
  • Oversee the management of projects to ensure they all meet and exceed donor expectations and are designed and implemented for maximum impact and reach. Ensure the WRSS program quality standards are adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures.
  • Effectively manage senior talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports.
  • Oversee the development of staffing plans and contribute to the recruitment process of senior staff.
  • Conduct regular analysis of the Country Office contingency planning and capacity to scale up quickly and respond to significant emergency needs and propose actions to address capacity gaps. 
  • Facilitate the development and regular updating of an appropriate emergency preparedness and response plans, and ensure that disaster risk management is integrated in WRSS programs.
  • Work with the Country Director to oversee the development and implementation of a Country Office advocacy agenda that supports Country Office programs.
  • Contribute and support the development of proposals and reports for the respective projects. 
  • Support field managers in all aspects of finance, administrative, human resource, and logistics management, ensuring knowledge of and adherence to applicable operational systems, donor requirements and country program strategy.
  • Mentor and encourage Program Managers in their leadership and management of program staff directly under them. 
  • Assist Program Managers in monitoring program finances against program budgets, and act as a liaison between Program Managers and the other Departments. 
  • Travel to the field as needed to supervise and review project/program progress and/or results, as well as security issues affecting programmatic implementation and staff safety Staff Management
  • Provide proper supervision and management for all direct reports and lead the establishment and functioning of a strong, effective and coordinated Program team.
  • Ensure the proper implementation of a performance management system for direct reports, including job description and performance development, regular feedback, mid-term reviews, and annual performance appraisals.
  • Proactively address performance issues through regular, constructive and honest feedback and coaching.
  • Travel to the field as needed for staff management 
  •  
  • Operations Management and Program Strategy 
  • Liaise with international donors and actively represent WRSS at relevant national and local meetings with government officials, contractors, other NGOs, etc., reporting back as applicable to staff, and field managers. 
  • Prepare and implement policies, procedures and guidelines, as appropriate and with the relevant field managers and programs, so as to enhance the smooth running of the program through standardized procedures and improved support.
  • Manage a comprehensive activity plan for the program, including resource needs analyses, following plans, and log frames outlined in the project proposals.
  • Work with World Relief’s Home Office and/or regional technical support to ensure that planned programs are implemented in an efficient and timely manner according to the project/program proposal and the donors’ policies/agreements. 
  • Work closely with units in Program Support (finance, procurement, HR, etc.) to ensure proper coordination exists for efficient program implementation. 
  • Ensure that qualified staff and appropriate policies, procedures and systems are in place to properly manage WRSS programs/projects. 
  • Coordinate and assist in preparing and distributing all requisite reports for all programs. Ensure timely reporting of program activities to donors and Home Office Strategic Engagement staff. 
  • Edit, as needed, written materials originating from WRSS to ensure quality of outgoing documents. Develop and implement an information management system to include the dissemination of information from World Relief Home Office and affiliates, donors, Government of South Sudan offices, etc. to all the appropriate individuals. 
  • Regularly review and ensure that the most efficient Country Office program management structure is established and functional in order to ensure program quality and the cost-efficient achievement of project objectives.
  • Assist and oversee the recruitment and orientation of new senior program staff.
  • Seek strategic partnerships necessary to promote WRSS’ strategic vision and programming principles, and ensure that those partners understand the Country Office’s program strategies. Team Spiritual Life
  • Reflect the Christian spiritual values of WRSS with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
  • Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of the WRSS team, including team devotions, prayer times, words of encouragement, and integrity in all programmatic aspects of response and interaction with external contacts. 

• • Other
  • Work to strengthen the local church’s capacity for supporting programmatic initiatives.
  • This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned by the South Sudan Country Director as needed.
  • This is an unaccompanied position.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities 

• • Strong knowledge of program areas and ability to communicate practices to various constituencies in the U.S. and Africa
  • At ease with Microsoft Office programs (in particular with Word & Excel), Internet, and e-mail writing
  • Excellent verbal and written English communication required
  • Ability to understand and/or communicate in Arabic a plus
  • Ability to work independently and to deal with problems and issues both promptly and efficiently
  • Ability to diplomatically liaise in a team setting, to listen and take into account team suggestions, and to create a sense of team connectivity
  • Experience in training and mentoring staff
  • Capacity to work under pressure and to tight deadlines 
  • Good negotiation skills, especially in the context of another culture
  • Ability to manage budgets, understand financial accountability procedures, logistics, and commodity tracking
  • Strong time management, prioritization, and multi-tasking skills

Requirements 

• • Mature and personal Christian faith
  • Committed to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief
  • Desire to serve and empower the Church to impact vulnerable communities
  • Able to affirm and/or acknowledge World Reliefs Core Beliefs, Statement of Faith, Christian Identity and National Evangelicals For the Health of The Nation document
  • Bachelor’s degree on program management, development studies or relevant subjects, Master’s degree preferred
  • 5-9 years of experience in Relief and Development work in the developing world, preferably in Africa 
  • At least 5 years of experience in senior management and leadership positions in Humanitarian programs
  • Experience working with donors such as USAID, EU,GAC, UN Agencies, etc.
  • Experience serving in a hardship post in a complex emergency setting
  • Up to 50% domestic and/or international travel required

World Relief offers a competitive benefits package (25 hours + per week):

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Offer 16 company Paid Holidays + 4 additional Personal days per year!
• Paid Sick and Vacation Time
• Paid Parental Leave (12 weeks for qualified employees)
• FSAs: Medical & Dependent Care, & Commuter Funding
• Supplemental Life Insurance (employee, spouse, and children)
• Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, and Accident insurance policies
• Legal Shield Insurance

World Relief pays 100% for eligible employees: 

• Group Term Life (employee, spouse, and children)
• Long Term & Short-term Disability
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D)
• Long Distance Travel Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

World Relief – Retirement: 

• 401K & Roth
• WR matches up to 4%, then an additional quarter percent up to 10%
• Eligibility: Full Time (40 hours per week) is eligible after 3 months of employment. Part time is eligible after 1000 hours in a year. 

World Relief Discounts (Immediately Eligible): 

• Verizon
• Pet Insurance through Nationwide
• Home and Auto insurance through Liberty Mutual
• Working Advantage Discount Program
• Active & Fit Gym Membership

World Relief is honored to be recognized with the Gold-level Cigna Healthy Workforce Designation for exceeding the core components of our well-being program including leadership and culture, program foundations and execution, and whole person health. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 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. 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations
• The ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of 10-15 pounds.
• Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate equipment and read application information.
• The employee frequently is required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

• General office setting. World Relief also offers hybrid and remote schedules for limited positions.
• Great lengths of time working on computer, reading from computer screen, entering information, standing at copier or fax machine, and some time on the phone or in virtual meetings may be required.
• Year-end archiving activities involve repeated lifting and bending.
• Physical, emotional and intellectual demands
• Equipment used: Employee computer (desktop or laptop), printer, and copier.
• All of the above duties and responsibilities are essential job functions subject to reasonable accommodation. All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills and/or ability deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. Individuals may be required to perform any other job-related instructions as requested by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation. This position description is not all-inclusive and is always under review.

Application instructions

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