Program Development & Quality Director(PDQD)

Action Against Hunger-USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network, which provides humanitarian relief in over 50 countries worldwide in the sectors of nutrition, health, water/sanitation, food security & Livelihood and protection. Action Against Hunger-USA, an independent NGO, currently manages operations in 8 countries: South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia & Haiti. Action Against Hunger-USA has over $110 million in programs, and approximately 2500 staff based in the various country offices, Head Quarter in Washington DC and Operational Centre in Nairobi. Additional growth is anticipated.

About the Country Program in South Sudan

Action Against Hunger has been operational in South Sudan since 2002 responding to both chronic and acute needs through a multi-sectoral strategy where Nutrition, Health, Food Security and Livelihoods, WASH and Protection are integrated to have a meaningful impact on people’s resilience.

Action Against Hunger currently operates in 4 different regions with an anticipated 2023 yearly portfolio of 24Million USD of emergency and resilience building programs, research and innovation. We have a country team of about 200 staff working out of 5 field offices across South Sudan. Our main donors in South Sudan are USAID/ BHA, ECHO, GAC, SIDA, GFFO, UNICEF, and WFP and others.

1. Summary of position

Action Against Hunger in South Sudan seeks a dynamic and results-oriented Program Development and Quality Director to lead the development of the Country Strategy. This strategic leader will spearhead program design, secure funding, and champion Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) practices. Through collaborative leadership and capacity building, S/he will ensure efficient program design, strong partnerships, and adherence to global standards, ultimately contributing to a lasting reduction in child hunger in South Sudan. This role will be responsible for driving collaboration across various teams to ensure the strategy’s success. S/he will develop annual plans, report on results, and oversee the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based programs that align with Action Against Hunger’s 2021-2025 International Strategic Plan. As a senior leader, the Program Development and Quality Director will play a crucial role in capacity building, coaching and mentorship. S/he will coach technical head of departments to maintain program quality in line with global standards and key performance indicators. Besides, S/he will represent Action Against Hunger in meetings with government officials, donors, partners, and other stakeholders. S/he will also play a key part in securing funding and ensuring project design aligns with the Country Strategy and humanitarian development Peace nexus principles. Working in collaboration with the Business Development Unit and the respective department heads, S/he will spearhead the design of high-quality programs. Simultaneously, S./he will closely collaborate with the Program Director of the Delivery Unit and the program manager to ensure the delivery of programs within budget, scope, and time.

Purpose: The Program Development and Quality Director spearheads the development impactful programs that address child hunger and undernutrition in South Sudan. This role champions towards ending hunger and translates ACF’s mission and vision into a strategic Country Plan aligned with South Sudan’s specific needs.

Engagement: The Program Development and Quality Director cultivates a collaborative environment that fosters innovation and high performance. This involves building capacity through mentorship and knowledge sharing, while forging strategic partnerships with government agencies, donors, and other stakeholders. A strong emphasis is placed on advocacy for child rights and influencing policy to create sustainable, locally driven solutions.

Delivery: In close collaboration with program leadership, the Director ensures the effective and efficient delivery of high-quality programs through meticulous design, robust monitoring, evaluation, and continuous improvement processes. This includes securing sustainable funding, implementing innovative approaches, and effectively communicating program impact to stakeholders. The goal is to contribute to a lasting reduction in child hunger and undernutrition through ACF’s interventions.

1. Strategic Program Leadership and Alignment:

• Lead the development of the South Sudan Country Strategy Plan (CSP), ensuring alignment with Action Against Hunger’s ISP3 goals and global SDG objectives.
• Establish and maintain robust quality assurance systems to ensure program adherence to standards and best practices to strengthen a culture of continuous improvement through data-driven decision-making and capacity building.
• Foster synergy and cross-functional collaboration between program departments (Nutrition & Health, FSL, WASH, MEARL, Advocacy, Gender & Protection) for Multi-sectoral program design to ensure effective communication and knowledge sharing to optimize resource utilization and drive program impact.
• Oversee the identification of needs and gaps in fighting hunger and undernutrition across South Sudan, informing strategic program direction.
• Develop innovative and evidence-based program concepts that address priority child rights needs in South Sudan.
• Develop program strategies that integrate health, WASH, and FSL, gender protection, social protection components to improve nutrition outcomes.
• Secure leadership buy-in for the Country Strategy Plan and secure resources for program implementation and work with senior management to set clear program objectives and targets.
• Align program activities with regional nutrition priorities and international best practices.
• Lead the development of clear program monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Research and learning (MEARL) frameworks that contribute timely internal project evaluations and evidence generation for learning
• Identify and assess potential risks to program implementation and develop mitigation strategies to ensure program sustainability and resilience.
• Advocate for integrating child safeguarding principles throughout the Country Strategy Plan and collaborate with local partners to ensure culturally appropriate and sustainable program designs.
• Identify opportunities for program expansion and diversification to reach more communities in need.
• Conduct MEARL system assessment and establish a robust CQI framework aligned with Action Against Hunger’s global strategy, incorporating methodologies and project models such as Model for Improvement, Lean Six Sigma, and Theory of Change etc. to drive program excellence.
• Lead the development/updating of the hunger and undernutrition Situation Analysis, including analysis of country context and considering hunger hotspots, IPC, SMART+ and gender issues, ensuring participation and buy-in from all relevant staff, partners and other stakeholders as necessary.
• Develop/update and drive forward the Country Strategy Plan (CSP) with senior management and the country office team, ensuring alignment with the global strategy with fight against hunger and undernutrition at the core of all programming and advocacy work; and support the delivery of the CSP strategic pivots.
• Provide leadership on monitoring of progress against the CSP, and completion of accurate, on-time Country Annual Report of outcomes and impact for children, aligned with the Global Results Framework.
• Facilitate the development and pursuit of thematic and cross-cutting strategic priorities in line with the CSP, including localization, disability, rolling out Nutrition centric- Humanitarian development Peace nexus, SBCC, gender and protection mainstreaming, social protection programing, refugee and IDPs needs programing to guide current and future ACF programming and advocacy work, including Humanitarian Strategies.
• Support ownership and commitment to the CSP by all staff and departments through clear communication, regular feedback on progress and engagement of all functions in updates.
• Lead the development of a comprehensive program quality assurance and accountability framework in collaboration with HEARO and HQ advisors and harmonize a system for capturing and addressing beneficiary feedback and complaints through implementing harmonized Accountability to affected community (AAP) at country level.
• Promote the use of data-driven decision-making to improve program effectiveness as well as identify areas for improvement and best practices to scale up.
• Advocate for and invest in continuous learning and capacity building for program staff on quality improvement approaches/models and methodologies in line with the national guidelines.
• Spearhead quarterly Project review meeting for country program in close collaboration with Program Director Delivery and head of department for technical excellence and conduct in house evaluation to document best practices. In close collaboration with delivery unit and head of department, conduct regular field visits to assess program implementation and provide technical guidance in line with Action Against Hunger, government policies and donor guidelines.
• Desing, pilot and implement digital data collection tools, including mobile devices for field staff, to streamline monitoring, evaluation, and reporting processes aligned with Project management tools (PMI) DHIS2, PIMS systems.
• Establish a centralized database for storing program data, integrate data visualization tools, conduct regular assessments, explore mobile applications for community engagement, and develop digital platforms for training and capacity-building activities. In close collaboration with MEARL team both at country and regional level, integrate digital tools into the reporting process to enhance data accuracy and efficiency.

2. Enhance program effectiveness and impact through robust quality assurance, monitoring, evaluation, research and learning.

3. Building and manage High-Performing Program Team:

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the PDQ team and head of departments, setting clear goals, objectives, and performance expectations.
• Foster a culture of innovation and experimentation within the program team.
• Represent ACF at meetings with government officials, donors, and other key stakeholders’ networks.
• Lead, mentor, and coach a team of technical HODs in Nutrition & Health, FSL, WASH, MEARL, Advocacy, Gender & Protection, and Knowledge Management & Capacity Building to develop clear sectoral plan and consolidate country AOP in line with regional and HQ annual operational plan (AOP)
• Recruit, retain, and develop a highly skilled and motivated program team with expertise in child rights and nutrition sensitive programming.
• Establish a culture of continuous learning and professional development within the program team.
• Empower program staff to lead program design, implementation, and evaluation activities.
• Foster a collaborative and results-oriented work environment within the program department.
• Ensure adherence to Action Against Hunger’s child safeguarding policies and procedures within the program team.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide constructive feedback to program staff.

4. Resource Mobilization and Sustainable Partnerships:

• Develop a comprehensive resource mobilization strategy and BD work plan to secure funding for the Country Strategy.
• Engage into donor/business intelligence and prepositioning with major donors, consortia and alliances. Ensure that the Country Office has up-to-date knowledge of donor strategies and frameworks, funding mechanisms
• In close collaboration with program delivery, conduct regular program reviews, compliance and audits to identify areas for improvement to ensure data quality assurance.
• Lead the development of high-quality proposals aligned with donor priorities and child rights principles.
• Build and manage strong relationships with government entities, donors, and partners.
• Advocate for increased investment in child rights programming in South Sudan through strategic communication and engagement.
• Secure funding for innovative and sustainable program initiatives that address critical needs.
• Play a leading role in designing compelling and competitive concept notes and proposals, including:
  • Alignment with our ACF-US strategy and ACF’s Theory of Change – innovating, building on and generating evidence, identifying strategic ways of partnering; supporting broader change in policy and practice
  • Engaging with technical experts as needed to ensure high quality, evidence-based designs that draw on needs assessments, learning from past programs and ACF’s vision, principles and mission to save the lives of children and their families from hunger and undernutrition with multisectoral programing and child safeguarding principles.
  • Ensuring partners are identified, facilitate partnership brokering, and are appropriately engaged in program design and proposal development as well as promote a system strengthening approach as the overarching framework, that supports working in collaboration and partnership with governments and local partners and working towards impact, scale and sustainability
  • Ensuring proposal designs and their budgets include robust MEARL plans that are aligned with our Results Framework, incorporate Common Approaches as relevant, and build in critical learning questions.
  • Ensuring the project budget will enable the project to be delivered as designed.
  • Incorporating child and community participation into design, as relevant.
• Manage with the Business Development (BD) team and ensure technical HODs budget ownership from proposals development to approval of alignment with grant requirements and compliance.
• Collaborate with field team and Business development to ensure timely reporting to secure continued funding.
• Identify funding opportunities and develop concept notes both solicited and unsolicited and proposals for program expansion.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting to donors on program progress and impact.
• Engage with potential donors, government and partners to build sustainable funding relationships.

4. Knowledge Management, Capacity Building, and Learning:

• Implement knowledge management systems (e.g., MSC etc.) to capture, document, and share best practices, lessons learned, and program outcomes and utilize outcome harvesting and learning reviews to promote organizational learning and adaptation.
• Invest in staff development through targeted training on QI methodologies (e.g., Lean Six Sigma, Model for Improvement, Kaizen, Bottleneck analysis etc.) and data analysis using data science tools to foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement by empowering staff to identify and implement solutions. Promote knowledge sharing on CQI and best practices within the program team and across departments.
• Develop and implement training programs to enhance the capacity of program staff in child rights programming.
• Identify training needs for BD team, head of department, field program staff and collaborate with HR to create professional development opportunities.
• Share best practices and lessons learned on program quality with Action Against Hunger regional office and globally and foster a culture of learning, innovation and continuous improvement within the program department and adaptation to changing contexts.
• Capture, document, and disseminate lessons learned from program interventions both internally and externally through key platforms e.g. cluster system, government meetings, donor forums, regional and global audiences.
• Contribute to Action Against Hunger’s global knowledge base on child rights programming.
• Conduct research and analysis to inform future program strategies and interventions.

5. Lead strategic efforts to enhance program impact through advocacy, gender mainstreaming, visibility, and sustainability by strengthening policy influence and partnerships.

• Map key technical engagements and participate in discussions in high level working groups to represent the South Sudan country office, and the voice of community, in strategy design and policy development.
• Conduct action research and analysis to identify key policy gaps and opportunities for advocacy related to fighting hunger and undernutrition in South Sudan.
• Develop clear policy asks and advocacy messages aligned with Action Against Hunger’s global and regional priorities.
• Engage with government officials, policymakers, and parliamentarians to raise awareness of critical child rights issues, nutrition sensitive programming and advocate for policy reforms.
• Partner with other NGOs, SUN, clusters and local civil society organizations to strengthen collective advocacy efforts.
• Monitor policy developments and mobilize action in response to relevant legislation or policy proposals.
• Advocate for increased government investment in fighting against hunger and malnutrition including social protection programs and essential services for children in South Sudan.
• Secure sustainable funding to support Action Against Hunger’s long-term actions towards fighting against hunger and undernutrition programming in South Sudan
• Participate in regional policy dialogues and advocacy campaigns to promote nutrition-sensitive programming.

1. Supervisory Responsibilities

Human resources management and coaching of the technical and program teams

• Direct management of the Nutrition and Health, WASH, FSL, gender and Protection and MEAL Heads of Departments (5), and the Program Development lead (Associate Director for Business development).
• Set the job objectives of all direct subordinates, hold monthly regular conversations, organize appraisals and conduct the annual performance review for his/her staff
• Hold regular program follow up meetings at capital level, coordinate action points and monitor progress
• General leadership, coaching and mentoring of Technical Departments acting as a liaison between CD and the Support Departments
• Revision of all job descriptions for technical positions in collaboration with the Heads of Department as needed.
• Provide input to BD on program issues relating to human resources and budgeting.
• Initiate disciplinary measures where needed in accordance with the HR regulations
• Ensure program staff is motivated and committed to the Action Against Hunger charter and programs
• Contribute to the career development for program staff in collaboration with the HR department to identify needs of training
• Collaborates with: Regional PDQ director, Country Director, Program Director Delivery, Director of Finance, Program delivery Director and Support service Director, HR Director, US Business Development Unit and East Africa Regional Office.

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.

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 Mastsers degree in Public health, Nutrition, development studies, WASH engineer or related field.
• A PhD 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, Agriculture/climate 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 design methods and tools (including assessments, logical frameworks and theory of change) and strong appreciation for innovation, digitalization 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.