Ethiopia: HEAD OF PROGRAM

JOB DESCRIPTION

Annual Salary and Benefits: According to Oxfam Salary Scale

Internal Job Grade: B2 Global

Contract type: Fixed Term, xxx years contract

Reporting to: Country Director

Staff reporting to this post: 6 Direct (Gender, Livelihoods, Resilience, MEAL/PQ, Partnerships and Humanitarian Programme Coordinators)

Locations: : Addis Ababa, covering the whole country

Annual Budget: About 20M GBP depending on the humanitarian situation in the country

Shaping a stronger Oxfam for people living in poverty

Country Context

A new Oxfam Country Strategy was finalized in 2015 and a Country Operating Model in 2016. A transition process has been completed to amalgamate all existing Oxfam operations in country under one roof. A new operating model has been introduced for Vision 2020 and will be rolled out and embedded in Ethiopia over the next 3 years. A key component of this is the establishment of an Executing Affiliate (EA) to operationalize the Oxfam programme in Ethiopia, under the oversight of the Oxfam International Country Director. As the legally registered entity in the country, it employs in-country staff, is the asset holder, primary contract signatory with in-country donors and suppliers, manages finances and provides back office support and IT systems, and represents the Oxfam Confederation in country. Complementing the work of the Executing Affiliate are Partner Affiliates that provide funding (restricted and unrestricted), thematic expertise and influencing capacity.

Team Purpose

The Programmes Team will ensure that the programmes make the proper shift, with the quality needed to ensure a proper achievement of the Ethiopia Oxfam Strategy.

Job Purpose

The Head of Programme (HoP) will be responsible for the development, design and management/monitoring of the country programmes and for ensuring Oxfam in Ethiopia programme responds to current development trends related in the country. Ensure the proper implantation of programme strategies and plans maintaining the coordination, linkages and synergies within and between the long term and humanitarian programmes as well as contributes to linking these programmes with influencing and ensuring programme quality. The HoP will have a direct line report to the CD and be a member of the Country Management Team and must work very closely with the Business Support Units and the Influencing coordinator.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

1.Program development and delivery

• Under the leadership of the CD, provides overall strategic and technical leadership in the design, development, planning, budgeting, and implementation of the Oxfam Country Strategy (OCS)
• Ensures the delivery of a country program with demonstrable impact and is accountable for ensuring that the programme meets overall program quality and learning standards
• Manages and is accountable for programme budget including responding to high level management and variance reports
• Work with the MEAL/PQ Coordinator, develop, implement and embed, a knowledge management system, that will ensure the sharing of knowledge across the program, other country programs, and the broader confederation
• Oversees the development of program and project improvement plans, to ensure effective and timely implementation of the projects and programs
• Works closely with the Grants Manager, identifies opportunities for funding to ensure the financial sustainability of country programme of Oxfam in Ethiopia
• Develops a comprehensive understanding of Oxfam’s partnership approach, including work with coalitions and networks, adopting a strategic, proactive perspective on how to achieve partner led approaches to achieve sustainable change
• Oversees the partner portfolio, with specific reference to the identification of both implementing and strategic partners, and building and maintaining these relationships
• Leads the development of country level programme reporting – facilitating programme Managers and other team members’ contributions to reporting, consolidating programme reports and providing high level strategic analysis of programme impact;
• Directs and coordinates external program engagement;
• Maintains strong links between development programmes, humanitarian preparedness and response, and policy and advocacy interventions;
• Ensures that all work is carried out in a way that is sensitive to community needs and gender issues. In particular, promotes the full and equal participation of women in all aspects of the programme work;
• Assists the programme team to develop, finalize and closely monitor their programme(s) budget;
• Works closely with the Finance Department to ensure effective financial and budgetary control of the programmes, according to OI’s policy and procedures;
• Manages a broad spectrum of programs and geographies, requiring a variety of competences and skills of the job holder. Management tasks and problems are diverse and complex and involve a significant degree of risk (financial, security, brand);
• Participates in the annual budget process, leading on the program budget process, and maintains ongoing oversight of program budgets.

2.Coordination, networking and representation

• Provides strategic leadership and management of Oxfam ’s programme in country including all development, advocacy, and humanitarian programming to maximise our influence and impact
• Initiates, coordinates and leads Oxfam’s one program approach in Ethiopia ensuring it delivers on the OCS vision and objectives and championing the new ways of working embodied in the OCS
• Deputise for the Country Director as required
• Develops and facilitates links with civil society (including non-implementing partners), the private sector, academic /knowledge institutions and governments, initiating contacts and building associations that can be used to enhance Oxfam’s work and identifying key partners to collaborate with on the delivery of the program

3.People development and management

• Provides strategic management and thought leadership
• Leads human resources planning for the programmes team
• Ensures that team members have access to staff development opportunities, identifies and addresses capacity gaps and provides ongoing counselling and support team members
• Manages and supports the Program Team to deliver on the OCS, providing leadership, inspiration and guidance and ensuring that the management of the team is in line with Oxfam’s HR policies and procedures.
• With support from Human Resources unit, manages the life cycle of individuals within the team from pre-recruitment to exit, including performance management processes, people’s development and working with HR on issues such as disciplinary matters among others.

Technical Skills, Experience & Knowledge

Essential

• Post graduate degree in international development, sustainable livelihoods, humanitarian, programme management or closely related fields.
• A minimum of seven years of experience in the field leading development and humanitarian programmes in one or more challenging contexts in developing countries. Experience in Ethiopia context is highly desirable.
• Good understanding of development issues in general with significant knowledge and experience in the fields of: (a) sustainable livelihoods and resilience, (b) gender and development, (c) humanitarian assistance (d) policy advocacy and influencing
• Good managerial skills to co-ordinate the Ethiopia program team to deliver on the OCS objectives.
• Ability to coach on the building of strong, credible relationships with international and local NGOs, government associations, business leaders and communities
• Excellent personal communication skills, in written and verbal English, with high impact influencing and persuasive skills. Able to use different approaches to achieve followership.
• Ability to adjust to constantly changing situations while maintaining focus on delivery and follow-through
• Strong analytical and conceptual thinking skills; able to understand complex issues and translate them into simple, workable actions and plans
• Ability to think strategically, work creatively, effectively and in an innovative manner
• Commitment to Oxfam’s overall aims and policies and experience of promoting women’s rights and those of marginalised people in all aspects of Oxfam’s work in Ethiopia.
• Proven analytical and conceptual thinking, high level research, project management knowledge and skills and experience using participatory tools and methodologies for assessment, programme identification, implementation, monitoring and evaluation
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience of development programs, humanitarian response and advocacy and campaigning.
• Knowledge of capacity building, learning and development activities and how to create a learning and sharing environment with a strong knowledge management basis
• Knowledge and understanding of theories of change and ability to contextualize these in the circumstances prevailing in the country
• Commitment to and knowledge of creating a partner-led operational environment, with an ability to create an internal Oxfam approach that is focussed on developing and supporting partner organisations to achieve direct impact and results relating to Oxfam’s objectives
• Knowledge of, and experience in working with multiple donors, such as ECHO, EU, OFDA, private foundations etc.
• Politically astute, with high impact influencing and persuasive skills and personal gravitas to gain respect and build and maintain strong, credible relationships, with internal and external stakeholders at all levels
• Extensive experience in building, managing and nurturing effective teams at senior management level in a national or international organisation. Preferably managing diverse teams of more than 200 people spread in different locations.
• Influencing experience and ability to develop organisational networks and associations
• Driving licence and use of it in insecure contexts.
• Flexibility in terms of travel and working hours is a requirement of this role with field trips within the country of more than 50% of the time.

Desirable

• Language: English and Amharic.
• Experience or knowledge of Ethiopia and/or regional dynamics.

This is a great opportunity for a dedicated and dynamic professional. If you believe you are the candidate we are looking for and meets the above requirement , please submit your applications and CV including day time contact numbers by applying online at Oxfam internal recruitment system: www.oxfam.org,uk/jobs or through ethiojobs. Only short listed applicants will be contacted.

Oxfam is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those that are suitable to work within our values are recruited to work for us. This post is subject to a range of vetting checks.

Diversity - the difference starts with you. We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation. Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.