Director of Programmes - South Sudan

Job location:                  Juba, South Sudan

Starting date:                 as soon as possible

Vacancy closing date:   23 February 2025

Duration position:          2 years

Working hours/week:    40

We are here for our neighbours in need, who are suffering in this broken world.

ZOA supports people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster. With 900 employees and (local) partners ZOA is active in Africa, South America, the Middle East, and Asia. When a disaster of crisis occurs Dorcas provides humanitarian assistance and supports communities to rebuild themselves. Simultaneously Dorcas invests in sustainable solutions for poverty and social exclusion. With a staff of 400 and with (local) partners Dorcas is active in Eastern Europe, Eastern Africa, and the Middle East.

As of 2022, ZOA and Dorcas have established a partnership in South Sudan, integrating operations into a joint working organisation: ZOA Dorcas South Sudan. The purpose is to achieve greater impact for people in need.

ZOA Dorcas is looking for a

Director of Programmes

(Juba, South Sudan)

Our work in South Sudan

Our programmes focus on FSL, WASH, Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Entrepreneurship, and Peacebuilding. Inclusion (gender and disability) and localisation are crosscutting themes. When possible we aim for an holistic approach by integrated programming. We work in Jonglei, Northern and Western Bahr El Ghazal, Warrap, and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, and plan to expand to more geographical areas. The current annual budget approximates USD 8 million.

Your challenge

Your position as Director of Programmes is crucial in establishing and expanding a solid portfolio, aiming at reaching more people in need with effective and high-quality programming. You will be based in Juba and oversee implementation of projects in all our working locations.

Your role is to lead, develop and manage the ZOA Dorcas programme team and to deliver the country strategy and annual plans through development, effective coordination, technical support and guidance by ensuring a cohesive team spirit and motivation to perform. You manage and ensure resource mobilization, prioritization, allocation and delivery. You are a member of the Country Management Team and acting Country Director.

Your main tasks and responsibilities

Leadership and management

• Supervises and appraises the performance of Programme Managers and other senior staff of the Programme department.
• Represents all programmes in the country in the Country Management Team.
• Provides spiritual oversight and leadership of the various programme teams in the country of operation.
• Leads the country wide programme and knowledge development.
• Responsible for implementing and strategic partnership engagement at country level.
• Ensures a gender and conflict sensitive approach to team management and country programme under her/his responsibility.

Programme strategy, management and planning

• Analyses and reports on the local and regional context related to ZOA Dorcas’ strategic priorities.
• Advises and strategies on the ZOA Dorcas core programmatic focus areas, including Peace Nexus, Localisation, and Climate Resilience, within the context of country annual plans and programmes.
• Develops the programmatic strategy and programme plan for the programme country, with annual review of needs for changes, based on ongoing context analysis and results of annual programme review.
• Responsible for the annual planning for the programme in the country, with the corresponding annual programme budget, as an input to the Country Strategic Annual Plan (CSAP).
• Consults with ZOA and Dorcas Global Sectoral advisors and technical experts to strengthen country-specific sectoral programmes.
• Provides technical support for the development of country annual plans and sectoral plans.
• Ensures the effective delivery of strong thematic programmes that meet both internal and external quality requirements.
• Overall responsible, together with Programme Managers and Manager of Programme Quality, for the planning, implementation, quality and monitoring of donor approved projects.
• Oversees that Project Cycle Management is adhered to in country.
• Consolidates reporting: monthly and quarterly activity and financial reporting, including realisation of activities versus budget utilisation; (providing input to) narrative and financial donor reporting.
• Annual review of progress towards programme objectives and outcomes.

Project and proposal development

• Writes quality concept notes, proposals and budget for international donors.
• Engages with national and international consultants and consultancy agencies for proposal development, evaluation, and research documentation.

Partnerships, representation and collaboration

• Initiates and maintains effective working relations with relevant stakeholders at country level.
• Fosters partnerships with NGOs, INGOs, UN agencies, and government entities.
• Builds consortium and bilateral partnerships for resource mobilisation, knowledge management, and advocacy.
• Represents ZOA Dorcas in meetings with donors, government officials, and ZOA and Dorcas international offices.
• Ensures timely preparation and submission of donor reports and updates.
• Prepares programme advocacy and lobby strategies and toolkits.
• Strengthens department and sectoral coordination within the country and across international offices.
• Promotes collaboration between different departments for effective programming.

Capacity building and innovation

• Conducts annual and periodic programme reviews, identifying areas for improvement and opportunities for scale up.
• Strengthens the roles and functions of Programme Managers (PGMs) and their teams.
• Promotes and leads programme innovation.
• Develops policies and strategies related to programming, resource mobilisation, and project scale-up.

HR/admin/finance

• Final budget owner for projects implemented in the programme country;
• Responsible for Human Resource Management (at individual- and team level) for programme managers and other senior programme staff;
• Supervises and periodically evaluates the performance of Programme Managers and other senior programme staff;
• Oversees the implementation and monitoring of financial, personnel and security policies and procedures in the programme portfolio of a programme country.

 
Security

• Ensures the design and maintenance of an effective security management system at country programme level, in compliance with the ZOA Dorcas over-all security policy and procedures, and the monitoring of compliance to that system by staff and other relevant persons for whom the HoP holds security responsibility.

Your profile

Identity

• The candidate is expected to fully support the vision, mission and Christian values of ZOA Dorcas.
  
  

Knowledge & experience

• University degree in a humanitarian, development or other relevant field;
• Ten years field experience in a development country, preferably in a conflict/post-conflict setting;
• Management experience;
• Familiar with Project Cycle Management;
• Experience with fundraising with institutional donors;
• Good knowledge of writing technical (donor) reports;
• Strong command of English.

Skills

• Result-oriented approach, initiates but also makes sure that initiatives come to a satisfactory result;
• Takes initiative to improve processes and procedures;
• Knows how to prioritise;
• Visionary;
• Analytical;
• Organisational sensitivity;
• Writing skills;
• Effecting delegation;
• Planning and organising;
• Participative leadership;
• Provides regular feedback, acknowledges success and the need for improvement;
• Coaches, challenges and provides opportunities for growth
• Flexible conduct;
• Effective and appropriate communication.

Attitude

• Flexibility and adaptability;
• Interpersonal and cross cultural sensitivity;
• Able to work under pressures and meet deadlines;
• Able to work in a sometimes fluid and insecure environment.

Special conditions/circumstances

• Up to 1/3 of time may be required for travel.
• This posting is a non-family duty station.
• Additional R&R arrangements may apply.

Our offer

ZOA Dorcas South Sudan operates under the registration of ZOA. Therefore, this position is contractually with ZOA.

• ZOA Dorcas offers a challenging role in a dynamic context, and you will be part of an inspiring and motivated team.
• We offer good benefits and remuneration which suits the NGO sector.

Do you need more information?

Would you like to know what it’s like to work for ZOA? Visit our Career Page and read the stories of possible future colleagues!

If you would have any questions about this vacancy, don’t hesitate to contact Arno van Turennout, email zoa.vacancies@zoa.ngo.

Interested and ready to apply?

ZOA Dorcas operates with an equal opportunities policy and is committed to diversity in the workplace. Qualified women and men, people of all nationalities and cultural backgrounds, and candidates with disabilities are welcome to apply.

If you are interested in this position, please apply directly via the "apply button" below this page, at the latest by 23 February 2025.

CVs of no more than 5 pages in length are appreciated.

Notes on proceedings:

Only selected candidates will be contacted and invited to participate in the process of recruitment. It is our aim to inform all other candidates of their status in the recruitment process within 4 weeks after the vacancy has closed. An assessment may be part of the recruitment procedure. Documents that do not match the profile above will not be considered. Internal candidates will have priority, in case of similar results.

Please note that, as part of its recruitment process, ZOA carries out background and reference checks for all candidates. As ZOA participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a written questionnaire, the ‘Statement of Conduct’, which will be sent to past employers regarding misconduct (such as sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment).