Background

Ethiopia is perhaps the most critical humanitarian context in East Africa. For decades, Ethiopia has hosted hundreds of thousands of refugees from neighbouring countries. It has a significant and fluctuating population of climate and conflict IDPs (Internally Displaced People), it is subject to worsening cycles of climate crisis and recent conflict in critical regions in the north of the country has led to severe and complex humanitarian crisis.

To achieve the required results, NRC Ethiopia works with government, UN agencies and local institutions. In delivering its humanitarian and recovery responses NRC’s Ethiopia programme has built a growing reputation for developing new approaches to achieve greater impact. Following a freeze in operations in the second half of 2021, the Ethiopia programme is currently re-establishing its structures and portfolio with the intention of maintaining a significant, long term role in the countries humanitarian response.

We are seeking to recruit an experienced leader to build the programme portfolio in arguably the most critical countries in the sector at a point in time where the shape for NRC program and strategic priorities remain open.

Role Responsibilities

The Head of Programme has the overall responsibility to develop and ensure good partnership relations and ensure programme relevant advocacy priorities are identified and taken forward. The position also has line management responsibility as well responsibility to manage and ensure support and capacity building related to Project Cycle Management (PCM), Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework, integrated programming and programme quality.

The Head of Programme will be responsible for the following:

1. Line management of the Country Programme Unit.
2. Technical supervision of Core Competency Programme Development Managers
3. Member of the Country Management Group (CMG)
4. Compliance with and adherence to NRC policies, guidance and procedures
5. Development of Core Competency strategies, aligned to regional and global priorities and strategies
6. Overseeing specific advances in NRC’s Innovation, Protection, Markets and Digital programming, through an increasingly localised and networked approach
7. Contribute to strengthening accountability to beneficiaries through improving M&E systems, the establishment of beneficiary feedback and complaints mechanisms and improved needs assessments for evidence based programming.
8. Facilitate initiatives for integrated programme analysis and response analysis, including the integration of relevant cross-cutting issues such as protection, safe programming and access
9. Oversee Project Cycle Management (PCM), including through field support missions
10. Liaise with Area managers to explore and create synergies, and ensure effective and constructive communication between the CO and AOs.

Professional Competencies

• Minimum 8 years’ experience from a senior management position in a humanitarian/ recovery context
• Experience of working in complex and volatile contexts
• NRC Core competencies expertise
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities
• Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile
• High level of communication, interpersonal, representation and negotiation skills
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal

Contextual skills, knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of the context in Ethiopia is advantageous
• Culturally sensitive, with the ability to work within different cultural contexts
• Proven ability to live and work in hardship duty stations, sometimes under stressful environment
• Experience in resource mobilisation and in particular working with EU donors, American donors and UN agencies

Additional Information

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Contract Length: 24 months

Salary: Grade 11 based upon NRC Grading Scale

Travel: up to 40%