Head of Programmes in Angola

  • Contractor
  • Lubango Angola
  • TBD USD / Year
  • People in Need profile




  • Job applications may no longer being accepted for this opportunity.


People in Need

Country Programme: Angola

Base: Lubango

Line Manager: Country Director

Contract Length: 1 year renewable

Expected starting date: January 2024

About the Angola Programme of People in Need:

In Angola, PIN has been working since 2006, when the first projects were developed in the area of Education. In the following years, new actions were carried out in the sectors of Agriculture, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Community Health and Nutrition, Gender and Civil Society, Child Protection and Human Rights. The province of Bié, one of the most affected by the armed conflict, was PIN’s first working region in Angola. With the positive results achieved, the action was expanded to other provinces such as Huambo, Huíla, Luanda, Namibe, Cunene and Moxico. PIN has currently defined three pillars for its programming, namely Climate Resilience, Civil Society and Inclusive Governance and Emergency Response and Recovery.

About the role:

The Head of Programmes (HoP) supervises all programmes (development and emergency), with the specific responsibility for the timely and efficient programme implementation, and most importantly the quality of projects and programmes in terms of their impact. By supervising the implementation of results-based M&E systems, the Head of Programmes also guides the programme strategy and development of future programmes.Together with the Country Director, HoP represents PIN to donors and partners, ensuring that PIN is recognised for its field experience. Furthermore, HoP engages in medium and long-term planning and strategy activities, ensures continuous quality improvement of programmes and contributes to a positive working environment for its staff.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

  • Collaboratively shapes the CP strategy and takes a leadership role in the successful implementation of its programmatic components.
  • Overall supervision and support of currently implemented programmes in all the phases of the project cycle.
  • Strategic planning, programme development and proposal writing including incorporating innovations, research and good practices.
  • Participate in Country Management Team meetings and decision-making, in line with PIN strategies and policies.
  • Direct supervision of Program Managers (and/or Project Managers), who are further managing respective project/programme teams.
  • Building synergy among the programmes, ensuring cooperation with Country Program’s supporting departments and PIN Knowledge & Learning department.
  • Supervising MEAL (monitoring, evaluations, accountability and learning) processes and procedures, tracking programme status through internally developed monitoring tools and use of common IT tools (e.g. Navision, ELO), through monthly review meetings.
  • Striving for quality of programmes including mainstreaming accountability systems and cross-cutting issues like gender, social inclusion, climate change and good governance.
  • Ensuring the financial side of programming is understood and followed by the project teams together with the financial department.
  • Ensure timely and high-quality reporting is done by all programmes towards donors.
  • Develop external contacts (in coordination with Country Director) and relations with partners (organizations, authorities) in Angola.
  • Maintains a strong understanding of the local context in which we work and ensures meaningful engagement of communities we serve.
  • Stays informed and share emerging trends and best practices in the field.

Main requirements:

  • A graduate degree in a relevant field (humanitarian action, development work etc.)
  • Minimum of 3 years relevant experience in a similar position.
  • Experience in managing development projects.
  • Experience in managing projects by different donors (UN, EU etc).
  • Experience working in a complex context; experience from Angola/Africa region is an asset.
  • Proven proposal writing skills; proven analysis and report writing skills.
  • Understanding of the development project cycle.
  • Understanding of MEAL (monitoring, evaluation, accountability, learning) and its tools (for example Kobo).
  • Capacity to meet deadlines.
  • Fluency in English – written and spoken. Knowledge of Portuguese preferred.
  • Results orientation.
  • Strategic thinking.
  • Initiating action and change.
  • Analytical skills, sound judgement.
  • Flexible, proactive approach.
  • Gender and cultural sensitivity.
  • High degree of rationality; a scientific wake of thinking, and a very good grasp of logic.
  • Outstanding communication skills – written and spoken.
  • Strong interpersonal skills.
  • Demonstrated patience, enthusiasm and strong personal skills with attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work both independently and cooperatively with team members.
  • High ethical standards.
  • Commitment to and understanding of PIN’s aims, values and principles.

PIN Offers:

  • Working environment in a well-established middle-sized and continuously growing humanitarian organization in a challenging context;
  • Salary and benefits according to PIN salary scale and HR policies; expected salary of 2800 – 3000 EUR super gross (based on experience), monthly subsistence allowance of 1800 EUR;
  • Accommodation/housing allowance;
  • 25 days of holiday per year;
  • Travel health insurance (covers health care incl. the repatriation);
  • Reimbursement of travel expenses with travel to the country of residence once every 6 months of work;
  • Reimbursement of costs of visas and vaccinations; assistance with the visa application procedure;
  • Reimbursement of the medical check-up before and after the deployment;
  • Free 24/7 medical helpdesk and psychological consultation available online;
  • Free access to e-learning sites, global PIN’s Induction Training, Knowledge and Learning department onboarding, and individually tailored capacity-building opportunities; incl. HEAT training.

How to apply

If you are interested in this position, send us your CV and short cover letter via our application form.

Please note only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled.

People in Need staff are expected to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need Code of conduct and key policies (available at: https://www.peopleinneed.net/key-policies-4142gp).

People in Need is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct and committed to promoting the welfare of children and adults with whom People in Need involves. People in Need expects all staff to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need code of conduct and key policies (available at: https://www.peopleinneed.net/key-policies-4142gp). People in Need Staff will undertake the appropriate level of training.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.


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