Programme Manager Full Time NEW

About the Role – Purpose

The Programme Manager is responsible for the overall coordination, quality, timely delivery and operational management of Concern Worldwide’s programmes in North Western Tigray, currently covering Asgede, Zana, Tahtay Adiabo, Maekel Adiabo and Sheraro, as well as any additional woredas that may be included based on emerging needs, new funding or changes in operational priorities. Based in Shire Town, the post holder will provide day-to-day leadership to programme teams; ensure that activities are implemented in accordance with approved proposals, workplans, budgets, donor requirements and Concern policies; coordinate with government, UN, cluster, consortium and other stakeholders; and maintain effective integration between programme, MEAL, finance, logistics and HR functions. The role will support accountable, safe and high-quality delivery while ensuring that resources are used efficiently and programme risks are identified and managed promptly.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

1. Programme Leadership and Day-to-Day Coordination

• Provide overall leadership and day-to-day coordination for all Concern projects implemented across Asgede, Zana, Tahtay Adiabo, Maekel Adiabo and Sheraro, in any additional woredas that may be added to the Northwestern Tigray operational area.
• Translate approved proposals, log frames and budgets into integrated annual, monthly and weekly implementation plans, with clear responsibilities, milestones and follow-up actions.
• Coordinate programme and support teams to ensure timely mobilisation of staff, supplies, transport, procurement and other resources required for implementation.
• Lead regular programme review and area team meetings, monitor progress against plans and resolve operational bottlenecks in a timely manner.
• Promote integrated and area-based programming across health, nutrition, WASH, livelihoods, protection and emergency response interventions, as applicable to approved projects.
• Ensure programmes remain relevant to priority needs and recommend evidence-based adaptations through the appropriate approval and change-control processes.
• Maintain oversight of access, security, safeguarding, operational and programme-quality risks and ensure agreed mitigation actions are followed.

2. Programme Quality, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

• Ensure implementation complies with approved project designs, donor conditions, national policies, relevant cluster guidance and recognised technical standards.
• Work closely with technical coordinators and project staff to provide technical direction, supportive supervision and corrective action where quality gaps are identified.
• Coordinate with the MEAL team to maintain accurate project data, track indicators, analyse performance and use findings for management decisions.
• Undertake regular field monitoring visits across all target locations and ensure that actions arising from monitoring, review meetings, community feedback and audits are completed.
• Ensure functional community participation, information sharing, complaints and response mechanisms, and safe referral of sensitive feedback in line with Concern procedures.
• Promote documentation of lessons learned, good practices, success stories and case studies, and facilitate learning across project teams.
• Ensure timely, accurate and high-quality internal, donor, cluster and government reporting, with consistency between narrative achievements, indicator data and financial information.

3. Stakeholder Coordination, Liaison and Representation

• Represent Concern in relevant regional, zonal, woreda and town-level coordination forums, including cluster and technical working group meetings, as delegated.
• Maintain constructive working relationships with government authorities and sector offices, UN agencies, NGOs, donors, consortium partners and community structures.
• Ensure Concern provides timely and accurate updates, reports and inputs requested through authorised coordination mechanisms.
• Coordinate joint planning, field visits, assessments, monitoring and review meetings with relevant stakeholders while safeguarding Concern’s mandate, principles and accountability obligations.
• Share key decisions, commitments, action points and emerging issues from external meetings with the Area Coordinator and relevant teams and follow up agreed actions.
• Support advocacy and operational dialogue on humanitarian needs, access constraints, service gaps and response priorities using verified programme evidence.

4. Budget and Resource Management

• Hold day-to-day oversight of project budgets in coordination with finance and budget holders, ensuring expenditure is necessary, allowable, properly documented and aligned with approved activities.
• Review monthly budget-versus-actual reports, forecasts, commitments and spending rates; investigate significant variances and agree timely corrective actions.
• Contribute to budget preparation, revisions, costed workplans, procurement plans and donor modification requests.
• Ensure programme teams understand relevant donor and Concern financial requirements and submit complete, accurate and timely supporting documentation.
• Coordinate with logistics and procurement teams to ensure procurement and supply plans are realistic, timely and consistent with programme priorities and compliance requirements.
• Promote efficient use, safeguarding and tracking of programme assets, supplies, vehicles and other resources.

5. People Management and Team Development

• Provide clear direction, supervision and support to direct reports, including regular one-to-one follow-up and structured team meetings.
• Set performance objectives and complete performance development reviews in accordance with the Concern PDR system.
• Identify staff capacity gaps and organise coaching, mentoring, induction and relevant learning opportunities.
• Promote teamwork, respectful communication, staff wellbeing, inclusion and collaboration between field teams and the Shire-based coordination team.
• Address conduct, performance and workplace issues promptly and appropriately in consultation with HR and the line manager.
• Ensure staff understand and comply with the Code of Conduct, safeguarding policies, security procedures and relevant organisational policies.

6. Compliance, Risk and Operational Oversight

• Ensure project implementation complies with Concern policies and procedures, donor rules, partnership agreements and applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain an updated programme risk register and ensure significant risks, incidents, delays and compliance concerns are escalated through the appropriate channels.
• Coordinate with security focal points and management to support safe field movement, access planning and adherence to security protocols.
• Ensure programme records, approvals, beneficiary information and supporting documents are complete, secure, accessible to authorised staff and retained correctly.
• Support internal and external audits, evaluations, donor monitoring visits and management reviews, and ensure agreed recommendations are implemented.

7. Proposal Development and Strategic Contribution

• Contribute to context analysis, needs assessments, response prioritisation and the development of new project concepts and proposals for Northwestern Tigray and other locations in Tigray.
• Provide realistic implementation, staffing, access, procurement, budget and risk assumptions for programme design and modification processes.
• Coordinate field-level inputs to donor reports, proposals, amendments and strategic reviews.
• Identify opportunities for stronger integration, localisation, sustainability and complementarity with government and partner interventions.

8. Other

• Perform other duties assigned by the line manager that are consistent with the purpose of the role and contribute to programme objectives.

Emergency Response

Concern is committed to responding to emergencies efficiently and effectively to help affected people meet their basic needs, alleviate suffering and maintain their dignity. When emergencies occur and the Ethiopia Programme responds, all staff are required to participate actively, regardless of location, and contribute to the organisation’s humanitarian objectives.

Gender Equality

• Demonstrate understanding of Concern Ethiopia’s Gender Equality Strategy.
• Contribute to a workplace where women and men are treated equally, with dignity and respect.
• Integrate gender equality and gender sensitivity into programme planning, implementation, monitoring and team management.

Accountability

In line with Concern’s commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), the post holder will:

• Promote meaningful community participation and consultation throughout assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Work with relevant colleagues to ensure complaints and response mechanisms are functional, safe and accessible, and that feedback and complaints are welcomed, referred and addressed appropriately.
• Ensure communities receive clear information on programme entitlements, expected staff behaviour, safeguarding and available feedback channels.

Safeguarding

• Promote a safe environment and model behaviour consistent with Concern’s safeguarding commitments and Code of Conduct.
• Recognise safeguarding concerns, seek appropriate advice and report concerns promptly through established channels.
• Ensure programme planning and delivery identify and reduce risks of abuse, exploitation, harm or neglect.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality and accurate records, distinguishing clearly between fact and opinion.
• Ensure referrals are made only through safe, appropriate and authorised pathways.

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH), with a first degree in Nursing, Health Officer (HO) or Medicine (MD).
• 4-6 years relevant experience, with at least 1 year management or advisory experience, In humanitarian or development programme experience, including a minimum of three years in a programme management or senior coordination role.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating multi-sector or multi-project programmes across several field locations.
• Strong experience in project-cycle management, work planning, budget monitoring, donor compliance, reporting and team leadership.
• Experience representing an organisation in government, UN, cluster, consortium or inter-agency coordination forums.
• Ability to analyse programme and financial information, identify risks and make timely, accountable operational decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; knowledge of Tigrigna language is highly desirable.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently to project locations in Northwestern Tigray and work effectively in a complex humanitarian environment.
• Good computer skills, including practical use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams.

Competencies

Equal Opportunity

Concern encourages applications from eligible candidates irrespective of gender, ethnicity or origin, disability, political beliefs, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or socio-economic status. Concern is committed to promoting equality and addressing discrimination and unequal power relations.

Important Information

Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct and associated safeguarding policies. Any candidate offered employment will be expected to understand, sign and comply with the Code of Conduct and associated policies. Employment may be subject to appropriate vetting and background checks. Concern takes its responsibilities regarding personal data seriously and is committed to complying with applicable data-protection requirements.

What We Offer

• A competitive salary and benefit package
• Excellent medical benefits (100% cover including dependents)
• 20 days annual leave
• 26 weeks (paid) maternity leave, 18 weeks (unpaid) parental leave