LVIA Head of Programs

Job Description

Lay Volunteers International Association (LVIA) NGO is an Italian association that deals with institutional solidarity and cooperation committed to fostering ways of local and global change to overcome extreme poverty reinforce equitable and sustainable development and enhance dialogue.

The Head of Programme has the overall responsibility to develop and ensure good partnership relations and ensure the proper implementation of LVIA projects’ activities in Ethiopia. LVIA activities in Ethiopia are mostly focused on agriculture and pastoralists matters, therefore LVIA is looking for a candidate that has strong skills and knowledge in this area of work. The position also has line management responsibility as well as responsibility to manage and ensure support and capacity building related to project Cycle Management (PCM), Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) framework, integrated programming, and program quality.

Roles and Responsibilities

Programme development planning and implementation

• Ensure quality implementation and documentation of the NGO’s programmes and projects in an effective way proving value for money
• Lead the quality implementation of the NGO programmes
• Oversee effective, efficient and timely implementation of all projects according to agreed contracts, budgets, policies and in accordance with specific donor requirements;
• Lead the planning and development of concept papers, proposals and budgets with support from country team;
• Support the Country Director to ensure effective coordination and visibility of the implementation of the projects with all humanitarian and development actors and in advocacy at all levels.
• Facilitate initiatives for integrated program analysis and response analysis, including the integration of relevant cross-cutting issues, safe programming and access
• Oversee Project Cycle Management (PCM), including through field support missions
• Manage performance and staff development of the Program department.

Program Reviews, Monitoring, Evaluation, Program Learning and Reporting

• Ensure the development, monitoring, review and update of all activities and work plans of the Programmes unit attain its objectives as cost-effectively and efficiently as possible
• Monitor and advise on programme and project spending and provide report as necessary
• Provide regular internal and external reports, and other relevant information on programme activities, policy matters and external relations;
• Ensure timely, quality reports and targeted communications are submitted to all donors and relevant internal and external parties in coordination with the Country Director, Regional Office, HQ and other program stakeholders.
• 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.
• Provide contextual program analysis as input to the county strategy, annual and trimestral reports.

Project finance management

• Manage the expenditure and disbursement of resources allocated to the programme unit
• Review programme concepts and partner financial requests for Management’s approval
• Liaise with the finance Lead on financial management and budgeting of programmes
• Oversee the work of the program support functions, and accurate and detailed budgeting to make sure timely and coherent budget preparation for all new proposals and budget revisions.

Policy Management and Compliance

• Constantly review and Implement procedures and policies necessary for the organization of The NGO’s programmes and project
• Participate in the review and update of The NGO’s polices and procedures as well advise on potential implications on the new system, policies, and procedures
• Implement all necessary policies and procedures to ensure correct procedures are followed by staff under supervision
• Ensure total compliance of approved organisational policies and procedures

Liaison with Partners

• To develop relationships with partners, at both strategic and operational level in-country, supporting the Country Representative in formulating strategy, goals and new initiatives for the overall programme, developing individual programmes to achieve those goals, and for carrying out programme appraisals as well as the monitoring and review needed to implement and manage the programme s in line with the three agencies standards and procedures.
• To represent the joint office at programme level and to act as one of the strategic programme relationship holder with partners and the Ethiopian authorities
• Ensure current donor relations are well managed and explore potential new donor opportunities

Number required:1 (One)

Duty Station: Addis Ababa with 25% travel to projects’ intervention areas (Afar)

Availability: as soon as possible

Type of employment: 1year contract with the possibility of extension.

Basic Salary: Monthly Basic salary that could range from 50 to 60,000.00 ETB  . LVIA salary includes in addition: transport allowance + Profit fund (PF) + pension fund + medical insurance and additional organization benefits.

Job Requirement

Professional Competencies

• MA in Economics, Business Administration, Marketing Agricultural Economics, or related Social Science fields.
• Minimum 9 years’ experience from a senior management position in a humanitarian/ recovery context
• Experience of working in complex and volatile contexts
• Demonstrated expertise on agriculture and pastoralist subjects.
• Well proven experience in managing programme’s finance and administration
• 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
• 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 mobilization and in particular working with AICS donors and EU donors