About the Job
Head of program for GLRA Ethiopia
Background information
The German Leprosy and TB Relief Association (GLRA/DAHW – Deutsche Lepra- und Tuberkulosehilfe) is a non-governmental organization with its East Africa Region based in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa and its headquarters in Germany. The organization focuses on health issues, particularly leprosy, tuberculosis (TB), and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), while also promoting inclusion, humanitarian aid, and research.
Currently, DAHW/GLRA East Africa is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Head of Program for its Ethiopia program office. DAHW/GLRA – Ethiopia has a long-standing history that dates back to 1958 when it began supporting leprosy patients. Today, it is recognized as an expert in its primary focus areas: leprosy, TB, and NTDs. The organization addresses both the medical and social consequences of these diseases and collaborates with various partners, including the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, BMZ, the European Union, EKFS, Novartis, and others.
Purpose of the Job
The primary purpose of this role is to provide leadership, management, and strategic direction for the German Leprosy and TB Relief Association’s Ethiopia Program. The Head of the Program will collaborate closely with the East Africa Regional Office, headquarters, and various partner organizations in Ethiopia to ensure effective implementation of program activities, accurate reporting, and compliance with all DAHW strategies (including medical, social, NTD, humanitarian aid, co-funding, etc.) as well as adherence to DAHW codes of conduct and policies. Additionally, the Head of the Program will engage in networking to pursue co-funding opportunities.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Ensure that programs and projects in Ethiopia align with DAHW’s mission.
- Take responsibility for planning, budgeting, and monitoring activities.
- Guarantee the highest quality of medical, social, and administrative aspects of DAHW and donor investments.
- Oversee all legal responsibilities regarding staff, financial transactions, and administrative and logistical aspects at DAHW offices.
- Represent DAHW in the country in line with DAHW policies and guidelines.
- Foster a functional and positive network among partners, stakeholders, government institutions, and ministries.
- Provide support to DAHW Ethiopia’s partner organizations to ensure timely and high-quality project implementation.
- Facilitate capacity building for DAHW Ethiopia’s partner organizations to promote effective programmatic work and implementation.
- Ensure that DAHW staff and partner organizations adhere to DAHW’s safeguarding policies.
- Proactively seek co-funding opportunities, new alliances, strategies, and partnerships in close cooperation with the Regional Representative, the Regional Co-Funding Office, and the East African Team at HQ.
- Risk Management for securing DAHW tangible and intangible assets
- Ensures legal basis for DAHW in-country presence and activities
- Supervises and controls the administrative and financial management
- Establishes, maintains, and implements effective office management guidelines and procedures consistent with DAHW policy and legal requirements
- Leads and co-ordinates the DAHW/GLRA Ethiopia team
- Ensures and promotes communication and cooperation with all involved parties (e.g. Government, EU, German Embassy, German companies or Representatives, and other partners)
- In close coordination with EARO and in the program office coordinators, lead the development of high-quality concept notes and proposals for submission to donors;
- Ensures programs are implemented in ways responsive to the community needs in line DAHW principles, approaches, values, and strategic plan. This includes working with government and local NGO partners to strengthen national capacity;
- Ensures that the required support to projects is provided promptly, at scale, and in line with the agreed standard operating procedures
- Ensures program implementation staff are well versed and are effectively applying organizational policies and practices, which result in successful financial and programmatic audit scores.
- Ensures preparation of timely and high-quality institutional and donor reports
- Ensure all projects have M&E frameworks that outline the objectives, inputs, outputs, and outcomes of the intended projects and the indicators that will be used to measure all these.
- Support Program coordinators to track and manage project milestones and deliverables, ensuring that goals are met and deliverables are provided on time.
- Identify and resolve when activities have stalled and work with project teams to resolve bottlenecks
- Coordinate project assessments, studies, and evaluations by DAHW and donor guidelines.
- Ensure action planning and execution to resolve audit and evaluation findings and recommendations in a conclusive and timely manner.
- Promote learning by ensuring information that is gathered during the project implementation is used for accountability and to inform future activities, or modify implementation approaches.
- Strengthens country office organizational readiness to respond to emergencies in line with DAHW guideline.
- Leverage communications services to promote documentation of best/promising practices, success stories, and case studies to support resource mobilization, demonstrate analysis impact, and promote the image of the organization.
- Work with the country office coordinators to ensure that minimum operating standards are met and those periodic security assessments are carried out and reports submitted to the Regional office levels
- Ensures the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure the availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff
- Manages the performance of direct reports through effective use of the Performance Management System, including the establishment of clear, measurable objectives, ongoing feedback, periodic reviews, and fair and unbiased evaluations.
Position: Head of Program for DAHW/GLRA –Ethiopia
Reported to: East Africa Regional Representative
Duty Station: Addis Ababa /Ethiopia
Employment type: Fixed term for two years with possibility of extension
Salary: According to the organizational scale
About You
Professional requirements:
- A minimum of 8 years of experience in project design and management across the NGO, government, and private sectors, including program and operations management. This experience should include significant involvement in development programs, with at least 8 years in a leadership role as country director/deputy country director, chief of party/deputy chief of party, head of office, deputy head of office and at least at director level both in government and non-government organizations.
- At least a master’s degree in Public Health, Development Studies, Leadership/Management, Economics, or other related social sciences.
Minimum relevant experience required
- A strong understanding of key program sectors, including public health, humanitarian aid, disability, development, and emergency response.
- Proven experience in designing and writing competitive project proposals for major institutional donors.
- Experience in developing and implementing, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) systems, as well as producing high-quality donor reports.
- Practical experience in financial management and budget control.
- Experience in team building and partnership development, with excellent communication skills to engage effectively with individuals from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds.
Women are highly encouraged to apply for this position.
Required Skills
- Project management
- Leadership
Interested candidates should email an application letter and CV (with 3 referees) addressed to Mihret Hussien. The
email Subject Line must show the job title of the position applied for. GLRA is an equal opportunity employer. We
thank Candidates for their high interest in the opportunities we publish on our website. Due to the high number of
applications we receive, we will only get back to shortlisted candidates. Interested and qualified applicants are
required to submit their non-returnable application/ motivation letter with resume, credentials, and supportive
documents through: Email: [email protected] stating the position you are applying for in the subject line of
the email.
NOTE: Closing date: Ten working days from the posting date.
More Information
- Address Ethiopia
- Experience Level Manager
- Total Years Experience 10-20
