Program Director

Program Director

ABOUT RI:

Relief International (RI) is a leading non-profit organization working in 15 countries globally to relieve poverty, ensure well-being and advance dignity. We specialize in fragile settings, responding to natural disasters, humanitarian crises and chronic poverty. RI combines humanitarian and development approaches to provide immediate services while laying the groundwork for long-term impact. Our signature approach – which we call the RI Way—emphasizes local participation, an integration of services, strategic partnerships and a focus on civic skills. In this way, we empower communities to find, design and implement the solutions that work best for them. RI includes the four corporate members of the RI Alliance: RI-US, RI-UK, MRCA/RI-France and RI-Europe. Under our alliance agreement, we operate as a single, shared management structure.

About RI in Jordan:

RI operates in Jordan since 2004, focusing primarily on Education and Livelihoods programming in both camp and host community settings to the most vulnerable communities in Jordan, including both Syrian refugees and Jordanians.

SUMMARY

The Program Director is member of the Senior Management Team and directly reports to the Country Director. This position requires a dedicated, experienced and highly motivated individual capable of living and working in a tough environment while maintaining a positive attitude, leading by example to ensure a healthy work environment. This position will also require exceptional flexibility in job function to serve the needs of a new program in a complicated context.

The Program Director will implement effective systems and ways of working in order to promote community participation, as well as ensuring high quality, evidenced based, and integrated programming. The Program Director is responsible for overall achievement of RI's Country Strategic Plan in alignment with RI Global strategy and priorites. S/he will ensure key donor relationships are strengthened and maintained.

ESSENTIAL POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Strategic Vision and Leadership

• In alignment with the RI Global Strategy 2021-2025 and RI Jordan Country Strategy 2022-2025, develop new and innovative programmatic initiatives designed and initiated to support the strategic direction of the organization;
• Develop long-term goals and objectives to achieve programs’s outcomes successfully; and provide guidance and direction to the program team to ensure they actively contribute to the achievement
• Provide support to the Sector Technical Advsiors with regular review and update of Sector Strategies and alignment with operational context and needs in Jordan

Strategic Business Development

• Contribute and lead program development efforts by identifying opportunities and working with Jordan CD, as well as RI’s regional and headquarters-based Program Development department to draft proposals to respond to those opportunities
• Maintain strong donor relationships with current funders, and alongside the Country Director, strategically engage with new donors
• Participate in the development of funding proposals for the program to ensure the continuous delivery of services; Innovation and creativity will be essential.

Team Management

• Ensure effective management of the Program Managers, core sector Technical Advisors, MEAL and Awards and Partnership units, leading by example, supporting them in their efforts to direct the implementation of programs.
• Participate in the recruitment, selection, orientation and training of key project/ program staff, and other staff
• In collaboration with the HR team, develop an adapted and focused capacity building plan for national staff
• Ensure timely and quality staff performance management of directly managed staff, making sure all program team follows best practices in this regard
• Ensure proper communication within the program team, making sure that the strategy, decisions and future endeavors are shared in a transparent manner
• In collaboration with the HR team, help address disciplinary, conflict and abuse issues within the program team
• In accordance with RI’s HR policy and in-line with RI’s staff care efforts, maintain a healthy work environment, with reasonable workloads and proper leaves. Work with the RHRM to assess and prevent risks of excessive stress and burnout in the workplace

Program Leadership

• Provide oversight ans is ultimately responsible to ensure program are delivered as per budget and timeframe agreed with the donor, highest technical standards and in line with donor and country rules and regulations.
• Identify and evaluate the risks and possible threats associated with program activities and take appropriate action to control the risks, communicating and collaborating regularly with the CD, Operations Manager and Finance Manager.
• Report progress of program implementation to the donor periodically through required weekly, monthly or quarterly reports as per grant agreement;
• Ensure effective and agile program contingency plans are always up to date and evolving as needed.
• Create and maintain systems to ensure technical coherence and promote creative programming across the programs portfolio
• Provide guidance to staff on all issues related to program quality

Program Perfomance and Quality

• Support the MEAL Manager in establishing systems, policies and approaches necessary to ensure and demonstrate the quality of programs
• In collaboration with the MEAL Manager foster a culture that promotes learning within the country office, regional and global level
• In collaboration with the MEAL Manager, develop a program evaluation framework to assess the strengths of the program and to identify and support Program Managers implement action plans regarding areas for improvement
• Oversee the collection and maintenance of records on the beneficiaries of the program for statistical purposes according to the confidentiality/privacy policy of the organization and feed this information to the M and E Department for analysis and feedback.
• Following M&E reports, recommend and implement changes to enhance the program, as appropriate;

Partner Management

• Support the CD in ensuring RI Jordan achieves its commitments within the Country Strategy to expand local partnerships
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with partners
• Ensure regular technical program support and guidance to partners, in accordance with partnership agreements and RI partnership strategy

Leadership and Representation

• Attend meetings with donors and other stakeholder in coordination with CD
• Actively engage with donors, partner agencies, and the humanitarian and development community in Jordan to ensure RI is strongly represented in coordination and advocacy efforts, across the program areas
• Remain abreast of ongoing humanitarian- nexus development and funding trends in the region, and provide regular updates on these trends and analysis of how they may affect RI’s programming in the short and long term.
• Actively liaise with RI counterparts in the Middle East Region (DcD P/ Program Directors) and the regional team to maximize synergies and application of best practice across the region
• Actively engage in regional and global initiatives to ensure country perspective is represented (i.e. Core Humanitarian Standards, Greening, etc.)

Primary designate to the Country Director; engage in high level representation as required.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• 8 -10 years of progressively responsible professional experience managing complex multi-sectoral protracted humanitarian programs
• Master’s degree in a relevant Humanitarian/Development field or Bachelor’s degree with commensurate work experience; technical experience in Livelihoods, Education , Social Protection and Safety Nets trongly preferred.
• Extensive representation and fundraising success, including prior experience with European, US and international donors including, USAID, EU, SDC, FCDO, BPRM;
• Demonstrated ability for rapid, accurate analysis of complex issues, strong decision-making, and translation of programmatic priorities into operational strategies
• Excellent leadership and management skills including coaching, mentoring and managing teams
• Politically astute, with well-developed diplomatic and negotiating skills
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, public speaking, and strategic planning skills required;
• Fluency in English (spoken and written) required; Arabic language skills are highly advantageous;
• Superior diplomatic and coordination skills are essential, both for internal coordination and for working with key stakeholders
• Ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner, producing high-quality outcomes.
• A keen understanding of political complexities in the Middle East region.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Relief International is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Relief International (RI) is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to RI’s Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

RI Values:

We uphold the Humanitarian Principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and operational independence. We affirmatively engage the most vulnerable communities. We value:

• Inclusiveness
• Transparency and Accountability
• Agility and Innovation
• Collaboration
• Sustainability

All staff are expected to abide by RI Safeguarding, Code of Conduct & Incident Management Policies & procedures.

This job description is subject to periodic review and adjustment in order to achieve RI’s goals in Jordan, and any changes to the ToR will be discussed and agreed between signed below.

للتقدم على الوظيفة