Head of Program - Uganda and South Sudan job at ReliefWeb

About HEKS/EPER:

HEKS/EPER (Swiss Church Aid) is a faith-based international development and humanitarian organization committed to justice, human dignity, and sustainable development. In Uganda and South Sudan, our work focuses on supporting marginalized communities and building resilience through a triple nexus approach that integrates humanitarian response, sustainable development, and peacebuilding. We promote a rights-based, participatory, and conflict-sensitive approach that upholds dignity, inclusion, and accountability to affected populations.

Standard functions:

The Head of Program (HoP) is responsible for the overall management, strategic direction, quality assurance, and growth of HEKS/EPER's programs in Uganda and South Sudan. This includes overseeing program implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL), reporting, as well as leading program development, acquisition, and fundraising efforts. The HoP ensures that all projects align with HEKS/EPER’s mission, country, regional and global strategies, and donor requirements while fostering innovation and impact.

Key Responsibilities:

1 Strategic Program Leadership & Management

• Lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of HEKS/EPER projects in Uganda and South Sudan.
• Ensure alignment of projects with country strategy, donor priorities, and sectoral best practices.
• Oversee coordination of all project activities in both humanitarian and development interventions.
• Lead and manage programmatic teams to ensure high-quality and timely program delivery.
• Develop and implement mechanisms for program integration, synergy, and learning across different projects and sectors.
• Ensure the development and follow-up of quality work plans (quarterly, biannual, and annual).
• Network with relevant project stakeholders locally, regionally and internationally.
• Supervise Monitoring and Evaluation activities.
• Organize learning sessions, document lessons learned and share best practices with support from the Thematic Advisory team at HQ.
• Develop Terms of Reference (TOR) for consultancies, evaluations, and other relevant tasks.
• Support the Country Director in developing, reviewing and executing long/medium-term strategies.

2 Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)

• Oversee MEAL frameworks to track project performance, outcomes, and impact in compliance with HEKS/EPER standards and policies.
• Monitor implementation progress, manage activities and resource allocation, and address challenges.
• Ensure robust data collection, analysis, and reporting systems.
• Promote adaptive learning and continuous program improvement based on evidence.
• Strengthen accountability mechanisms for beneficiaries, donors, and stakeholders.
• Ensure accurate and timely project reports and compliance with donor reporting requirements.
• Liase with HQ MEL team to ensure compliance to MEL and reporting requirements, standards and practices.

3 Program Acquisition & Fundraising

• In collaboration with the CD, HoP and GAP team, identify suitable funding opportunities
• Work with the CO Staff (program and finance), Country Director, HoP East Africa, and regional/global teams to develop competitive funding applications.
• In accordance with the CD establish partnerships with donors, government agencies, and implementing partners, to position the organization
• Lead projects development efforts, including competitive proposal writing and donor engagement.

4 Coordination, Partnerships & External Representation

• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, government agencies, INGO networks, and local partners.
• Updated the HEKS/EPER profile and data within existing reporting platforms, including UNHCR, OPM, and others.
• Represent HEKS/EPER, in coordination with the CD and other staff, within relevant forums, consortia, advocacy platforms, and various technical working groups.
• Strengthen local partnerships and promote localization of aid approaches.

5 Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Provide coordination, supervision, coaching, mentorship, and technical guidance to program staff.
• Build the capacity of the program team for effective implementation and compliance with HEKS/EPER and donor standards.
• Closely collaborate with other departments and Teams within HEKS/EPER locally (i.e. finance and Adm) and internationally (i.e. HoP East Africa, Acquisition, Technical Advisors, MEAL, etc).
• Foster a collaborative and high-performance team culture.
• Coordinates and oversees team planning and assessment meetings to enhance cross-learning.
• Promote a collaborative and respectful working culture among partners.
• Promote inclusion, gender equity and accountability to affected populations in programming and decision-making.

6 Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with HEKS/EPER policies, donor regulations, and national laws.
• Identify programmatic and operational risks and implement mitigation measures in coordination with the HoFA and the CD.

Value & Safeguarding Leadership

• Uphold HEKS/EPER's Core Humanitarian Standards, Code of Conduct, and Safeguarding policies
• Promote inclusion, gender equity and accounatbility to affected populations in programming and decision making.
• Model ethical leadership and a commitment to transparency, equity and social justice.
• Any other task relevant to this role, assigned by the Supervisor.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• University Degree, preferably with a master’s degree in relevant areas.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in a similar function at an international or local NGO.
• Excellent writing and analysis skills.
• Excellent understanding of MEAL and program management.
• Proven capability to manage, mentor, and provide guidance and training to staff, internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven strong experience in successful acquisition and fundraising initiatives.
• Previous work experience in strategic planning, monitoring and generating reports for institutional and private donors.

Desirable Competencies.

• Demonstrated success in applying conflict-sensitive and rights-based programming approaches
• Strong understanding of the triple nexus and localization frameworks.

Minimum Skills and Capabilities

• Excellent analytical and conceptual skills.
• Excellent communication skills and conversational command of English (spoken and written).
• Ability to work in complex environments and to ensure that deadlines are met by internal and external stakeholders (good prioritization and time management skills).
• Ability to ensure that internal and external stakeholders understand and duly follow HEKS/EPER’s procedures and guidelines.
• Excellent IT and computer skills
• Diligent and trustworthy person with appropriate attention to detail.
• Strong team player with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Good knowledge of relevant local laws and obligations (labour, tax, social security, etc.).
• Willingness to travel frequently within Uganda and South Sudan.
• Professional, cooperative, efficient and effective working attitude.

• Lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of HEKS/EPER projects in Uganda and South Sudan.
• Ensure alignment of projects with country strategy, donor priorities, and sectoral best practices.
• Oversee coordination of all project activities in both humanitarian and development interventions.
• Lead and manage programmatic teams to ensure high-quality and timely program delivery.
• Develop and implement mechanisms for program integration, synergy, and learning across different projects and sectors.
• Ensure the development and follow-up of quality work plans (quarterly, biannual, and annual).
• Network with relevant project stakeholders locally, regionally and internationally.
• Supervise Monitoring and Evaluation activities.
• Organize learning sessions, document lessons learned and share best practices with support from the Thematic Advisory team at HQ.
• Develop Terms of Reference (TOR) for consultancies, evaluations, and other relevant tasks.
• Support the Country Director in developing, reviewing and executing long/medium-term strategies.
• Oversee MEAL frameworks to track project performance, outcomes, and impact in compliance with HEKS/EPER standards and policies.
• Monitor implementation progress, manage activities and resource allocation, and address challenges.
• Ensure robust data collection, analysis, and reporting systems.
• Promote adaptive learning and continuous program improvement based on evidence.
• Strengthen accountability mechanisms for beneficiaries, donors, and stakeholders.
• Ensure accurate and timely project reports and compliance with donor reporting requirements.
• Liase with HQ MEL team to ensure compliance to MEL and reporting requirements, standards and practices.
• In collaboration with the CD, HoP and GAP team, identify suitable funding opportunities
• Work with the CO Staff (program and finance), Country Director, HoP East Africa, and regional/global teams to develop competitive funding applications.
• In accordance with the CD establish partnerships with donors, government agencies, and implementing partners, to position the organization
• Lead projects development efforts, including competitive proposal writing and donor engagement.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, government agencies, INGO networks, and local partners.
• Updated the HEKS/EPER profile and data within existing reporting platforms, including UNHCR, OPM, and others.
• Represent HEKS/EPER, in coordination with the CD and other staff, within relevant forums, consortia, advocacy platforms, and various technical working groups.
• Strengthen local partnerships and promote localization of aid approaches.
• Provide coordination, supervision, coaching, mentorship, and technical guidance to program staff.
• Build the capacity of the program team for effective implementation and compliance with HEKS/EPER and donor standards.
• Closely collaborate with other departments and Teams within HEKS/EPER locally (i.e. finance and Adm) and internationally (i.e. HoP East Africa, Acquisition, Technical Advisors, MEAL, etc).
• Foster a collaborative and high-performance team culture.
• Coordinates and oversees team planning and assessment meetings to enhance cross-learning.
• Promote a collaborative and respectful working culture among partners.
• Promote inclusion, gender equity and accountability to affected populations in programming and decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with HEKS/EPER policies, donor regulations, and national laws.
• Identify programmatic and operational risks and implement mitigation measures in coordination with the HoFA and the CD.
• Uphold HEKS/EPER's Core Humanitarian Standards, Code of Conduct, and Safeguarding policies
• Promote inclusion, gender equity and accounatbility to affected populations in programming and decision making.
• Model ethical leadership and a commitment to transparency, equity and social justice.
• Any other task relevant to this role, assigned by the Supervisor.

• Excellent writing and analysis skills.
• Excellent understanding of MEAL and program management.
• Proven capability to manage, mentor, and provide guidance and training to staff, internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven strong experience in successful acquisition and fundraising initiatives.
• Previous work experience in strategic planning, monitoring and generating reports for institutional and private donors.
• Demonstrated success in applying conflict-sensitive and rights-based programming approaches
• Strong understanding of the triple nexus and localization frameworks.
• Excellent analytical and conceptual skills.
• Excellent communication skills and conversational command of English (spoken and written).
• Ability to work in complex environments and to ensure that deadlines are met by internal and external stakeholders (good prioritization and time management skills).
• Ability to ensure that internal and external stakeholders understand and duly follow HEKS/EPER’s procedures and guidelines.
• Excellent IT and computer skills
• Diligent and trustworthy person with appropriate attention to detail.
• Strong team player with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Good knowledge of relevant local laws and obligations (labour, tax, social security, etc.).
• Willingness to travel frequently within Uganda and South Sudan.
• Professional, cooperative, efficient and effective working attitude.

• University Degree, preferably with a master’s degree in relevant areas.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in a similar function at an international or local NGO.
• Excellent writing and analysis skills.
• Excellent understanding of MEAL and program management.
• Proven capability to manage, mentor, and provide guidance and training to staff, internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven strong experience in successful acquisition and fundraising initiatives.
• Previous work experience in strategic planning, monitoring and generating reports for institutional and private donors.
• Demonstrated success in applying conflict-sensitive and rights-based programming approaches
• Strong understanding of the triple nexus and localization frameworks.
• Excellent analytical and conceptual skills.
• Excellent communication skills and conversational command of English (spoken and written).
• Ability to work in complex environments and to ensure that deadlines are met by internal and external stakeholders (good prioritization and time management skills).
• Ability to ensure that internal and external stakeholders understand and duly follow HEKS/EPER’s procedures and guidelines.
• Excellent IT and computer skills
• Diligent and trustworthy person with appropriate attention to detail.
• Strong team player with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Good knowledge of relevant local laws and obligations (labour, tax, social security, etc.).
• Willingness to travel frequently within Uganda and South Sudan.
• Professional, cooperative, efficient and effective working attitude.