Head of Programs job at Kulika Uganda

About the workplace

Strømme Foundation is a rights-based international development organisation with a vision of a world free from poverty. We work across East and West Africa and Asia, partnering with local organisations on long-term initiatives within education, economic inclusion, and rights advocacy – enabling hundreds of thousands of people to lift themselves out of poverty each year.

We are a decentralised organisation with around 150 staff across 11 countries, where our country offices consist entirely of local employees. Our headquarters in Kristiansand, Norway, plays a coordinating, capacity-building, and fundraising role with a team of around 40 people.

We are a non-profit, value-based organisation driven by our core values of dignity, justice, and solidarity – and we actively work to build a culture where these values are lived, not just stated.

Joining Strømme Foundation means becoming part of a dedicated team where your work has real, measurable impact.

With Support from Stromme Foundation and Mission Alliance

Kulika Uganda is a Ugandan non-profit organisation founded in 1981 with a mission to inspire communities, households, and individuals with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to create lasting and sustainable improvements in their lives. The organisation focuses on transforming livelihoods through Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA), education support, vocational skills training, community development, and environmental conservation. Its vision is to improve the quality of life of the communities it serves while protecting and enhancing the environment.

Kulika Uganda works with smallholder farmers, women, youth, refugees, schools, and vulnerable households across several districts in Uganda. Through training in climate-smart agriculture, farmer-to-farmer extension, market linkage facilitation, enterprise development, and value addition, the organisation helps communities increase food security, household income, and resilience. It also supports vocational education, scholarships, early childhood development, and youth empowerment programmes to improve employability and create sustainable economic opportunities.

Mission: To inspire communities, households, and individuals with self-confidence and provide skills and knowledge to harness their resources for lasting, economically and environmentally sustainable change.

Vision: Improved quality of life for all communities reached and their environment.

Scope of employment

Scope: Full-time

With support from Stromme Foundation and Mission Alliance, Kulika Uganda intends to recruit the Head of Program to strengthen its strategic leadership in programming, resource mobilization, and overall organizational direction.

Job Functions/Responsibilities

Reporting to the Executive Director KULIKA Uganda, The Head of Programs is a member of the senior leadership team, with responsibility for the following areas:

1) Oversight of projects and programs’ implementation.

• Provide technical and administrative line management for all project and program coordinators.
• Manage the full project and program life cycle in line with approved designs, budgets, and timelines.
• Engage project and program stakeholders effectively.
• Manage project and program consultants.
• Implement/develop systems for meaningful community participation

2) Strategic monitoring and reporting.

• Develop and implement monitoring systems to track project deliverables against agreed timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
• Prepare contractual reports in line with approved templates and timelines.
• Coordinate organizational learning.
• Manage risk and compliance across all programs and projects.

3) Management of donor and stakeholder relationships.

• Maintain effective donor communication in collaboration with the Executive Director and the Head of Finance and Administration.
• Engage in high-level stakeholder networks to enhance Kulika’s visibility, promote learning, and ensure project/program coordinators do the same within their areas of responsibility.
• Advocate for policy changes and program priorities in coordination with relevant national and district-level authorities in Kulika’s areas of operation
• Identify, build partnerships and represent Kulika on different forums, networks, advocacy platforms, and donor engagements, mobilizing resources, technical support, and collaborative opportunities that advance program objectives.
• Organize donor visits to program sites

4) Resource mobilization.

• Identify and build relationships with potential donors and consortium to diversify Kulika’s funding base.
• Lead the development of project proposals for potential funding opportunities.

5) Participation in collective decision-making

• Participate in senior leadership forums to support collective decision-making, problem-solving, and brand enhancement.
• Contribute to the development of the organization’s strategy.
• Support the executive director in working with the BOD.
• Carry out lawful senior leadership duties delegated by the Executive Director.

Job Specifications

• 10 years of experience in program management within a reputable I/NGO or humanitarian/development organization, with five years in management role.
• Master’s degree or its equivalent, in management, Development Studies, or in a field relevant to community development
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-sectoral programs (education, livelihoods, protection, climate, youth, or community development).
• Experience working with institutional donors, managing donor relations and working with multiple donors

Key Competencies and Skills

• Strong strategic thinking and program planning skills.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to work in complex environments and manage multiple priorities.
• High level of integrity, accountability, and commitment to Kulika Uganda’s values.
• Strong fundraising skills

• Provide technical and administrative line management for all project and program coordinators.
• Manage the full project and program life cycle in line with approved designs, budgets, and timelines.
• Engage project and program stakeholders effectively.
• Manage project and program consultants.
• Implement/develop systems for meaningful community participation
• Develop and implement monitoring systems to track project deliverables against agreed timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
• Prepare contractual reports in line with approved templates and timelines.
• Coordinate organizational learning.
• Manage risk and compliance across all programs and projects.
• Maintain effective donor communication in collaboration with the Executive Director and the Head of Finance and Administration.
• Engage in high-level stakeholder networks to enhance Kulika’s visibility, promote learning, and ensure project/program coordinators do the same within their areas of responsibility.
• Advocate for policy changes and program priorities in coordination with relevant national and district-level authorities in Kulika’s areas of operation
• Identify, build partnerships and represent Kulika on different forums, networks, advocacy platforms, and donor engagements, mobilizing resources, technical support, and collaborative opportunities that advance program objectives.
• Organize donor visits to program sites
• Identify and build relationships with potential donors and consortium to diversify Kulika’s funding base.
• Lead the development of project proposals for potential funding opportunities.
• Participate in senior leadership forums to support collective decision-making, problem-solving, and brand enhancement.
• Contribute to the development of the organization’s strategy.
• Support the executive director in working with the BOD.
• Carry out lawful senior leadership duties delegated by the Executive Director.

• Strong strategic thinking and program planning skills.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to work in complex environments and manage multiple priorities.
• High level of integrity, accountability, and commitment to Kulika Uganda’s values.
• Strong fundraising skills

• 10 years of experience in program management within a reputable I/NGO or humanitarian/development organization, with five years in management role.
• Master’s degree or its equivalent, in management, Development Studies, or in a field relevant to community development
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-sectoral programs (education, livelihoods, protection, climate, youth, or community development).
• Experience working with institutional donors, managing donor relations and working with multiple donors