Head of Programmes

War Child is looking for:

A Head of Programmes who will provide strategic leadership to programme operations in Ukraine, ensuring programme quality, strategically aligned project design and fundraising, and effective implementation of projects through strong partnerships. It is a critical role requiring a motivated and experienced individual with a desire for a new and exciting challenge in a dynamic organisation. The role ensures information from the country programme is shared across departments and will represent War Child at the highest levels; donors, national authorities, clusters and national partners in Ukraine.

The role will lead a growing team of 3 Project Managers and 1 Child Protection & MHPSS Advisor with inclusive, supportive people management focusing on growth and development. It will report the Regional Director Country Representative – Ukraine.

Your Mission:

Programme Leadership

• Provide leadership in programme development.
• Contribute to the scaling up of programmes in line with the War Child’s global and country strategy.
• Work closely with Country Representative to ensure fundraising efforts at the country level are coordinated and strategic, in line with global and national level priorities.
• Support the Country Representative with developing strategic partnerships with Ukrainian civil society organisations, new and current partners.
• Providing management, technical and operational leadership to anticipate and resolve programme and operational challenges.

Programme Quality and Implementation

• Ensure agile, effective programme management and compliance according to quality standards and build on responsive coordination and participatory mechanisms among the team and partners.
• Oversee effective implementation and monitoring of the projects through the Project Manager.
• Ensure effective accountability and feedback mechanisms are in place, accessible to beneficiaries and community members, are utilized, learnings are incorporated, and outcomes fed back to relevant stakeholders.
• Lead on advocacy efforts in country and ensure synergies with global advocacy efforts.
• Validate and ensure that high quality reporting is submitted to donors on time.
• Coordinate the design of a research and learning agenda for Ukraine country programme.
• Integrate operational and program systems, policies, and procedures to enable impactful and high-quality programming and effective operations.

Representation

• Ensure strategic presence of War Child staff in key humanitarian and development forums and clusters. Represent the organization in strategic forums.
• Develop and foster partnerships with donors, UN agencies, INGOs, partners and other key actors.

Finance, People & Leadership

• Lead the annual budgeting process. Maintain oversight of programme budgets and advise budget holders on project expenditures, forecasts, and variances as per War Child’s best practices.
• Work closely with HR to ensure staff development, recognition, wellbeing and reward plans are in place to ensure staff retention and productivity.
• Provide induction, trainings, coaching and mentoring to equip the team with the required skills to fulfil their responsibilities. Manage team performance in line with organizational processes.
• Provide line management and leadership to the team, ensuring safe quality programming and effective support.
• Be a role model for aligning the organisational ethical and cultural approach in line with War Child values, ensuring equity and positive promotion of DEIB principles in all that we do.
• Create and nurture a safe, inclusive and transparent work environment and culture where everyone can bring their authentic self to work for a strong sense of belonging within War Child.

Safeguarding and Safety

• Contribute to creating a culture committed to the safeguarding of children and adults and compliant to War Child’s Integrity Framework (Code of Conduct, Safeguarding, PSEAH and Anti-fraud and Anti-corruption policies).
• Ensure that projects are safe and that the safeguarding policy and SOPs are implemented across programmes.
• Collaborate with the Country Representative and the Global Security Advisor to ensure safety and security frameworks are in place within our projects and its access.

Your Profile:

• Programme Development: Proven experience of successful donor-funded programme development as well as fundraising/resource mobilization and strategy development and execution.
• Programme Management: Proven experience in managing complex multi-stakeholder programmes within a fragile context.
• Technical Expertise: Technical competencies in child protection, MHPSS, emergency response, and gender mainstreaming.
• Child Safeguarding: Thorough knowledge and experience of the practical application of child safeguarding and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse in programming in complex environments.
• Mentoring and Capacity Building: Experience in mentoring and capacity building of individual staff, teams, and partners.
• Partnerships: Experience in partnership development and management for the implementation of quality programming.
• Strategic Networking: Demonstrated experience in developing strategic partnerships, networking, and representation with actors such as ministries, institutional donors, UN agencies, INGOs, and civil society actors.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Skills and proven background in monitoring and evaluation, with the ability to provide organisational leadership in this area.
• Leadership Skills: Proven leadership skills and the ability to manage, motivate, and inspire a diverse team.
• Advocacy and Influence: Proven ability to influence others to achieve successful outcomes, including government, UN agencies, and donors through successful advocacy.
• Collaboration: Ability to collaborate and form effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Organisational Skills: Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to make effective decisions.
• Communication Skills: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive working relationships with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Languages: Fluency in English and Ukrainian.

What We Offer:

• Location : The position will be Ukraine-based with expected travel to the project’s sites in Ukraine, subject to security considerations. . Preference is given to applicants who reside and have valid working permits in Ukraine. War Child does not offer relocation.
• Contract : A fixed term contract of 12 months with possible extension, Local contract with salary and secondary labour conditions based on the in-country salary scale, local T&C’s will apply.
• The role is based on full-time working hours (40 hours per week).
• Salary and benefits are in line with your residing country and contracting office, we offer local packages.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for capacity building and growth, both within the role and through War Child’s broader network.
• Meaningful Impact: The chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of children and families affected by conflict, contributing to long-term, sustainable change.
• Equal Opportunities: War Child is an inclusive employer committed to diversity and inclusion, respecting all individuals regardless of age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, or physical ability.
• Workplace Culture: War Child is dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace that prioritizes safety and fairness for all individuals. We strictly prohibit any form of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying within our organization

Why You Should Apply:

• Make a Real Impact: Your work will directly contribute to providing quality education to children who need it most, creating lasting change in their lives.
• Career Growth: Join a dynamic organization that values your professional development and offers opportunities for learning, growth, and innovation.
• Global Reach: Play a key role in scaling a ground-breaking programme that operates in multiple conflict-affected regions around the world.
• Collaborative and Mission-Driven: Work alongside passionate colleagues and partners united in a mission to protect children and help them thrive despite adversity**.**

How to apply

Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their applications by February 6, 2025, by using this hyperlink:

https://war-child-alliance.jobs.personio.com/job/1929631?language=en&display=en

We are reviewing submissions on a rolling basis, so early applications are strongly recommended.

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By submitting your application you certify that all of the statements made in your application are true, complete, and correct and are made in good faith. You understand that falsifying, misrepresenting or intentionally withholding information will be grounds for rejection of your application or withdrawal of any offer of appointment or, if an appointment offer has been accepted, this will be ground for employment sanctions, such as, but not limited to, instant dismissal. In addition, you understand that you need to submit a Criminal Record Certificate and that, if you fail to submit it, no employment relationship can be established.

War Child is an international organisation, and we are committed to be a diverse and inclusive employer, placing human and child rights at the centre of our existence and work. We hire our new colleagues based on their talents, competences and shared values; we do not distinguish them based on their age, gender and gender identity, race, color, ethnicity, religion, culture, sexual orientation, disability etc.

The safety of children and youth is a paramount and essential to War Child’s work. War Child has a zero tolerance policy towards any form of abuse. To prevent placing children and youth at any risk this subject is addressed in our recruitment and selection procedures. Moreover, the accepted candidates will be required to state their commitment/ intent to be aware, consider and adhere to the minimum standards applicable in development and humanitarian settings, such as humanitarian values and principles, Sphere Humanitarian Charter, Standards in the Humanitarian Standards Partnership, Core Humanitarian Standard, International Humanitarian Law, Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief and IASC Six Core Principles Relating to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

Disclaimer

• Only applications received via our website are processed.
• If we appoint a suitable candidate before the given closing date, we reserve the right to remove the vacancy from our website before that date. In such a case, any responses received after that time are not processed.
• It could be that during our selection process the closing date for the vacancy is extended. If so, and you have not yet heard from us, your application will remain active.

About War Child:

The War Child Alliance is an international non-governmental organization committed to providing psychosocial support, child protection, youth empowerment programming and quality education to the children affected by armed conflict. We implement evidence-based interventions to empower key stakeholders—including governments, educators, caregivers, and communities—to foster children’s wellbeing, education, and self-determination. War Child has a presence in 19 countries: Jordan, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Colombia, Burundi, DR Congo, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Ukraine, Germany, Sweden, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Learn more about War Child and our programmes https://www.warchild.net/

Safeguarding

War Child is committed to humanitarian values, standards and norms and we expect the same from job applicants. War Child is especially committed to safeguarding the children and youth we support and doesn’t tolerate any form of abuse. Because we want to prevent and deter any actions that place children and youth at risk, conduct references are an important part of our recruitment procedure. As part of the selection process, War Child will request standardized references in accordance with the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and a recent Criminal Records statement.