JOB DESCRIPTION

Title: Country Program Development Manager

Location: Amman with frequent travels to Ramallah

Travel: 30% of time

Job Family and Grade: Technical Family , T6

**Pre hire checks:**This role is classified as requiring standard Enhanced Due Diligence

1. Scope

Department: Programs

Reporting to: Regional Program Development Manager

Direct reports: –

Budget responsibility: –

Relationship management: Country Program, Regional Team, Global Team

2. Context

About Relief International

Relief International (RI) partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change, and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience and promote long-term health and wellbeing.

Currently, RI is active in 15 countries around the world, including some of the most fragile: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Myanmar, occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), Pakistan, Philippines, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen.

RI includes the four corporate members of the RI Alliance: RI Inc., RI-UK, RI-France, and RI-Europe. Under our alliance agreement, we operate with a single, shared management structure.

About our Country Program

Relief International was operational in OPT starting in 2007, and after entering hibernation period in 2017, has recently reactivated its operations at the end of 2023. Relief International is actively working to respond to the current and evolving situation in both Gaza and the West Bank through both a direct implementation and partnership approach. Relief International’s programming in OPT follows Relief International’s global strategy with Health as a central focus with components linked to our work in Health through the sectors of WASH, Protection, Education and Livelihoods. The context in OPT is extremely dynamic and requires focus on nexus programming that brings together both humanitarian service delivery combined with systems strengthening and longer-term programming. Growing Relief International’s portfolio in oPT is paramount to respond to the immediate needs of vulnerable populations as well as establishing nexus programming. The Program Development Manager will play a key role, in coordination with key in-country and regional senior leadership, to ensure the successful development and implementation of Relief International strategy in country.

Middle East Region

RI operates in seven countries in the Middle East region: Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), Syria, Turkey and Yemen, with a focus on the four RI sector pillars: Health, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Education, and Economic Opportunity. We employ more than 4,000 staff (direct and indirect) in the Middle East region and implement a range of humanitarian and development programs valued at approximately $70 million USD on an annual basis.

3. Job Profile

RI seeks for a Program Development Manager (PDM) to support its program development efforts in oPT. This position will be responsible to identify new funding opportunities, develop partnerships with peer organizations (INGOs/local NGOs), write concept notes and proposals, and provide support to the Country Director/Deputy Country Director in maintaining donor liaison to secure funding for new programs. Depending on needs, and at the request of the supervisor, the PDM will also extend support to other country offices having the opportunity to gain additional exposure to country programs in the Middle East.

The position will report to the Regional Programme Development Manager (Middle East), and work closely with the Country Director(s), Country office team(s), as well as Regional and Global Support Office Teams.

This position demands a dynamic, proactive, and flexible individual with program design and development skills who is ready to provide substantive contributions and explore advancing their capacities to achieving results in a demanding and fast-paced environment.

4. Key Responsibilities

Accountability and Complexity

· Work closely with Country Office Teams to ensure highest quality of program development in coordination with relevant departments.

· Coordination with internal (country, regional, global) and external stakeholders (Donors, local NGOs, INGOs, etc.).

Program Development

· Search for new funding opportunities through donor websites and donor engagement meetings, and country office networks, and create summaries of funding opportunities (i.e. check alignment with country strategy, organizational policies, program priorities, country capacity) through a consultative approach to support decision-making on application process.

· Use local information to regularly prepare, update and maintain an in-country donor engagement tracker and donor map

· Support/lead partnership and consortium development with different organizations, agencies, and coordinate/lead the internal and external (donor) compliance requirements in relation to particular funding opportunities and ensure new programs are designed based on evidence and theories of change. Guide the grants team to conduct downstream due diligence as required

· Lead in-country design workshops for funding opportunities

· Coordinate with consultant or lead on any comprehensive and/or rapid needs assessments required for particular funding opportunities

· Write concept notes/proposals following donor guidelines for different programs in consultation with country office team, technical assistance department (TAD), and other units. Lead the development of all required annexes (budget, workplan, and all necessary donor requirements)

· Communicate regularly with program and field staff as well as other departments on ongoing and planned programs

· Provide administrative support (Go/no go memos, cost share memos, updating the country pipeline, etc.), record keeping and data management

· Undertake all other duties and projects assigned by the supervisor that will be assigned from time to time.

· Support country office team members in strengthening program development capacities, in coordination/collaboration with RPDM.

Internal and External Engagement

· Provide support to Country Director/Deputy Country Director to regularly meet current and prospective donor representatives in-country (such as UN Agencies, Various embassies, other institutional and non-institutional donors); and outside as needed.

· Represent the organization at meetings, conferences, and workshops as requested by Country Director and/or supervisor

Other Tasks

· Regularly update country office profile and conduct research related to specific program sectors, RI’s work on the ground, donor priorities, regional/country funding trends, and prepare/update knowledge pieces such as capacity statements, reports, one pagers, etc.

· In coordination with the Regional Program Development Team, track monthly progress of program development (financial and submissions by country), success rates, trends, etc.

· Engage in Program Development support for other country office(s), depending on needs and availability, based on supervisor’s request.

· Support ad hoc tasks assigned by the supervisor and/or Country Director(s)

Behavior and Conduct

· Ensure that behavior inside and outside of work promotes the values in RI’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies.

· Acts with integrity and holds themselves accountable for being respectful, inclusive and professional.

· Reports any concerns.

Safeguarding

· Uphold and promote RI’s commitment to ensuring the safeguarding and safety of the vulnerable communities we serve

· Ensure all people who come into contact with Relief International are as safe as possible, consistent with RI’s safeguarding and protection policies

· Support and develop systems that create and maintain an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and abuse and promotes the implementation of the Code of Conduct and safeguarding policies.

· Work collaboratively with relevant functions to advocate for the inclusion of safeguarding activities and resources within program

5. Person Specification

Essential Criteria

· Master’s degree – International development or related field preferred but not required

· At least five years’ experience of working with an international NGO

· At least three years’ experience of working directly on program/proposal/business development in an international/local NGO

· Experience with EU (EC, ECHO, etc.), US Government (BHA, BPRM, other USAid entities) and UN Agencies funding.

· Comfort with multi-tasking, and willingness to work a flexible schedule to accommodate high-intensity, competing deadlines.

· Demonstrated ability to coordinate complex activities, meet deadlines, and exercise sound judgment and discipline

· Excellent oral and written communication skills in English

· Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and meet deadlines

· Independent but able to work with multiple teams in a coordinated one-team approach.

· Strong computer skills and experience with Microsoft Office applications, especially Word, Excel and Outlook, Box, Sharepoint, One Drive

· Demonstrated ability to follow instructions and carefully review work for accuracy

· Ability to travel up to 30%, as needed

Desirable Criteria

· Understanding/experience in at least one of the key sectors of RI (Health, Nutrition, WASH, Education, and Economic Opportunity

· Experience with other donors and foundations

· Previous experience in oPT

· Previous experience working in the Middle East

6. RI Values

Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as “Do No Harm,” Relief International Values:

· Integrity

· Adaptability

· Collaboration

· Inclusivity

· Sustainability