Head of Programmes

Job Description

Title: Head of Programmes

Company Name: SOS Children`s Village International in Bangladesh

Vacancy: 1

Age: At least 37 years

Job Location: Dhaka

Salary: Negotiable

Experience:

• At least 15 years
• The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): NGO

• Master's degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, International Development, Public Policy, Public Administration, Business Administration, Management, or a relevant discipline from a recognized university.

• Additional professional qualifications in programme management, development management, fundraising, or related areas will be an advantage.

• At least 15 years
• The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): NGO

• Age At least 37 years

• Minimum 15 years of relevant professional experience in programme/project management, preferably within the development or humanitarian sector. Minimum 7 years of leadership experience.

• Proven experience in strategic programme leadership and oversight of multiple projects/programmes.

• Strong experience in grants and donor management, partnership management, proposal development and institutional fundraising.

• Demonstrated experience working with government ministries/departments, donors, NGOs, development partners, sector platforms, networks and working groups.

• Experience in managing or coordinating multi-stakeholder partnerships and consortium-based programmes will be an advantage.

• Demonstrated experience in preparing, reviewing and finalizing high-quality donor and management reports.

• Experience in leading proposal development and developing successful resource mobilization initiatives.

• Strong understanding of development-sector programming, programme quality, compliance, MEAL and donor requirements.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Bangla.

• Strong interpersonal, negotiation, coordination and presentation skills.

• Willingness to travel frequently to programme locations and attend meetings with government, donors, partners and other stakeholders.

• High level of integrity, professionalism, accountability and commitment to organizational values.

About SOS: SOS Children's Villages Bangladesh has been working since 1972, when the organization signed an agreement with the Government of Bangladesh to establish its first village in Dhaka, as part of the global SOS Children's Villages federation active in 135 countries. Today the organization operates across different locations as like Dhaka, Gazipur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Chattogram, Bogura, Kurigram and Sylhet providing family-like care to children who have lost parental care, strengthening vulnerable families so children can stay with their own parents wherever possible and supporting young people as they transition into independent, self-reliant lives. Alongside its care programmes, the organization runs education, health and community development initiatives and works closely with government bodies, donors and partner organizations to advocate for children's rights and strengthen child protection systems nationwide. Over more than five decades, SOS Children's Villages Bangladesh has supported tens of thousands of children, young people and caregivers
Job Context: SOS Children’s Villages Bangladesh is seeking a highly experienced, strategic and results-oriented professional to serve as Head of Programmes and provide overall leadership and direction for the organization’s programme portfolio. As a senior member of the management team, the position will play a key role in translating organizational strategy into high-quality, impactful and sustainable programmes that respond to the needs and rights of children, young people, families and communities. The Head of Programmes will provide strategic and operational oversight of regular programmes, grant-funded projects and partnership-based initiatives, ensuring strong programme quality, accountability, learning and results. The role will lead programme development, strengthen partnerships and external engagement, support donor relations and resource mobilization and promote innovation, evidence-based programming and cross-functional collaboration. The incumbent will also contribute to organizational strategy, portfolio growth, institutional positioning and long-term sustainability, while ensuring that programmes remain aligned with organizational priorities, relevant standards, donor commitments and the evolving development and humanitarian context in Bangladesh.
Job Location: National Office, Dhaka, with frequent travel to programme locations
Reports to: Deputy National Director
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership and overall direction for the organization’s programme portfolio, including grant-funded projects, partnership-based initiatives, and regular programmes.

• Lead programme development and strategic planning, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy, priorities, policies, standards, and programme quality frameworks.

• Provide strategic leadership, coaching, mentoring, and technical guidance to Programme/Project Leads and relevant team members.

• Provide strategic oversight of the programme portfolio, identify major strategic and operational risks, and guide management actions to address emerging priorities and challenges.

• Champion programme quality, innovation, accountability, sustainability, and continuous improvement across the organization.

• Strengthen cross-functional collaboration among Programme, MEAL, Finance, Fundraising, Communications, and other relevant functions to support organizational priorities and effective programme delivery.

• Contribute to the development, review, and implementation of organizational strategy, annual priorities, and organizational development initiatives.

• Strengthen programme systems, processes, and institutional capacity to improve programme effectiveness and organizational performance.

• Represent the Programme function in senior management discussions and contribute to organization-wide planning, decision-making, and strategic priorities.

• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, learning, innovation, and results across programme teams.

2. Programme Delivery, Performance and Learning

• Provide overall oversight to ensure effective, timely, high-quality, and results-oriented implementation of all programmes and projects.

• Ensure programme and project implementation is aligned with approved proposals, budgets, logical frameworks, workplans, donor requirements, organizational policies, quality standards, and contractual commitments.

• Establish and maintain effective programme performance, review, and management reporting mechanisms across the programme portfolio.

• Regularly review programme performance against targets, indicators, milestones, budgets, and expected results, and ensure implementation challenges, risks, and operational bottlenecks are addressed in a timely manner.

• Lead periodic programme and project reviews, ensure timely follow-up on agreed actions, and strengthen accountability for performance and results.

• Strengthen operational coordination among programme teams, field offices, technical functions, MEAL, Finance, and other support functions to ensure coherent and efficient programme delivery.

• Work closely with MEAL and programme teams to strengthen results-based management, evidence-based decision-making, documentation, learning, and adaptive management.

• Ensure lessons learned, good practices, and programme evidence are captured, shared, and used to improve ongoing implementation and future programme design.

3. Grants and Donor Management

• Oversee grant-funded programmes and ensure compliance with donor agreements, contractual commitments, reporting requirements, organizational policies, and relevant standards.

• Build and maintain effective relationships with existing donors and funding partners and ensure regular communication on programme progress, results, challenges, and priorities.

• Coordinate with Programme/Project Leads and relevant teams to ensure timely preparation and submission of accurate and high-quality donor reports.

• Review, consolidate, and finalize programme reports before management approval and submission to donors and relevant stakeholders.

• Track key grant commitments, reporting deadlines, deliverables, and donor requirements to ensure timely delivery and minimize compliance risks.

• Communicate donor feedback, recommendations, and compliance requirements to relevant teams and ensure appropriate follow-up actions.

• Support donor reviews, monitoring visits, evaluations, audits, and other grant-related processes in coordination with relevant functions.

4. Resource Mobilization and Programme Development

• Lead and support institutional fundraising and resource mobilization in line with organizational strategy, programme priorities, and funding needs.

• Identify and assess prospective donors, funding opportunities, emerging programme areas, and funding-related partnership opportunities.

• Lead the development of concept notes, expressions of interest, proposals, budgets, and other funding submissions.

• Coordinate with Programme, Technical, MEAL, Finance, Fundraising, and other relevant teams to develop high-quality, evidence-based, and competitive proposals.

• Build, maintain, and regularly review a diversified institutional funding pipeline, tracking opportunities, deadlines, funding value, probability, and required follow-up actions.

• Engage with prospective donors and funding partners to understand their priorities, strengthen organizational positioning, and explore potential funding opportunities.

• Ensure quality assurance of funding submissions by reviewing strategic alignment, technical quality, budget coherence, financial viability, risk, sustainability, and compliance before submission.

• Promote diversification of funding sources and identify opportunities for programme growth, scale, innovation, and sustainability.

5. Strategic Partnerships, Government and Sector Engagement

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with government institutions, development partners, UN agencies, NGOs, private sector actors, academic institutions, networks, and other relevant stakeholders.

• Represent SOS Children’s Villages Bangladesh in government-led meetings, sector platforms, working groups, coordination mechanisms, forums, consultations, and policy dialogues.

• Strengthen collaboration with government authorities, development partners, and sector stakeholders to enhance programme relevance, quality, scale, sustainability, and organizational positioning.

• Identify and facilitate strategic partnerships, consortium arrangements, and collaborative opportunities that contribute to programme development and organizational priorities.

• Ensure effective coordination, communication, and relationship management with implementing and strategic partners throughout the programme cycle.

• Monitor relevant government policies, national priorities, sector developments, and emerging trends and assess their implications for the organization’s programmes and strategic direction.

• Support organizational advocacy, policy engagement, and external representation in coordination with senior management and relevant teams.

6. Cross-Cutting Issues and Inclusive Programming

• Ensure relevant cross-cutting priorities are systematically integrated into programme design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, learning, and reporting.

• Promote gender equality, disability inclusion, safeguarding, child protection, social inclusion, and meaningful participation across programmes and projects.

• Ensure programmes appropriately address protection risks, diversity, equity, inclusion, and the needs and rights of children, young people, families, and vulnerable or marginalized groups.

• Promote climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and other relevant cross-cutting considerations in programme design and implementation.

• Work with Programme, MEAL, technical, and support teams to develop and apply practical approaches, tools, indicators, and standards for mainstreaming cross-cutting priorities.

• Ensure relevant cross-cutting commitments are adequately reflected in proposals, budgets, workplans, results frameworks, reporting, and partner agreements.

• Strengthen the capacity of staff and partners to apply relevant cross-cutting standards and approaches through technical guidance, coaching, learning, and knowledge sharing.

• Monitor compliance with agreed cross-cutting and inclusion standards, identify gaps, and ensure appropriate technical guidance and follow-up actions.