Chief of Party
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Organization: Samaritan’s Purse
Deadline: May 19, 2026
Job Description
JOB SUMMARY
The Chief of Party (CoP) plays an important role in ensuring successful program implementation, collaboration, and effective management across various stakeholders. The CoP role includes Program Leadership and Implementation; Representation and Collaboration; Cluster Management and Integration; and Leadership and Decision-Making. The COP holds overall responsibility for project management. The position holder makes key decisions promptly while ensuring quality. The COP is responsible for communication and coordination, serving as the main contact with the donor. Communicates effectively with the Ethiopian government and international partners. The COP should have track record of successfully managing multi-sectoral programs in diverse settings.
Primary Responsibilities
- Lead all aspects of the development, implementation and consolidation of the projects, including ensuring that the project contributes to the thought leadership of the industry.
- Serve as the primary point of contact to the donor as well as public, private and non-government stakeholders.
- Ensure the project is designed and implemented to meet donor expectations in terms of timely and quality results and budget.
- Ensure coordination between program and operations leads. Ensure the SPE program quality standards are adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures.
- Effectively manage senior programming and operations talent. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching and mentoring. Strategically tailor individual development plans and Oversee the development of staffing plans and the recruitment process of senior staff.
- Manage and mitigate risk through monitoring national and regional issues that may impact staff and programming.
- Promote, uphold and model a commitment to the efficient use of organization and donor resources. Ensure compliance with the donor grants, including financial tracking and oversight of program budgets, finance, administration and reporting to DCD Programs and Strategy.
- Approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification as per given threshold.
- Support programmatic close out and financial reporting close out.
- Represent SPE programming in international circles, highlighting innovative work.
- Manage relationships with consortium partner organizations, including organization of review/planning workshops. Coordinate the roles and activities of staff from other consortium member organizations in implementation in line with SPE partnership principles.
- Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies. Identify performance gaps and training opportunities for SPE staff and ensure the design and delivery of high-quality training and technical assistance.
- Work closely and support program managers to achieve program targets.
- Manages all resources assigned to the project, and serves as the primary liaison among stakeholders including the donor, consortium members, implementing partners, Country Representative and relevant government ministries, raising decisions and issues as needed.
- Coordinates program implementation and finance management according to the policies and procedures of WFP and SPE.
Specific Job Responsibilities:
Program Quality:
- With key program staff and stakeholders, ensure programs strategic objectives and results are fully accomplished and meet expected technical quality standards.
- Ensure appropriate program quality support to consortium member through technical leads Promote alignment of programs strategies and activities with the priorities outlined in relevant national strategies and policies related to agriculture, nutrition and health, particularly the Ethiopia National Food and Nutrition Strategic Plan.
- Oversee periodic technical reviews and manage changes in program direction and focus, where necessary.
- In collaboration with DCD, provide guidance and technical oversight for Staffs to ensure that lessons of sound practice are documented and disseminated.
- Promote synergy between various technical sectors and ensure that this is contributing to achieving program targets.
- Oversee programs monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) systems, using data analysis as the basis for measuring performance. Ensure that MEAL is incorporated into evolving program plans.
- lead the development and dissemination of learning materials that contribute to national policies/approaches and inform the staffs best practices.
- Ensure integration of program interventions with other SPE and consortium programs. Put in place and enforce quality control mechanisms across all regions.
- Direct and oversee the WFP within given budgets and project deadlines, ensuring that all program goals are met through proper planning, staffing, and implementation.
- Ensure project activities comply with international and Samaritans Purse standards and meet donor rules and regulations.
- Establish and maintains effective project reporting, evaluation, and communication systems in collaboration with the Monitoring & Evaluation team.
- Discuss plans and strategies with relevant stakeholders, including government authorities, UN agencies, other humanitarian actors, and Samaritans Purse partners to ensure proper understanding and coordination of project objectives.
Management and Administration:
- Ensure strong coordination/collaboration among program staffs through regular coordination meetings/program reviews and joint field visits.
- Work closely with Finance department to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting to donors and senior management. Review actual financial performance against the budget and identify/address variances on a regular basis.
- Ensure staff compliance with all SPE administrative and operational procedures and policies, as well as applicable donor regulations.
Representation and Advocacy:
- In collaboration with the DCD, act as primary program contact to donor and other local and international stakeholders, responsible for addressing all program matters. Serve as the primary representative for the consortium.
- In collaboration with the DCD, strengthen linkages with existing and potential partner agencies Any other duties as may be required from time to time.
EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE NEEDED
- Master’s degree (M.A.) in Disaster Relief, International Development, Social Studies, or other relevant discipline or Bachelors Degree (BA) from a 4-year college or university in Development, Social Studies, or other relevant discipline
- Minimum of two (2) years of international emergency response experience for MA holders; or a minimum of six (6) years of international work experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
LANGUAGE
- Proficiency in English and Amharic
- Knowledge of the regional language required
- Knowledge of any other national language is a plus
SKILLS REQUIRED
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be willing to abide by Samaritans Purses code of conduct and understand the principals of Samaritans Purses Statement of Faith, as well as be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Exhibit character and integrity.
- Ability to work as part of a team and cultivate a strong team spirit.
- General knowledge of Shelter, WASH, Nutrition, and Health program implementation,
- Ability to work creatively and independently both in the field and in the office.
- Strong organizational and supervisory skills
- Ability to understand donor and governmental funding requirements
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral diagram, or schedule form.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk and run; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be exposed to loud noises around the maintenance and construction workshops.
- May travel in country with exposure to communicable diseases, hot and humid weather conditions.
- Work in a security context that is fluid
SAFEGUARDING COMMITMENT
The employee is required to carry out his/her duties in accordance with Samaritans Purse Safeguarding policy and Code of conduct.
Employee should remain alert and responsive to any child and adult safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills, which will enable him/her to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the child and adult safeguarding policy and procedures, and conduct his/herself in a manner consistent with the Safeguarding Policy.
