GLOBAL PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION & OPERATIONS EXCELLENCE ADVISOR

Work Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Organization: CARE International

Deadline: 30 March 2026

Job Description

Work Location : Ethiopia – Addis Ababa
Other Possible Location : Zimbabwe – Harare

* Starting salaries are based on various factors, including candidate experience, education, knowledge, skills, and the cost of labor where the job is based. Salaries listed only apply to jobs based in the US.

Who We Are:

As a global leader, CARE is shaping the future of the humanitarian and development sector. Each year, we deliver support and services to millions of people globally. We do this by focusing on our mission and vision, and the values of equality and excellence that guide our organization. We seek dedicated individuals who align with our mission and are passionate about making it a reality by collaborating with others, embracing learning and innovation, and delivering results.

What We Are Looking For:

At CARE, we value diversely talented people who can bring different experiences and perspectives to our organization. We know that not all applicants will have every skill and qualification. We encourage everyone who meets the minimum required qualifications to apply. Having one or more of the preferred qualifications will strengthen an application. But, even if you are earlier in your career or followed a non-traditional educational or professional path, we hope you will consider a career at CARE.

Job Title: GLOBAL PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION & OPERATIONS EXCELLENCE ADVISOR

Job Location(s): Ethiopia – Addis Ababa

Transform How CARE Delivers Programmes Globally

Are you an experienced programme leader who understands what it truly takes to deliver complex to deliver complex projects on time, on target, on budget, and with quality in both humanitarian and development contexts? Have you provided cross-functional and multi-level coordination remotely to support implementation teams to navigate practical operational bottlenecks firsthand in challenging contexts?

CARE is seeking a Global Programme Implementation & Operations Advisor to provide support to project delivery teams to ensure on time, on target, on budget project delivery across country offices — with a focus on efficiency, effective resolution of implementation challenges, and promoting a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.

This is a hands-on, systems-focused project management position. The incumbent will play a catalyst role to enable project implementation teams consistently achieve on-time, on-target, and on-budget project delivery across diverse and often fragile environments.

About the Role

This role focuses on improving how CARE plans, launches, manages, and delivers projects in complex humanitarian and development settings. The incumbent should have the ability to provide temporary cover for staffing gaps on projects as well as temporary deployment to provide on-site support in the field.

You will work closely with Country Directors, Heads of Programs, Operations leads, and Project Managers to:

Strengthen grant start-up and close-out processes
Improve budget utilization and delivery timelines
Diagnose implementation bottlenecks
Improve cross-functional coordination between programme and operations
Deepen project cycle management capacities
Translate lessons learned from one country into practical improvements in others
You will bring deep practical understanding of both programme implementation and programme operations — not just theory, but real-world delivery experience.

What You Will Do

Implementation Strengthening & Delivery Support

Strengthen grant start-up, work planning, risk management, and close-out practices.
Conduct deep dives into programme implementation challenges in priority countries.
Identify operational inefficiencies affecting delivery (start-up delays, HR bottlenecks, pipeline gaps, procurement delays, etc.)
Support country offices to resolve structural barriers to timely and high-quality implementation.

Cross-Country Learning & Systems Improvement

Capture and translate implementation learning from one context to improve delivery in others.
Facilitate peer learning among programme and operations teams across ESA.
Standardize practical tools that improve delivery efficiency and accountability.
Support replication of successful operational models across countries.

Programme & Operations Integration

Strengthen collaboration between Programme and Business Services teams.
Improve alignment between budgets, procurement planning, HR planning, and work plans.
Support risk-informed, adaptive implementation in fragile and humanitarian settings.

Strategic Advisory

Advise Country Directors and SMTs on improving programme execution and operational effectiveness.
Support country offices during scale-up, emergency response, or complex transitions.
Contribute to Global strategies on programme delivery excellence.

Required Qualifications:

What We Are Looking For:

1. 8+ years of hands-on experience leading programme implementation in humanitarian and/or development contexts.
2. Demonstrated ability to improve delivery efficiency, budget utilization, and programme quality.
3. Strong understanding of programme operations: procurement, finance, HR planning, supply chain, compliance.
4. Solution-focused tenacity and ability to thrive in a matrixed management structure
5. Experience resolving implementation bottlenecks in fragile or high-risk environments.
6. Proven experience managing complex, multi-sector grants (USAID, ECHO, FCDO, etc.).
7. Global, Regional or multi-country experience strongly preferred.
8. Experience supporting or advising senior country leadership teams.
9. Comfortable working across both humanitarian response and long-term development programming.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Professional certification in project management (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2, PMD Pro) preferred
2. Additional competency in either French, Spanish, or Arabic desired

There are individuals who may use CARE’s name and trademark in emails and on websites in an attempt to solicit fees from interested job-seekers. Some examples of these fees are placement fees or immigration processing fees. CARE does not use recruiting or placement agencies that charge candidates an up-front fee of any kind. Occasionally, CARE does employ recruiting or placement agencies to help us identify candidates for specific employment within CARE. If you’re contacted by a legitimate recruiting or placement agency, there should be no charge to you. If you suspect that you have been a victim of fraud from someone purporting to be CARE, please contact us at legal@care.org. Please do not email legal@care.org to apply for this position. Instead, click “apply now” below in order to submit your interest.

CARE is an Equal Opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

Starting salaries are based on internal equity, candidate experience, and the cost of labor where the job is based. Salaries listed only apply to jobs based in the US.