Head of Child Care _at Stand by Me, Ethiopia

Stand by Me Ethiopia is a children's charity committed to rescuing vulnerable children from poverty and giving them the care, education and support they need to thrive. We work alongside local communities to ensure children are safe, healthy and equipped for a brighter future. Our vision is to see every child we care for reach their full potential and become everything they were born to be.

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Organization: Stand by Me

Deadline: 2 October 2026

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Head of Child Care to lead our childcare programmes. You will be responsible for our Social Work, Community Empowerment, Medical and Children’s Homes teams who are based at our project sites in Bekoji and Dembi Dollo.

You will report to the Country Director and will play a key strategic role to enhance the support given to nearly 1000 beneficiaries and their families, empowering them to break the cycle of poverty.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Strategic leadership & programme development to lead a world-class standard of care at both Bekoji and Dembi Dollo project sites
Operational oversight of child care services at the project sites
Line Management and Leadership Development for Nurses, Children’s Home Manager, Social Work Managers and Community Empowerment Officers, predominately remotely
Safeguarding Leadership & Accountability
Integrating holistic care by ensuring coordination between the different childcare departments
Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
Representing Stand by Me and partnering with other organisations to enhance our services

Please click here to view the full job description detailing the specific responsibilities within each of the above areas

Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in social work, Child Development, Psychology, Public Health, Education, or related field.
Minimum 7 years’ experience in child-focused programming.
At least 3 years in senior leadership overseeing multi-disciplinary teams.

Essential

Strong safeguarding leadership and case management experience.
Proven operational management experience.
Experience implementing standards, policies, and training frameworks.
Strong planning, budgeting, and reporting capability.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
High integrity and commitment to child protection.
Experienced and confident in working directly with children aged 6 – 18

Desirable

Master’s degree in relevant discipline.
Experience transitioning residential care toward family/community-based models.
Experience in East Africa.
Experience implementing livelihood or income-generation programmes.
Experience in Monitoring & Evaluation systems.

Required Skills

Social work, Sociology, Psychology, Child Development, Law, Public Health,

How to Apply

Please send the completed: >> Application form, along with your CV and a cover letter (maximum 500 words outlining your suitability for the role) to: ethiopia@standby.me. Please include ‘Head of Child Care’ in the subject of your email

The deadline for applications is 2nd October 2026 and we will be reviewing applications as they are received, therefore you are advised to apply as soon as possible.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds who share our passion for making a lasting difference in the lives of children.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

For more information about Stand by Me visit: www.standby.me

For more information about the position See: >>Job Description – Head of Child Care

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