Manager of Programme Quality and Partnership Development Job at ZOA, Ethiopia

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Organization: ZOA

Deadline:  5 July 2026

Job Description

Job location:                     Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Starting date:                    September 2026

Salary:                                Competitive (international NGO context)

Duration position:             3 years, with review after 1 year

Working hours:                  Fulltime (40 hours per week)

Vacancy closing date:       5 July 2026

We are here for our neighbours in need, who are suffering in this broken world.

ZOA, as an international NGO, supports people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster. Together, we can come to their aid in emergencies and remain faithful to communities as they recover; providing new opportunities for them to help themselves again. The work of ZOA is coordinated from the Netherlands. We are active in multiple countries in Africa, the Middle East Region, and Asia. We work with approximately 900 employees worldwide and with (local) partners. We invite you to join our team of committed colleagues.

ZOA is looking for a

Manager of Programme Quality and Partnership Development Ethiopia

As Manager of Programme Quality and Partnership Development Ethiopia, you play a central role in strengthening the quality, and accountability and growth of ZOA’s country programme. You ensure high quality programme design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and learning by providing leadership, expertise and strategic guidance to programme teams and management.

You also contribute to the development of strong project proposals and support high quality donor reporting, partnership development and knowledge management across the country office. The Manager of Programme Quality and Partnership Development reports to the Country Director and is a member of the Country Management Team.

ZOA Ethiopia delivers life‑saving and resilience‑building programmes in some of the country’s most complex humanitarian environments, reaching millions of refugees, IDPs, returnees and host communities each year. The team is recognised for its rapid emergency response capacity, strong local partnerships and community‑driven approaches that strengthen peace, inclusion, and climate resilience. This is an opportunity to lead a high‑impact programme that is shaping locally led solutions and driving transformational change across Ethiopia.

How you will make a difference

Leadership and team management

As member of the Country Management Team you provide overall leadership to ZOA’s country programme in Ethiopia. Where applicable you supervise and appraise staff reporting to you. As a member of the Country Management Team, you contribute to the overall direction of the Ethiopia programme and foster collaboration across departments. You lead with integrity and humility, and you help build a values driven culture that is fully aligned with ZOA’s vision, mission and Christian identity. You encourage professionalism, learning, accountability and staff development, while modelling respectful and service oriented leadership.

Programme design and strategic direction

You advise and support the Country Director and Programme Managers in the development of the Country Strategy and Annual Plan. You help ensure that programmes and projects are relevant, coherent and aligned with ZOA’s strategic priorities, donor expectations and the Ethiopian context. You guide high quality programme and project planning and promote strong design choices that are gender sensitive, protection aware and conflict sensitive. You also contribute to the development of innovative project concepts and proposals that strengthen impact and relevance.

Programme quality and MEAL

You are responsible for the quality and consistency of programme and project planning and for promoting compliance with ZOA policy and relevant donor, national and international guidelines and standards. You develop, implement and maintain monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning tools, including standardised indicators, and support teams in using data for better decision making. You help Programme Managers strengthen beneficiary accountability mechanisms throughout the programme cycle and support partner assessments and capacity development planning. Through this work, you help ensure that ZOA’s programmes deliver meaningful, accountable and measurable results.

Proposal development, reporting and knowledge management

You contribute to the development of high quality project proposals and ensure consistency between donor proposals and the Country Strategy. You support the timely preparation of high-quality donor reports and evaluations, and you assist the Country Director and Programme Managers in developing internal quarterly reports and the annual review. In addition, you are responsible for strengthening knowledge management at country level and contributing to organisation wide learning. You help capture lessons, promote reflection and ensure that knowledge is translated into better programme design and delivery.

Donor and partnership networking

You support ZOA’s positioning by contributing to strong relationships with donors, partners, our Dutch Constituency, and other relevant stakeholders, in close coordination with the Country Director. You help ensure that proposals, reporting and programme approaches reflect donor priorities while remaining consistent with ZOA’s strategy and quality standards. You also lead or support partner assessments and capacity development planning, helping to strengthen effective and accountable collaboration with local partners. Through your external and internal networking, you contribute to a well-connected and credible programme quality function within ZOA Ethiopia

What we offer

• A key leadership role within an international NGO with global impact.
• A three-year appointment.
• The opportunity to work in a mission-driven and faith-based organization.
• The role offers the opportunity to shape programme quality, learning and donor engagement in a complex and meaningful context.
• A dynamic working environment requiring travel up to one-third of your time

What you bring

You are a thoughtful and strategic programme professional with a strong commitment to quality, accountability and learning. You are able to operate effectively in a complex and sometimes insecure environment. You are strong in networking and forging relationships with key partners and with our Dutch constituency for ZOA Ethiopia.

You also bring:

• A university degree in a humanitarian, development or other relevant field.
• At least three years of relevant senior management experience in an international setting
• Strong experience in programme design, proposal development, reporting, monitoring, evaluation and learning.
• Experience in donor relations and external representation.
• Experience and connection to our Dutch constituency.
• Strong writing and formulation skills, with the ability to produce clear and high quality proposals.
• Excellent written and spoken English

Leadership profile:

• Spiritual leadership and full alignment with ZOA’s vision, mission and Christian values
• Strong analytical, conceptual, and strategic thinking skills combined with strong decision-making capacity.
• A participative and empowering leadership style
• Coaching skills and a focus on staff development
• Organisational and political sensitivity
• Flexibility, intercultural competence and resilience

Do you need more information? 

For more information about ZOA, please visit our website: www.zoa-international.com.

If you have questions about this vacancy, you can contact Nienke Maris, HR Business Partner, email zoa.vacancies@zoa.ngo

ZOA operates with an equal opportunities policy and is committed to diversity in the workplace. Qualified women and men, people of all nationalities, and cultural backgrounds, and candidates with disabilities are welcome to apply.

How to Apply

Interested and do you want to apply?

Are you ready to lead ZOA’s Ethiopia programme into its next phase?

We invite you to please apply directly through: >>https://cvselectie.net/zoa/7993/?return=/portals/zoa_en/ via “Apply Now’ at the latest by 5 July 2026.

CV’s of no more than 5 pages in length are appreciated. Only selected candidates will be contacted and invited to participate in the process of recruitment. It is our aim to inform all other candidates of their status in the recruitment process within 4 weeks after the vacancy has closed. An assessment may be part of the recruitment procedure. Documents that do not match the profile above will not be considered. Internal candidates will have priority, in case of similar results.

Please note that ZOA carries out background and reference checks (including COTER: check your name on counter-terrorism lists) for all candidates as part of the recruitment process. As ZOA participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a written questionnaire: the “Statement of Conduct”, which will be sent to past employers regarding Misconduct (such as sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment).