Program Development Director

Internal/External Vacancy

Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Council (ECSOC) is established in December 2020 as a statutory apex body governed by the full participation of all CSOs operating in Ethiopia. As per Article 85 of the CSOs Proclamation No.1113/2019, the Council aims at ensuring the Civil Society Sector’s transparency and accountability using international principles as well as national values to promote self-governance of the ongoing operation of the CSOs sector. ECSOC has statutory mandates of representing & coordinating the CSOs sector, enacting self-regulation advising the Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO) about CSOs registration & administration. Moreover, to fulfill its mandates, ECSOC plays key role such as knowledge production & dissemination, leading advocacy efforts, promoting and protecting the civil society sector and strengthening networking and partnership among and beyond the CSOs sector

Purpose of the role (Job Summary)

The Program Development Director is a senior management position and is responsible for facilitating and coordination among projects of ECSOC. The coordination entails ensuring effective implementation of projects, as well as facilitating and advocating on common positions and agreed interests of ECSOC and stakeholders.

The Program Development Director (PDD) is responsible to plan, coordinate, and lead a range of projects under implementation by ECSOC. She/he regularly follows up and provides technical support to staffs in charge of specific projects. The PDD is responsible, among others, to introduce and apply program tracking and monitoring tools and systems to ensure the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of long and short term projects.

The Program Development Director supports the work of the Council through the following key tasks:

Strategic management of the ECSOC Over all Programs

• Strategic day-to-day management of ECSOC’s program staff, office, budget and relationship with the principle donor and members (includes report preparation).
• Support the Executive Director to develop strategic program based annual priorities and engage closely with them   to ensure program functions in line with these.
• In close consultation with the Executive director of the ECSOC, act as focal point for information/experience sharing with and with in the sector on relevant issues and work with key program staff to manage project process.
• Maintain a systematic understanding and develop messaging on operational constraints and policy related issues affecting ECSOC.
• Provide a channel for the members, government, donor representatives and other stakeholders to communicate and coordinate with the sector.
• Participate in important government, and other policy and planning processes together with the Executive Director and/or other program staff.
• Ensure the council’s Program’s activity costs are budgeted for and fully covered. Explore sustainable funding models beyond donor funding e.g. membership fees.
• Along with the ECSOC Executive Director represent the ECSOC at high-level including International and national forums, multi-donor meetings and other representative bodies as required. Issues will be agreed by the Executive Director.

Coordination and Communication

• Ensure transparent coordination mechanisms and regular information-sharing between ECSOC, donors and other stakeholders as relevant.
• Support the Executive Director in Scheduling Program based annual/bi-annual/ regular meetings.
• Support the Executive Director to Ensure in the external engagements
• Along with the Executive Director and staff members, represent the ECSOC at key meetings with wider sector, donors, and GOV’t and ensure the dissemination of written feedback

Partnership Relations

• Support Executive Director to conduct scoping and information management of CSOs (National and International)  active in development, advocacy and humanitarian sector
• Provide an accessible first point of contact for general inquiries regarding the work of ECSOC
• Provide information, briefings, presentations on the function and structure of the ECSOC, best practices and lessons learned to other parallel organizations.
• Maintain strong partner relations and engage in the identification of new potential partners
• Support Executive Director in Marinating and/or develop productive relationships with key individuals, civil society, foreign and local NGO community, UN Missions, Diplomatic Corps, other donors, etc.

Human Resource Management

• Provide leadership and direction, promote professional working relationships, and encourage ECSOC
• Program staff
• Lead regular internal coordination meetings and ensure Program staff support
• Conduct regular performance appraisals identifying capacity building needs and further career objectives, follow-up, and maintain updated job descriptions for Program staff .
• Identify and resolve Program staff conflicts (if any) and concerns in a timely manner
• Support in recruit Program staff compliance with the secretariat recruitment procedures, including development of JDs, shortlisting and interviewing maintaining transparency and accountability

Program Related Responsibilities

• Develops and apply project planning, management, and monitoring tools specifically tailored to meet the needs of the Council.
• Encourage team work among and between program and project coordinator and facilitate regular communication and interaction.
• Provide technical backstopping and mentoring for project officers within the context of the project implementation cycle.
• Participate  in resource mobilization activities and identify potential partners and donors in collaboration with  the Resource Mobilization Team
• Closely follow up the execution of projects within agreed timeline and other contract obligations.
• Lead and coordinate the preparation of periodic plan and project implementation report (narrative and budget reports).
• Coordinate  the annul plan preparation and strategic plan review of the Council
• Plan and co-facilitate training for project coordinators/officers upon identifying skill and knowledge gaps.
• Ensure proposals prepared for funding meet the standard and detailed requirements of donors/ partners
• Offer technical support to project coordinators in report preparation and budget compilation in line with donor/ partner requirements
• Represents ECSOC  in program evaluation and appraisal and related events
• Performs other related tasks assigned by the Executive Director

Position Type:    National Staff

Work Station:    Addis Ababa

Employment Type:    Full time

Reports to:    Executive Director