Senior Planning and Development Officer

Good Neighbors (GN) is a global NGO founded in Korea in 1991, currently operating in 50 countries. Since 1997, the Ethiopian branch has been committed to improving lives through initiatives in child protection, education, health, and more. GNE operates in various regions of Ethiopia, including Addis Ababa, Amhara, Oromia, Tigray, Benishangul Gumuz, Somali, Sidama, South Ethiopia, and Central Ethiopia. GNE is seeking a qualified individual to join our team.

• Position: Senior Planning and Development Officer
• Reports to: Planning and Development Manager
• Term of Employment: one-year possible extension
• Duty Station(s): Addis Ababa
• Required Number: One (1)
• Salary & Benefits: as per the scale of the organization

Job Summary:

The Senior Planning and Development Officer is responsible for overseeing the planning, development, and evaluation of programs/projects. This role involves strategic planning, proposal development, performance assessment, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals and donor requirements. The Senior Officer will work closely with internal teams, stakeholders, and donors to ensure project effectiveness and sustainability.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Program and Project Planning & Development:

• Develop strategic plans, annual work plans, and project proposals in line with the organization’s mission and objectives.
• Conduct research and needs assessments to identify program priorities and funding opportunities.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to design and develop high-impact programs and projects.
• Ensure alignment of program plans with donor guidelines, government policies, and international best practices.

2. Proposal Writing and Resource Mobilization:

• Identify and pursue funding opportunities from various donors, including bilateral and multilateral agencies, foundations, and private sector partners.
• Develop compelling grant proposals, concept notes, and fundraising strategies.
• Build relationships with donors, partners, and key stakeholders to secure financial and technical support.

3. Evaluation, and Learning (EL):

• Design and implement evaluation frameworks to track the impact.
• Conduct regular data collection, analysis, and reporting to assess program effectiveness.
• Develop and oversee key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure project success.
• Ensure compliance with donor reporting requirements and organizational standards.
• Facilitate learning and knowledge-sharing among project teams to enhance program quality.

4. Reporting and Documentation:

• Prepare high-quality completion reports for internal and external stakeholders, including donors and government agencies.
• Document best practices, lessons learned, and success stories to inform future programming.
• Ensure timely submission of mid and annual reports in accordance with donor and organizational requirements.

5. Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination:

• Liaise with government agencies, NGOs, donors, and other stakeholders to enhance collaboration and partnership.
• Represent the organization in relevant forums, meetings, and networking events.
• Facilitate coordination among project teams and ensure alignment with national and international development frameworks.

6. Capacity Building and Technical Support:

• Provide technical guidance and training to program staff on planning, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Strengthen the capacity of project teams in data management, impact assessment, and reporting.
• Support the integration of innovative approaches and technologies in program implementation.

Qualifications and Requirements:

Education

• A degree in Development Studies, Project Management, Sociology, Economics, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in project planning, development, and evaluation, preferably in an international NGO or donor-funded project.

Skills:

• • Strong knowledge of grant writing, donor regulations (USAID, UN, EU, etc.), and fundraising strategies.
  • Expertise in monitoring and evaluation methodologies, including logical frameworks and impact assessments.
  • Excellent analytical, research, and report-writing skills.
  • Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership management abilities.
  • Proficiency in data analysis tools (SPSS, Stata, Excel, or other relevant software).
  • Experience working in baseline and end-line data collection and the Kobo data collection tool.
  • Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple tasks effectively.
  • Strong communication and presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with emergency and humanitarian response projects.
• Familiarity with UN systems, pooled funding mechanisms, and international development frameworks (e.g., SDGs).

Work Environment:

• Based at the organization’s head office with occasional field visits to project sites.