VGIF Senior Programme Manager (SPM) _at VITA Ethiopia

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Organization: VITA/RTI Ethiopia

Deadline: June 3, 2026

Job Description

Reporting to: VGIF Head of VGIF

Position Summary

The VGIF Senior Programme Manager is a senior leadership role within Vita responsible for overseeing the operational delivery, technical quality assurance, and strategic coordination of Vita’s climate portfolio across Ethiopia.

The role leads complex multi-regional programmes across clean cooking, rural water, forestry, and climate finance initiatives, ensuring effective programme planning, implementation, governance, compliance, and reporting.

The post holder will oversee programme operations, financial management, stakeholder engagement, monitoring systems, and cross-functional coordination to ensure high-quality delivery aligned with organizational and donor requirements.

Key Responsibilities

1. Programme Leadership & Delivery

Lead the planning, execution, and successful delivery of large-scale cookstoves, rural water and community forestry programmes.
Define programme scope, budget, objectives, timelines, deliverables, and success metrics.
Ensure programmes are delivered on time, within scope, budget, and quality standards.
Establish programme governance frameworks, reporting structures, and delivery methodologies.

2. Financial, Resource & Risk Management

Manage programme budgets, forecasting, and expenditure tracking while ensuring financial compliance across all VGIF projects.
Allocate and optimise programme resources effectively.
Monitor vendor performance and third-party delivery where applicable.
Identify programme risks, issues, and dependencies proactively, and develop mitigation and contingency plans.
Ensure compliance with all Vita organisational standards

3. Technical Quality Assurance & Reporting

Establish and monitor KPIs to track project implementation as well as technical quality.
Conduct regular project site visits to confirm accurate reportings of progress and identify opportunities for project improvements
Insure VGIF projects are gender responsive from design to implementation
Lead annual planning and reporting

4. Stakeholder Management & Team Leadership

Provide technical leadership and coaching to VGIF Program and Project Managers to improve their operational efficiency.

5. Resource Mobilization and Project Design

Lead for programmatic and strategic resources mobilization

Qualification

Master’s Degree (Required): A Master’s degree is essential for this level of seniority in project management within the climate finance sector. Preferred fields include project management, environment, climate change, development.
Added advantage: Certified Project Manager e.g. PMP, PRINCE2 certification.

Experience Profile

Total Experience: Minimum 10 years in the development or private sector in a project management role.
At least 5 years in a senior management role overseeing multiple projects or regional offices simultaneously.
Minimum 3-5 years working specifically within climate finance, carbon projects, or large-scale WASH, ICS or forestry programs.

Required Skills

Development-oriented
Teamwork and collaboration
Proven experience in working with CSOs, networks, or local initiatives and communities

Desired Skills

Creativity
Analytical: strong problem-solving and analytical abilities.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their CV and cover letter (in English) to: Vita.Ethiopia@vita.ie.

Please indicate “Senior Programme Manager (SPM)” in the subject line.

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Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Women are encouraged to apply.

Application Period: May 30 – June 3, 2026.

Disclaimer:

Safeguarding and Reference: Vita is committed to safeguarding people from harm. This includes ensuring that those who work in and with our organisation, and communities and children with whom we work, are kept safe from all forms of violence, abuse and exploitation.

Any candidate offered a job with Vita will be expected to sign up to and abide by the Vita Safeguarding Policy and behaviour protocols. All successful candidates will be subject to detailed reference checks and may be subject to police vetting or forensic result.

Vita/RTI Ethiopia promotes diversity in the workplace. Regardless of age, marital status, ethnicity, sex, color, country origin, religion, or sexual orientation, Vita/RTI Ethiopia evaluates all applicants solely based on their merits.