Head of Programs

Internal vacancy

Scope: Global

Hours: 40 hours per week

Reports to: CEO

Term: 4 years

Office: All Hivos locations

Deadline: December 12th, 2025 (Midnight UTC)

About the Role

The Head of Programs (HP) reports directly to the CEO and is a member of Hivos Core Leadership Team (CLT) and responsible for managing the Program’s team and all the projects in Hivos. As a member of the CLT, the role carries collective responsibility for leading the entire organization—working collaboratively with the CEO and fellow CLT members to shape strategy, uphold organizational culture, and ensure coherent, cross-functional leadership.

Purpose of the Role

The purpose of this role is to ensure thematic quality, strategic coherence, and project excellence across Hivos’ program portfolio by fostering continuous learning and adaptive management. The role guides the development of program strategies and thematic frameworks, supports effective project design and delivery, and embeds DMEL, security, and quality assurance throughout the project cycle. It strengthens cross-learning, innovation, and knowledge sharing, ensures robust outcome measurement, and promotes portfolio alignment while leveraging advocacy opportunities and relationships.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide oversight, guidance, and leadership on all aspects of program design, development and quality assurance.
• Distils themes and related product development from internal and external practice; ensures a viable internal knowledge management and promotes innovative practices across sectors, roles and cross-cutting themes including collaboration with CEO office.
• Ensure there are systems and tools in place for conflict sensitive programming including do-no harm approaches to programming.
• Develop a close and productive working relationship with program teams to ensure by-in of quality standards and processes, and that designs and course corrections are evidence based and informed by learning.
• Ensure the implementation of effective Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning strategies at all levels of the country program.
• Ensure Information Management is embedded in programs and that data management adheres to GDPR and other data protection protocols .
• Adopt an evidence-based approach that sees the dissemination of lessons learned and best practices across countries, to donors and to other stakeholders when relevant in order ensure synergetic programming and cross-program collaboration Supervise monitoring and evaluation of the operations to ensure the overall implementation is in accordance with agreed work plans, donor agreements.
• Lead, motivate, and develop staff, ensuring teamwork and professional growth.
• Ensure establishing programs that guarantee the physical safety and security of staff, especially field staff working in high-risk environments.

Skills and Experience

• Extensive experience leading complex, multi-country programs from design to delivery, ensuring quality, coherence, and impact.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and manage diverse teams delivering a broad portfolio of programs.
• More than 10 years of progressive experience in program management
• Strong track record of delivering multiple projects on time, within budget, and to agreed quality standards.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing, adapting, and improving programs and processes based on evidence, evaluation, and learning.
• Solid knowledge of impact measurement and management, including Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL/DMEL) frameworks.
• Strong partnership management skills, with experience engaging funders, implementing partners, and other stakeholders to deliver high-quality outcomes.
• Ability to represent the organization externally with credibility, influencing senior stakeholders and positioning Hivos’ thematic work.
• Understanding of inclusive, accessible, and sensitive program design, including do-no-harm approaches.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding standards, risk management, and escalation protocols, especially in international and high-risk contexts.
• Experience managing and overseeing program budgets, financial forecasting, and reporting at senior leadership level.
• Confident using CRM or program management systems to track delivery, data, and outcomes, ensuring adherence to GDPR and data protection protocols.
• Experience contributing to or leading fundraising bids and supporting business development through evidence and program insights.
• Knowledge of international development trends, human rights frameworks, and the intersection of social justice, equity, and locally led development.
• Experience with Theory of Change processes and developing monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks.

How to apply

Please submit a cover letter (maximum 1 page) and CV (maximum 2 pages) as soon as possible by clicking the ‘Apply here’ button. "Or something extra for applicants.