Head of Program Area

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

PositionHead of Program Area

Vacant positionsOne (01)

Type of contractFixed term

Working locationByumba Program Area

SupervisorDirector of Strategy & Programs Implementation

Deadline22nd October 2026

Context of the position:

SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda is an independent member association affiliated to the SOS Federation. SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda leverages existing community resources to strengthen quality childcare and protection through a holistic continuum of care tailored to orphans, vulnerable children, and their families. SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda actively advocates for the promotion of childcare and child protection. In Rwanda, SOS Children’s Villages operates in four Program Areas based in Gasabo, Gicumbi, Kayonza and Nyamagabe. To further fulfil the above-mentioned responsibilities, SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda is seeking for a competent Head of Program Area for its Byumba Program Area.

JOB PURPOSE

The Head of Program Area leads the overall development and implementation of an SOS Children’s Villages Programme Area (CVP) and represents SOS CV towards governmental and non-governmental stakeholders in the Program Area.

She/he coordinates the CVP activities and interventions and ensures quality and effectiveness of services through quality assurance and optimal use of resources.

As a member of the National Management team, he/she participates in all NMT meetings and activities

Main clients:

• Government representatives, stakeholders, private sector in the program area

• National Director, Director of Strategy & Programs Implementation

• All NMT members

• Program Area Units Manager and Coordinators

• Other Program Area Coordinators

Key Performance Areas and Main Responsibilities:

Programme development and management

• Contributes to programmes development and leads the implementation of programmes in the Program Area in line with the SOS Care Promise and related international and national SOS policies, strategies, quality standards, and guidelines.

• Leads the implementation of the programme management cycle including the CVP planning process as part of MA annual and strategic planning to ensure that interventions arerelevant to the localcontext, respond to the needs of the target group, and contribute to the development of sustainable social support systems.

• Coordinates and ensures cooperation between all areas of work within the CVP (specialized as well as general support work).

• Regularly reports on CVP activities and progress towards targets to Director of Strategy & Programs Implementation and relevant National Office functions.

• Promotes child protection initiatives at the CVP location including response in emergencies

• Ensures that the CVP is supportive to the identity of the SOS Children’s Villages Organization.

• Develop and implement program area strategies aligned with national goals

• Lead annual planning, budgeting, and target setting

• Ensure programs follow SOS policies and standards

People Management

• In collaboration with Head of HROD she/he establishes appropriate staffing patterns and ensures full staffing of the CVP.

• Leads Programme Units Coordinators in managing staff in the Program Area

• Ensures compliance of the HR Cycle in the CVP following national and legal requirements.

• Participates in the recruitment and on boarding of the Programme units’ coordinators and programme staff in the location, as well as provides input into annual performance appraisals

• Coordinates CVP management team.

• Facilitates cooperation and information flow between National Office staff and their counterparts in the location (according to the national annual plan, job descriptions and NMT agreed procedures).

Financial and Administrative Management

• Ensures efficient and transparent financial management at the Location as the overall location budget holder

• Leads the budgeting process in the location and monitors budget expenditures in cooperation with Programme Units Coordinators and Finance staff at national and local levels in order to ensure that funds are properly used.

• Continually looks for ways to provide quality services in a cost-effective manner.

• Ensures efficiency through best use/sharing of resources across different programme units.

• Ensures SOS CV procedures are adhered to in all administration, logistics and maintenance activities of the Program Area