Job title:                              Programme Director

Reports to:                         Country Director

Terms:                                 Full-time, fixed-term, unaccompanied, preferable start July 2026

Duration:                            12 or 24 months (on candidate’s preference)

Location:                            Goma

Salary:                                 GB7 €51,861 - €57,623  

About Concern:                Established in 1968, Concern Worldwide is an international, humanitarian, non-governmental organisation dedicated to the elimination of extreme poverty and the reduction of human suffering, primarily in fragile countries.

Our Vision is a world where all people live in peace and prosperity and are treated equally, with dignity and respect. Informed by the priorities of affected communities, we go where the needs are greatest, and work to save lives, protect and develop livelihoods, support recovery and build long-term resilience.

To advance our mission and ensure high‑quality, impactful work, we are guided by our core values and a culture committed to inclusion, compassion, and humanity. Inspired by our founders and our long history of effective programming, these values reflect both who we are and how we address extreme poverty in the world’s most fragile contexts.

We are dedicated to fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported to succeed and contribute to our mission. 

Role Purpose:                    You will report to the Country Director (CD). In the current context (subject to change depending on funding), you will line manage two Programme Coordinators, the Programme Development and Quality Coordinator, and the technical programme advisers (Gender, Protection, and WASH). You will work closely with the Country Director, the Area Coordinators, the Operations Director, and the Country Financial Controller.

As a member of Concern’s Senior Management Team in DRC, you will:

• Provide strategic direction to the programmes implemented in the different areas and ensure stable leadership for Concern and coherence between programmes and systems.
• Build a network of key technical and peer agencies which allows for shared learning, identifying potential consortium actions, programme development and the establishment of effective advocacy platforms.
• Lead on the development of high quality proposals linked with the country programme strategy.
• Lead quality and control in programmes through improving programming methodologies, techniques and through mentoring of managers on programme tools, approaches and methodologies.
• Actively participate in the management and development of all aspects of Concern DRC’s operations.
• Ensure in-country learning and information sharing across the DRC areas of operation by creating and maintaining good communication linkages between and within programmes and areas.
• Represent Concern in Goma through meetings with donors, other agencies as well as in consortia.
• Ensure high quality programme reporting to donors, partners and communities.
• Ensure accountability processes and procedures are in place and working effectively including Complaints and Response Mechanisms and beneficiary feedback mechanisms.

Responsibilities:

Programme Design, Implementation and Development

• Lead the development and implementation of a country-wide programme strategy
• Lead in developing proposals and programmes in line with country strategies and in collaboration with the Programme Development and Quality Coordinator and Programme Support Officer.
• Support the Area Coordinators, Programme Coordinators & Managers in programme design and implementation, providing technical guidance at all stages of the programme cycle ensuring the implementation of high-quality programming.
• Ensure that the impact of Concern’s programmes is captured through strong Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning processes and through ongoing critical reflection and discussion.
• Revise programmes where required to ensure they are responding to the needs of communities.
• Identify new programmatic areas or funding opportunities to build on existing programming and increase impact.
• Ensure that opportunities for working with partners are fully explored and that partnerships are engaged and maintained in a meaningful way and in line with Concern’s Localisation Approach.
• Ensure proper documentation and record keeping related to all programme areas.
• Ensure gender and protection activities, indicators, staffing and deliverables are included in each programme.
• Promote and ensure compliance with the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) commitments and quality criteria across DRC and support managers and colleagues in their application.
• Ensure that all programme staff are familiar with the principles underpinning accountability, safeguarding and Concern's Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) and ensure that information about Concern's commitments on accountability and safeguarding are disseminated among programme participants and communities.
• In collaboration with the Programme Quality and Development Coordinator, ensure continued effective roll-out and implementation of the Complaints Response Mechanism across all Concern DRC locations as well as a monitoring of its implementation (timeliness to respond etc.), enabling safe reporting of both programmatic and sensitive complaints, including safeguarding concerns.
• Ensure that complaints are welcomed, managed and responded to in a timely, fair and appropriate manner; ensure that sensitive complaints, including safeguarding concerns, are handled with utmost confidentiality and that the safety of the complainants and those affected is prioritised at all stages.
• Work with the Country Director and the Desk Officer to design and implement the programme and funding strategy to ensure projects and proposals are developed in line with the Country Offices broader ambitions.

Staff Development and Organisational Learning

• Ensure all programme staff have regularly set and reviewed personal performance objectives that are relevant to programme direction and needs.
• Communicate programme information across the organisation, within DRC as well as at a global level.
• Develop linkages between geographic and programmatic areas through country-level team meetings.
• Support and guide programme staff in management and / or technical (programme) subjects.
• Ensure clear processes in each programme to ensure organisational learning is prioritised and systematically used in project cycle management, external exchange and advocacy.
• With HR, ensure timely recruitment of staff, succession planning and retention and staff development.
• Ensure that Concern’s Code of Conduct and Associated Policies are fully integrated and implemented in all aspects of work.
• Demonstrate leadership on workplace equality, diversity and inclusion and role model a positive safeguarding ethos.

Country Strategy and Networking/representation

• Support the Country Director on the development and implementation of the new Country Strategic Plan (2026-2031).
• Maintain and develop national level networks relevant to increasing Concern’s learning and profile.
• Ensure active and visible participation in national level coordination including relevant clusters and donor/implementing partner groups/humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
• Develop research and international communication pieces to promote learning and influence at a wider level.

Donor Compliance and Reporting

• Ensure effective donor compliance through training on donor guidelines, ensure the donor reporting schedule is followed and monitor the quality of donor reporting.
• Support teams in preparing Concern’s Annual Programme Reports, and consolidate inputs into the country level report.

Finance and Budgeting

• Review programme budgets and ensure they are realistic and in line with our programming strategy.
• Review management accounts and provide feedback to budget holders and finance.
• Ensure project managers and area coordinators are adequately following up on project expenditure and explaining any variances.
• Assist the Country Financial Controller (CFC) in the preparation of donor and internal budgets and financial reports.

Role Holder Requirements:

• Third level qualification in Development Studies or other relevant discipline.
• At least five years overseas experience in similar or related senior management positions.
• Experience of programme development, proposal writing and participatory planning methodologies.
• Experience of project and programme cycle management, developing and implementing programme quality tools and monitoring and evaluation processes.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including being able to work effectively in English and French – written and spoken.
• Experience of staff development and management.
• Knowledge and experience of emergency preparedness and response.
• Knowledge of mainstreaming Equality (especially Gender), Diversity, Inclusion and Protection.
• Commitment to promote Concern’s values, including a positive culture around safeguarding and ED&I within the organisation.
• Experience of networking and representation at coordination fora.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills.
• Ability to work under pressure often to strict deadlines.
• Experience of working in insecure zones.

Core Values

• Demonstrates a strong commitment to humanity, humility, and a sense of humour, contributing to a respectful, grounded, and positive working environment.
• Upholds dignity, respect, and integrity in all interactions, both internally and with affected communities.

Approach to Work

• Applies flexible and adaptive working methods in complex and evolving humanitarian contexts.
• Prioritizes practical, solution-oriented approaches to address field realities effectively.
• Promotes inclusive practices, ensuring diverse perspectives are valued and integrated into decision-making processes.

Professional Attitudes

• Works collaboratively across teams, functions, and cultural contexts to achieve shared objectives.
• Demonstrates empathy, sensitivity, and strong interpersonal awareness when engaging with colleagues, partners, and communities.
• Shows a high level of engagement, accountability, and commitment to organizational goals and humanitarian principles.

We would also like:

• Work experience in DRC.
• Experience working in emergency, early recovery, WASH or nutrition sectors.

We encourage all eligible candidates, irrespective of gender, ethnicity or origin, disability, political beliefs, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status to apply to become a part of the organisation. Concern is against all forms of discrimination and unequal power relations and is committed to promoting equality. 

If this role sounds right for you, please apply with your CV and cover letter. We will respond to every applicant. Please be aware we may offer positions before the closing date.

If you have any concerns about our recruitment process and need particular assistance - for example if you have a disability e.g. a hearing impairment - please let us know and we will do our best to respond to your needs.  

Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be shortlisted on a regular basis, and we may offer posts before the closing date.

Important information:

Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct supported by three Associated Policies: The Programme Participant Protection Policy, the Child Safeguarding Policy, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy accessible here. These have been designed to ensure the highest level of protection for everyone the organization engages through its work.  
The policies set out the behaviours and responsibilities that Concern staff, and all its representatives (including consultants, contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers, partners, visitors, ambassadors and Board members) are expected to uphold. They also articulate Concern’s commitment to safeguarding and protecting adults and children from harm in all aspects of our work. We will therefore do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work or volunteer with adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Consequently, working or volunteering with Concern may be subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.  

In this context, all staff and representatives of Concern have a responsibility to uphold the highest standards in their work, in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies.  

Your Personal Data: 

During this job application, you will provide Concern with your personal data. Concern takes its responsibilities towards this personal data very seriously and is committed to complying with all relevant data protection legislation.  

For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office.  

You have certain rights under data protection legislation. For more information on how to exercise those rights please visit www.concern.net/about/privacy