About this role
Title
Program Manager – Eastern Sudan
Location
Al Jazirah
Travel
Regular travel across Eastern Sudan states is required, subject to security and access conditions.
Job Family and Level
Program Management & Leadership M7
Pre hire checks
This role is classified as requiring standard pre-employment checks / enhanced due diligence
1. Scope
Responsibility
Multi state/project level
Department
Programs/Implementation
Reporting to
DCD Programs (Sudan)
Direct reports
Project/Program Coordinators and field program staff; final reporting lines to be confirmed.
Budget responsibility
Over 15,000,000 USD
Relationship management
Program Team, Support Functions, Desk/Support Team
Job Profile
You will lead the delivery of RI’s multi-sector program portfolio across Eastern Sudan, ensuring projects are implemented on time, within budget, and in line with donor, RI, and national requirements.
The role provides leadership across project start-up, implementation, adaptation, reporting, and close-out. You will coordinate closely with program, MEAL, technical, awards, partnerships, finance, supply chain, security, and HR teams to ensure safe, accountable, and high-quality programming in a complex humanitarian context. You will also strengthen staff and partner capacity, support adaptive management, and ensure risks are identified, escalated, and managed effectively.
Key Responsibilities
Project Leadership, Oversight & Reporting
• Provide overall management for all project components in the East to deliver targets on time, on scope, and on budget, using RI’s project management framework.
• Ensure effective internal coordination (program, MEAL, technical, awards/partnerships, and support functions) and timely submission of high‑quality donor reports.
• Lead project start‑up/close‑out; identify and lead modifications (realignments, NCEs) in coordination with relevant departments.
• Develop and implement an internal communication plan to keep teams aligned and informed.
• Ensure timely procurement planning and coordination with Supply Chain during project start-up and implementation
• Ensure project implementation tracking tools are regularly updated and used for decision-making.
Partnerships Management
• Support the Grants and Partnership teams in overseeing partnerships with international/local/national NGOs, including supporting due diligence, sub‑granting, compliance monitoring, and capacity strengthening.
• Facilitate partner assessments, improvement plans, and performance oversight; ensure timely and compliant partner reporting and delivery.
Budget & Grants Compliance
• Serve as budget holder; ensure expenditures align with the approved budget/forecast and comply with RI and donor policies.
• Lead BvA monitoring and reforecasting with Finance; coordinate budget modifications, realignments, and NCEs as needed.
• Ensure compliant procurement and documentation aligned with donor and internal rules
Accountability & Learning (MEAL)
• In collaboration with MEAL, implement fit‑for‑purpose monitoring systems ensuring data quality for decision‑making and adaptation.
• Ensure timely external reporting to relevant stakeholders (e.g., clusters, MoH) and support learning reviews to iterate program design.
• Maintain effective accountability mechanisms, including community feedback and complaint response systems.
• In coordination with the MEAL team lead, strengthen data systems for the east projects; review trends to drive adaptive management.
• In coordination with the MEAL team lead and the technical team leads, conduct routine field supervision to assess progress, compliance, and quality.
People Management & Capacity Strengthening
• Ensure adequate staffing and clear roles; manage day‑to‑day performance and foster a collaborative, accountable team culture.
• Coach and mentor staff; integrate staff care and well‑being; support recruitment and onboarding of health/nutrition personnel.
Safeguarding, Gender & Inclusion
• Embed safeguarding in all activities; promote gender‑sensitive and inclusive programming that meets the needs of marginalized groups (e.g., women, children, persons with disabilities).
• Train staff and partners on safeguarding; maintain clear, confidential reporting pathways and act on concerns.
Behavior & Conduct
• Model RI’s Code of Conduct and safeguarding standards; ensure own actions and those of team members uphold safety and dignity of communities served; ensure stakeholders know reporting mechanisms; report concerns promptly.
Person Specification
Essential
• Master’s degree in public health, International Development, Project Management, Humanitarian Affairs, Social Sciences, or related field.
• 5+ years progressive technical and program management in humanitarian/development settings; at least 3 years managing grants in fragile/conflict‑affected contexts.
• Proven experience managing institutional donors (e.g., UN, USG/BHA/PRM/USAID, ECHO, EC, FCDO) with strong compliance, budgeting, and on time delivery.
• Strong program management experience across multi-sector programming, with good technical understanding of at least one relevant sector such as WASH, Nutrition, FSL, Health or Protection.
• Solid understanding of MEAL and using learning for adaptive management.
• Demonstrated leadership and coordination with multi‑disciplinary teams, including remote supervision; experience building partner capacity and oversight.
• Excellent analytical, communication, problem‑solving, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Languages: Fluency in English. Arabic desirable.
Desirable
• Previous experience in Sudan or comparable humanitarian operating environments.
• Familiarity with digital tools for project management and remote monitoring in insecure contexts.
• Experience in emergency preparedness/response and outbreak management; knowledge of WHO/Sphere standards.
RI Values
Relief International upholds the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and operational independence and affirms its commitment to engaging with the most vulnerable communities.
We value:
• Inclusiveness
• Transparency and accountability
• Agility and innovation
• Collaboration
• Sustainability