Head of Programmes - South Sudan

Position description

Plan International South Sudan is seeking a Head of Programmes to provide strategic leadership for the delivery of its new five‑year country strategy. The strategy is focused on a triple‑nexus approach, integrating humanitarian assistance, peacebuilding and long‑term development.

Plan International South Sudan currently operates across six states, reaching more than 2 million children and young people, with an annual programme turnover of approximately €30 million. The country programme is supported by over 200 staff and more than 500 volunteers.

Reporting to the Country Director and serving as a member of the Country Leadership Team, the Head of Programmes has overall accountability for programme strategy, design, quality implementation and delivery across the country programme.

The role provides leadership across technical programming, partnerships, advocacy and influencing, communications and business development, ensuring that programmes are well designed, adequately funded, compliant and responsive to the South Sudan context.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Leading the development, implementation, review and refresh of the country strategy and annual plans, in alignment with Plan International’s global and regional frameworks
• Providing strategic and technical leadership across multiple programme areas, including education and early childhood development, child protection, youth leadership and economic empowerment, health, nutrition, WASH, and food security and livelihoods
• Ensuring strong programme quality, with effective monitoring, evaluation and learning systems that inform decision‑making, adaptation and organisational learning
• Leading advocacy and influencing work, ensuring it is evidence‑based and integrated into programme design and delivery
• Supporting resource mobilisation by working closely with business development teams on donor engagement, proposal development and maintaining a healthy grant pipeline
• Building and strengthening strategic partnerships with government, UN agencies, INGOs, local NGOs and other stakeholders
• Working closely with operations teams to ensure effective end‑to‑end project lifecycle management, from design through to close‑out
• Ensuring safeguarding, gender equality and inclusion are embedded across all programmes and ways of working

Qualifications

This role is suited to a senior programme leader with substantial experience managing large, complex and multi‑sector programmes, ideally within fragile or conflict‑affected contexts. You will bring strong strategic leadership, sound judgement, and the ability to lead diverse technical teams while working under pressure in a changing environment.

You will have:

• Extensive experience in programme leadership at country or senior organisational level
• Proven experience in strategic planning, programme quality assurance and grant management
• Strong understanding of integrated development and humanitarian programming
• Demonstrable experience in advocacy, partnership‑building and working with donors
• A solid commitment to child rights, safeguarding, gender equality and inclusion
• Strong analytical, communication and people‑leadership skills

Location: Juba, South Sudan. 30% travel to other areas of Sudan. This is a mandatory unaccompanied assignment.

This is a global recruitment and support with relocation is available if required.

Type of Role: 13 month Fixed term contract

Reports to: Country Director

Closing Date: 11th May 2026

Application instructions

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