Job Description
Company: World Relief Sudan
Job Title: Program Director
Work Location: Sudan (Roving – All Locations)
Job Type: Full-Time
Department: Programs
Reports To: Country Director, World Relief Sudan
Industry: NGO / Humanitarian / International Development
Experience Level: Senior Leadership / Director Level
Job Overview
World Relief Sudan is recruiting an experienced and strategic Program Director to lead and oversee its multi-sector humanitarian and development portfolio across Sudan.
The role is designed for a highly experienced humanitarian leader capable of operating in complex, fragile, and conflict-affected settings, ensuring high-quality, accountable, and donor-compliant programming. As a senior member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Deputy to the Country Director, the Program Director will support organizational leadership, program growth, partnership strengthening, fundraising, and humanitarian coordination.
The successful candidate will guide program implementation across all operational areas, ensuring interventions are evidence-based, responsive to evolving humanitarian needs, and aligned with World Relief’s mission, values, donor expectations, and humanitarian standards.
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About World Relief
World Relief is an international humanitarian organization founded after World War II to respond to urgent humanitarian crises in Europe. Today, the organization operates across 100 countries, partnering with local communities to strengthen resilience and improve livelihoods.
Key areas of intervention include:
- Humanitarian & Disaster Response
- Community Strengthening & Resilience
- Refugee & Immigrant Services
- Advocacy and Protection Programs
World Relief’s mission is centered on building communities where families thrive and communities flourish, especially in crisis-affected regions.
Main Purpose of the Role
The Program Director provides strategic leadership, oversight, and accountability for World Relief Sudan’s multi-sector and multi-donor programming portfolio.
The role focuses on:
- Program Strategy Development
- Grant Oversight & Compliance
- Program Quality Assurance
- Partnership Development
- Resource Mobilization
- Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL)
- Risk Management & Humanitarian Coordination
The Program Director will ensure that humanitarian interventions balance immediate emergency response with long-term resilience and recovery efforts.
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Key Job Description (JD)
Program Leadership & Strategic Oversight
The Program Director will:
- Lead and oversee World Relief Sudan’s country program portfolio.
- Ensure high-quality, accountable, and compliant program delivery across sectors.
- Develop and refine country-level humanitarian and resilience strategies.
- Ensure integration of key cross-cutting priorities, including:
- Protection
- Gender/Sex Inclusion
- Disability Inclusion
- Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP)
- Environmental Considerations
- Collaborate with internal departments such as:
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Logistics
- Operations
to ensure program objectives are achieved.
Program Development & Resource Mobilization
Responsibilities include:
- Leading proposal and concept note development.
- Designing integrated, multi-sector humanitarian programs.
- Identifying new funding opportunities and donor engagement strategies.
- Supporting strategic positioning for donor-funded programs.
- Ensuring proposals are informed by:
- Needs assessments
- Lessons learned
- Humanitarian best practices
- Developing compliant and realistic program budgets.
Grant Management & Compliance
The successful candidate will:
- Oversee the full grant cycle from proposal to closeout.
- Ensure compliance with donor regulations and contractual obligations.
- Monitor:
- Budgets
- Procurement plans
- Indicators
- Reports
- Program deliverables
- Conduct monthly budget-vs-actual (BVA) reviews with finance and operations teams.
- Ensure cost-effective procurement and supply chain support for program implementation.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL)
The Program Director will:
- Provide leadership for organizational MEAL systems.
- Strengthen adaptive management through real-time learning and data use.
- Promote evidence-based programming and accountability.
- Ensure feedback systems improve program quality and responsiveness.
- Strengthen accountability to affected populations through effective community engagement mechanisms.
Representation & Coordination
The role includes:
- Representing World Relief Sudan at:
- Humanitarian coordination forums
- Technical working groups
- Donor meetings
- Government engagements
- UN agency coordination platforms
- Supporting advocacy and strategic humanitarian decision-making.
- Deputizing for the Country Director when required.
- Strengthening relationships with:
- Government institutions
- Donors
- NGOs
- Civil society organizations
- Communities
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People Management & Capacity Building
The Program Director will supervise:
- Project Directors
- Program Managers
- Technical Advisors
Responsibilities include:
- Managing day-to-day staff performance.
- Conducting performance reviews and check-ins.
- Mentoring and coaching teams.
- Identifying staff development and training needs.
- Building high-performing and diverse teams across field locations.
- Ensuring compliance with safeguarding and organizational policies.
Risk Management & Humanitarian Access
The selected candidate will:
- Work closely with the Senior Management Team (SMT) to manage:
- Operational risks
- Security risks
- Financial risks
- Reputational risks
- Support remote management in constrained environments.
- Contribute to staff safety and duty-of-care planning.
- Develop access strategies for insecure humanitarian settings.
Partnerships & Localization
The Program Director will:
- Identify and strengthen local partnerships.
- Conduct partner due diligence and capacity assessments.
- Oversee sub-awards and compliance processes.
- Promote equitable and localized humanitarian programming.
- Build strategic partnerships with:
- Government stakeholders
- Civil society organizations
- Academic institutions
- Donors
- Private sector actors
Educational Requirements
Required Qualification:
- Master’s Degree in:
- International Development
- Public Administration
- Business Administration
- Public Health
- Related disciplines
Preferred Qualifications
Additional qualifications are considered an advantage, including:
- MBA
- Master of Public Health (MPH)
- Public Policy qualifications
Preference may be given to candidates with:
- Previous experience in faith-based organizations
- Multi-sector international NGO experience
- Experience mentoring national professionals
- Sudan or conflict-affected context experience
- Arabic language proficiency
Experience Requirements
Candidates should possess:
- 7–10 years of progressive humanitarian or development experience
- At least 5 years in senior leadership roles managing:
- Multi-sector programs
- Multi-donor portfolios
- Fragile and conflict-affected contexts
Demonstrated experience in:
- Program Design & Management
- Grant Management
- Donor Compliance
- Budget Oversight
- MEAL Systems
- Partnership Development
Technical Skills & Knowledge
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Strong understanding of:
- Humanitarian Principles
- Sphere Standards
- Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS)
- Donor compliance expertise involving:
- US Government (USG)
- ECHO
- European Union (EU)
- UNICEF
- WFP
Language Requirements
- Fluent English (Written & Spoken) – Required
- Arabic – Preferred / Advantage
Salary & Benefits
Salary: Competitive salary package based on World Relief compensation structures, donor funding, qualifications, and years of experience.
Benefits may include:
- Leadership development opportunities
- Professional humanitarian training
- International collaboration exposure
- Staff wellbeing support
- Career progression opportunities
- Travel-related allowances (where applicable)
Training & Professional Development
Selected candidates may receive:
- Leadership and management development
- Humanitarian coordination training
- Grant and donor compliance training
- MEAL systems strengthening
- Mentorship and structured learning programs
Working Environment
The position requires:
- Extensive travel across Sudan.
- Working in conflict-affected and austere environments.
- Adaptability to insecure operational contexts.
- Ability to manage physical, emotional, and operational pressures.
Faith-Based Employment Requirement
World Relief is a faith-based organization, and Christian faith is a requirement for employment, in accordance with organizational values and applicable U.S. federal law under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Equal Opportunity Employer
World Relief is an EEO/AA Employer (M/F/D/V) committed to fair employment practices and maintaining a professional, inclusive, and respectful workplace.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should apply through World Relief Sudan’s official recruitment channels. Applicants are encouraged to tailor their CVs and cover letters to highlight relevant humanitarian leadership, donor management, grants oversight, MEAL systems, partnership development, and conflict-response experience to improve their chances of selection.