Program Manager – Eastern Sudan

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

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