Head of Programme - DRC (International)

Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Organization: Geneva Call Closing date: 11 Nov 2026 Department: Operations Duty Station: : Goma Contract Type: Full-time (100%) Contract duration: 1 year (renewable) Direct report: Country Director Grade: Head of (In country) Mission Geneva Call is a neutral and impartial non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting respect by Armed Groups and De Facto and/or Provisional Authorities (AGDAs) for international humanitarian norms in armed conflict and other situations of violence, in particular those related to the protection of civilians. Geneva Call focuses its efforts on banning the use of anti-personnel mines, protecting children from the effects of armed conflict, prohibiting sexual violence in armed conflict, working towards the elimination of gender discrimination, protecting civilian infrastructure, and ensuring humanitarian access. Why this Role? The Head of Programme provides overall leadership, technical oversight, strategic direction, and management of Geneva Call’s programme portfolio in DRC. This includes ensuring high-quality programme design, effective implementation, sound financial management, and strong team leadership. The role requires working in complex and dynamic contexts, adapting programme strategies to meet changing needs, and ensuring alignment with Geneva Call’s mandate, values, and operational priorities. Work Relations Under the supervision of the Country Director, the Head of Programme will provide overall leadership, technical oversight, management and strategic vision of the program of Geneva Call while managing staff and resources to ensure that the program meets its objectives and deliverable timely, qualitatively and within budget. The Head of Programme will work in a fluctuating and uncertain context and constantly adapt the answer of Geneva Call. Duties and Responsibilities Programme Leadership and Strategy • Lead the design, adaptation, and delivery of country programme strategies in alignment with Geneva Call’s global priorities and operational guidelines. • Provide strategic oversight to ensure programmes are contextually relevant, conflict-sensitive, and responsive to humanitarian needs. • Integrate conflict and humanitarian analysis into programme design, monitoring, and adaptation. • Ensure programme implementation meets agreed objectives, quality standards, and donor requirements. Resource Mobilisation, Proposal Development, and Reporting • Foster innovation and identify new opportunities for engagement, partnerships, and growth. • Lead proposal development and resource mobilisation with the Country Director and Donor Relations, aiming for diversified and multi-year funding, including consortium bids with international and national organisations, and ensuring viable programming consistent with access, security and absorption capacity. • Ensure timely and high-quality donor reporting and internal programme reports. Programme Management and Coordination • Oversee the planning, delivery, and monitoring of all projects in line with project cycle management standards. • Ensure effective coordination among programme teams and with other departments (finance, logistics, HR). • Monitor programme expenditure against budgets and ensure compliance with Geneva Call policies, donor requirements, and accountability standards. • Lead periodic grant reviews (activity progress, budget-versus-actual, burn rate) with Finance and the Programme Coordinators, and anticipate budget realignments or no-cost extension requests to avoid under- or overspending, and contribute to evaluations and audits. • Maintain effective relationships with implementing partners, providing technical and operational support where required. • Safeguard all programme data and ensure proper documentation and filing systems. Team Leadership and Human Resource Management • Line-manage senior programme staff and oversee recruitment, induction, and professional development. • Promote a safe, collaborative, and high-performing team culture that aligns with Geneva Call’s values. • Provide mentoring, coaching, and capacity-building to strengthen team skills and performance. • Ensure compliance with HR policies, performance management processes, and safeguarding standards. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) • Contribute to ensure robust MEAL systems are in place to track progress, assess impact, and inform programme adaptation. • Support evidence-based decision-making and promote a learning culture within the team. • Contribute to evaluations. External and internal Relations, Advocacy, and Representation • Represent Geneva Call with national authorities, donors, coordination bodies, and other key stakeholders. • Contribute to advocacy and policy engagement in line with Geneva Call’s mandate and country strategy. • Support the development and implementation of communications and visibility plans, ensuring sensitivity to security and perception risks. • Build and maintain strategic partnerships to enhance programme impact and sustainability. • Together with the Country Director, lead engagement with AGDAs, community leaders and other local and national stakeholders. Requirements Education (Essential) • Graduate degree in International Relations, Political or Social Sciences, International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights, Development Studies, or related field. Experience (Essential) • 10 years of relevant experience in humanitarian or protection organisations, including at least 3 years in senior programmatic leadership roles, in an international context. • Proven record in programme strategy development, project cycle management, and budget oversight. • Experience in building and managing partnerships with civil society, INGOs, UN agencies, and donors. • Experience developing high-quality proposals and managing grants from institutional donors and private foundations. • Experience working in conflict-affected or complex humanitarian settings. Experience (Desirable) • Demonstrated experience engaging with armed actors or other non-state actors in a neutral and principled manner. • Academic and/or work experience in Humanitarian Protection, humanitarian dialogue, and International Humanitarian Law is highly desired. Job-related competencies • Strong strategic and operational planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities. • Solid understanding of donor compliance frameworks and accountability requirements. • Strong facilitation, negotiation, and diplomacy skills with diverse stakeholders. • Proficiency in project management tools, MEAL systems, and budget monitoring. • Knowledge of International Humanitarian Law and protection principles is an asset. Organisational competencies • Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills. • Ability to work under pressure, adapt to rapidly changing contexts, and make sound decisions. • Strong leadership qualities with a collaborative and inclusive approach. • High degree of integrity, discretion, and commitment to Geneva Call’s values. • Results-oriented, solution-focused, and proactive mindset. Languages (Essential) • Fluency in written and spoken French and English in required. Languages (Desirable) • Knowledge of local languages is an asset. Additional information • The incumbent must be willing and able to travel at short notice. • Testing and interviewing will be used as a form of screening. • Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory professional references. • Additional background checks may be required. Why join Geneva Call? This is a unique opportunity to provide strategic leadership and oversight of impactful humanitarian programmes in complex conflict environments, contributing to the protection of vulnerable communities. You will play a key role in shaping programme strategy, ensuring programme quality and effectiveness, and strengthening principled humanitarian engagement with armed actors in line with humanitarian norms. If you are motivated by combining strategic vision, programme excellence, and humanitarian purpose, this position offers the opportunity to make a tangible and lasting contribution to the communities affected by armed conflict. We look forward to receiving your application. Geneva Call consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, and opinions. Geneva Call is an inclusive working environment for all staff. Applications are particularly encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on the grounds of race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. How to apply For Application: Please only submit your CV and cover letter by November 11th, 2026, by following the application link below: Application link Our HR team will meticulously evaluate your profile in line with the requirements of the post you have applied for. Since we receive a good number of applications for all the positions Geneva Call advertises, it is not possible to communicate the results of our decisions with every candidate individually. Therefore, only the short-listed candidates will be contacted by the HR team to invite them for written test – and the steps afterwards if they qualify i.e., interview and other assessments as deemed appropriate. By submitting your application, you consent to Geneva Call sharing your CV internally, where necessary, for the purposes of assessing your suitability for current or future employment opportunities.