DanChurchAid (DCA) is looking for an experienced Head of Programmes to lead its Central African Republic (CAR) programme portfolio. Reporting to the Country Director and serving on the Senior Management Team, you will turn country strategy into well-managed projects, strengthen programme quality and partnerships, and support teams delivering assistance in a demanding operating environment.
Duty station: Bangui, with regular travel to field locations. International, non-accompanied position. Contract: 12 months, with the possibility of extension.
About the programme: DCA has worked in CAR since 2015, implementing humanitarian, development and peacebuilding activities directly and with national civil society partners. The portfolio covers protection, psychosocial support and assistance to victims of conflict; conflict prevention, peacebuilding and social cohesion; cash assistance and food security; and humanitarian mine action and explosive ordnance risk awareness. Funding includes the Government of CAR (World Bank back donor), ECHO, INTPA, FPI, the CAR Humanitarian Fund, the UN Peacebuilding Fund, the ICC Trust Fund for Victims and Danish strategic partnership funding.
Key responsibilities:
- Programme strategy and relevance: translate the country strategy into operational priorities using needs assessments, IPC and MSNA findings and community feedback; identify and secure funding opportunities.
- Delivery and quality: steer complex projects through integrated project management frameworks, oversee implementation against results, budgets and timelines, and ensure technical standards, protection mainstreaming and conflict sensitivity.
- People and management: manage assigned staff, set objectives, and provide technical supervision and coaching to area coordinators and programme colleagues.
- MEAL and accountability: strengthen monitoring systems and data quality, maintain project and portfolio dashboards, and ensure accessible feedback and complaints mechanisms.
- Partnerships and localisation: build equitable relationships with national organisations and support due diligence and partner monitoring.
- Project development and funding: lead concept notes, proposals, results frameworks and donor reports; maintain a realistic funding pipeline.
- Grant and risk management: oversee reporting deadlines, contractual commitments and programme risks.
- Co-lead the Cash Working Group, supporting the WFP/OCHA-led structure.
- Senior management and representation: contribute to country-level decisions and represent DCA with donors, clusters, authorities, civil society and peer agencies.
Requirements:
- At least three years of experience managing a multi-project programme portfolio in a complex humanitarian or fragile setting, including staff, quality and donor engagement.
- Strong knowledge of CAR or comparable Central African contexts; previous CAR experience is a strong asset.
- Substantive experience in at least two of: cash programming; food security; Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning including Accountability to Affected Populations.
- Demonstrated people-management skills.
- Proven experience developing successful proposals and donor reports; ECHO, UN funding or World Bank-funded project experience is an advantage.
- Experience steering complex multi-location, multi-partner projects and designing and using portfolio dashboards.
- Experience strengthening community accountability and equitable partnerships with national organisations; commitment to safeguarding and inclusion; recent HEAT or equivalent training desirable.
- Fluency in written and spoken French and good working knowledge of English.
Offer: 12-month contract with possible extension, competitive salary package, 30 days paid annual leave, three R&R cycles per year, and insurance as per industry standards.
Contract: 12 months, with the possibility of extension | Opening date: 22 October 2026 | Closing date: 20 November 2026
HOW TO APPLY:
Submit your CV and cover letter through DCA's online recruitment system by 20 November 2026, explaining how your experience relates to the portfolio, management responsibilities and challenges described. Only applications submitted through the recruitment system will be considered. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early applications are encouraged.