Job Opportunity: Programme Development and Quality Manager position available at Danish Refugee Council in Addis Ababa. Development and Project Management jobs in Ethiopia are in high demand. Apply now through GeezJobs - Ethiopia's leading job portal.

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified Programme Development and Quality Manager for our operations in Addis Ababa Country Office.

Overall purpose of the role 

The Programme Development and Quality Manager provides strategic leadership and management oversight of DRC’s sectoral work, leads on programme development and business development, and monitoring of quality and outcomes of DRC’s work. The postholder supports DRC Ethiopia’s Head of Program in forging and maintaining relationships with key strategic stakeholders and donors. He/she will ensure that DRC Ethiopia’s programmes are designed and delivered in an integrated manner, with a strong focus on Gender and Inclusion and system strengthening. The role holder is also a member of DRC Ethiopia Extended Senior Management Team, contributing to the overall strategy setting of the country office and decision making on key shared priorities of the country office.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Strategic Direction:

• In close collaboration with the Head of Programme, support to development and implementation of the country programme strategy and ensure that coherent sectoral strategies are in place to support a shared vision. 
• Ensure that DRC Ethiopia programming aligns with DRC Global Response Framework and its two platforms, with emphasis on ensuring timely and quality emergency response and strong focus on solutions and strengthening of local systems.
• Lead the development of contextualized TOC for the country office and its application in practice.
• Monitor and keep the organization abreast of major programmatic, operational and business development trends or shifts.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of emerging technical trends and sector innovations. 
• Lead and drive sectoral integration, strengthening DRC’s approach to integrated programming based on evidence, impact and replicability 
• Ensure that the proposal development process fully integrates CHS commitments, global cross-cutting themes including Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) as well as lessons learned from previous programming.
• Coordinate needs assessments, contextual analyses, and feasibility studies to inform program design.
• Support organisational cross-cutting initiatives, including localization and focus on Inclusive Systems for the Displaced, to ensure that these are embedded in and across sectors.
• Increase the visibility and documentation of DRC’s programmes in Ethiopia.

Quality and impact:

• Lead the process of continuous quality assurance and outcome monitoring of DRC Ethiopia and partners’ work.
• Develop and implement program quality standards, tools, and guidance across all projects.
• Ensure technical consistency and alignment of program activities across field locations.
• Lead internal quality reviews, program audits, and technical performance assessments.
• Ensure that adequate systems are in place and used to monitor immediate and long-term outcomes of DRC’s work in collaboration with the MEAL unit. 
• Work with the MEAL Unit to disseminate program findings and research outcomes to donors, local authorities and to other humanitarian and development partners.
• Strengthen accountability mechanisms, including feedback and complaints systems.
• Facilitate cross-learning and coordination on lessons learned and good practices across different programme teams and ensure lessons learned inform program adaptation.

Leadership and management:

• Manage and lead a team of technical coordinators and specialists as well as the MEAL unit, building team unity, defining the unit’s work, setting individual work plans, providing leadership and mentoring, and ensuring alignment against a shared direction
• Ensure the appropriate resource prioritization and forward planning against country office strategic objectives based on a continual assessment of needs and priorities, in dialogue with the Head of Programmes
• Collaborate across the programme team, nurturing collaborative relationships and ensuring programmatic coherence across regional programmes, advocacy and communications, policy, business development and external engagement.
• Lead or supervise the technical aspects of business development processes, including integrated programme design with strong focus on systems approaches and GESI. 

Staff Capacity Building

• Identify technical capacity gaps and deliver structured training, mentoring, and coaching.
• Support the development of curriculum, guidance notes, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Ensure field teams have the skills and support required to meet program quality standards.

Innovation

• Identify opportunities for innovative work promoting issues around program development and quality.

Other

• Work closely with Grants and Partnership teams to coordinate and support all stages of the proposal development process including but not limited to developing writing guides and proposal calendars to ensuring high-quality, timely submission of complete proposal packages.
• Actively participate in the day-to-day management of DRC Ethiopia as part of the Extended Senior Management Team.
• Any other duties as agreed with the Head of Programme.

Experience and technical competencies: 

Professional technical experience evidencing and demonstrating the ability to deliver against the above-mentioned responsibilities:

• Proven experience (minimum 3 years) of inclusive systems work, including in fragile contexts or protracted crises. 

• Strong technical expertise on GESI.

• Considerable technical experience from and knowledge of sector approaches from at least two of DRC’s core sectors 

• Proven track record in business development, budget development, project cycle management and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) 

• Experience with effectively coordinating with national partners, local governments and authorities, NGO partners, UN agencies, donors, international community and other relevant stakeholders 

• Organized, articulate and with attention to detail and quality 

• Demonstrated capacity of understanding the organisational constraints of applying market system approaches in nexus programming / humanitarian organisations

• A good understanding of Ethiopia economic and political context

 EDUCATION: (include certificates, licenses, etc.)

• Master’s degree in law, social sciences, international development, or another relevant field 

LANGUAGE: (indicate Fluency level)

• Excellent verbal and written English and Amharic language skills required.
• Regional languages are an asset.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: 

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. 

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. 

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. 

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly. 

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: 12 Months 

Contract Type: National Contract

Band: F1 – Management

Designation of Duty Station: Addis Ababa.

 Start date:  1 January, 2026

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National employees

How To Apply

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Application Link: 

Closing date for applications: December 10, 2025

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.

Gender Equality: DRC is committed to achieving gender parity in staffing at all levels. In light of this, women candidates are particularly encouraged to apply to bridge the gendergap.
Equal Opportunities: DRC is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability status, religion, ethnic origin, colour, race, marital status, or other protected characteristics

We strongly encourage female candidates to apply for the position!

We encourage only qualified Ethiopian Nations to apply. DRC considers all applicants based on merit.