PLAN INTERNATIONAL

Plan International is a rights-based development and humanitarian organization working for better lives for all children. We are independent of government and have no political or religious affiliation. Our purpose is to strive for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries. Our global strategy has a specific focus on girls, as they are often the most marginalized and most often left behind. We have committed ourselves to the ambitious target of reaching 100 million girls over 5 years, to ensure they can learn, lead, decide and thrive. This is our contribution to reaching the sustainable development goals, and in particular the goals on gender equality. Our organization is transforming itself to meet this enormous challenge everywhere we work. We need bold, forward-thinking and innovative individuals to lead our country operations, driving change and delivering results that will allow us to have Girls Standing Strong for Global Change. 

Plan started working in Egypt in 1981 and has a presence in ten of the 27 governorates in which the country including Cairo, Alexandria, Giza, Beheira, Kalyoubia, Damietta, Qena, Assuit, Aswan, and Sohag. Plan international Egypt implements programmes designed to enable communities to improve the lives of the most marginalised children and their families. Plan Egypt’s Country Strategy focuses on five strategic objectives.

Through a five-interconnected, gender transformative and context-fit country objectives, PIE intends along with the various stakeholders at all levels to continue delivering positive and transformative changes so that “Children, especially girls, and young people grow up in an enabling environment, realizing their rights and contributing in both development and humanitarian settings as active agents of change”. Driven by the overall purpose of PII and anchored on Plan International core values, bolder commitment to gender transformation and feminist leadership, program quality and influencing and a more vibrant and efficient operating model.

Dimension of the Role

Under the supervision of the Country Director, the Head of Programme will:

• Lead Plan International Egypt programme team, and oversee all programmatic aspects including technical expertise, influencing, monitoring, evaluation, research and learning, partnership, sponsorship, youth engagement and business development
• Develop programmes of work within Plan International Egypt strategies and the operational requirements to deliver these programmes.,
• Ensure general oversight of project implementation in coordination with, Programme Area Managers and Project Managers in PIE.
• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for implementing and evaluating quality gender transformative projects and programmes that advance children and youth’s rights and equality for girls in Plan International Egypt
• Oversee the management and proper execution of all programs, including planning, implementation, administration, monitoring, risk and management budgetary framework within the framework of PIE Country Strategy (CS)
• Facilitate the establishment and implementation of overall management standards and other standards of accountability, effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of Plan's child rights programme to end child poverty and girls' rights.
• Lead the implementation of safeguarding policy and the integration of standards into Plan International's programmatic work in the country.
• Member of the Country Leadership Team

ACCCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

1. Programme Strategy Development 

• Develop Plan International Egypt Country Strategy Programmes in line with the global procedures and the core components and requirements within Plan’s thematic areas
• Assess the country context and the child rights violations with a focus on gender inequalities, to ensure the CS responds to those main issues
• Develop and implement a clear plan to strengthen programme quality in all areas to a high standard.
• Oversee the development of communication, awareness-raising and resource mobilisation strategies and plans and support progress as appropriate
• Develop, implement and monitor to the highest quality standards the programme department's budget
• Develop an effective and efficient sponsorship and program alignment strategy including new sponsorship products
• Appropriately implement global gender and inclusion policies according to a well-articulated strategy adapted to local realities.
• Establish clear disaster risk reduction, mitigation and response strategies at the national level and integrate them into long-term programmes where appropriate.
• Ensure that information flow with other countries, GH, RH and NO meets operational needs and promotes cooperation, teamwork and mission planning.

2. Programme Implementation

• Lead PIE annual operational planning and oversee the implementation and monitoring of programmes towards achieving the objectives of PIE country strategy
• Ensure that all projects are designed, planned and implemented as per PIE Country Strategy but also in alignment with the Project Management manual and Project management best practice
• Manage a team of Project and Programme Area Managers and support them in all steps of the project cycles ensuring support is provided to teams in the field as required.
• Develop high performance measurement criteria for project and programmes in line with the PM manual and the Programme and Influence Quality Policy (PIQP)
• Support Plan International Egypt's program implementation partners and ensure they receive project management technical support and are trained in accordance with their capacity building plans.
• Promote program quality and effectiveness, support knowledge management and learning through robust monitoring and evaluation
• Lead the implementation of standards related to the Child Protection Policy and fulfill Plan's Child Protection Policy at all times to ensure children are protected from all forms of abuse.
• Maintain horizontal working links with other functional heads/leads
• Coordinate knowledge sharing processes and initiatives between projects on quality implementation aspects by supporting the use of synergy initiatives and pooling of resources and skills.
• Support the implementation of sponsorship commitments

3. Knowledge Management and MERL

• Establish and promote an effective knowledge management system/approach for learning, sharing, scaling up and innovation.
• Develop Monitoring and evaluation plans and framework to support the implementation of PIE Country Strategy and the programmes’ quality.

• Monitor and review programme and projects report and develop appropriate strategies to ensure the achievement of project/programme objectives
• Develop and implement an intra- and inter- project control mechanisms to build synergies and minimise the risk of duplication and waste of resources. 

4. Influencing and Advocacy

• Design/review/update and implement an influencing/advocacy strategy with an integrated approach in collaboration with staff and partners
• Lead PIE Functions and thematic specialists to identify advocacy issues and take them to the national level
• Conduct in-depth power and policy analysis of country structures, systems and networks to identify opportunities for change in national law, policy, budget and behaviour that will achieve the strategic goals and objectives set by the country office.
• Ensure that programmes and monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) are closely linked to ensure that advocacy and policy approaches are evidence-based.
• Ensure that Plan International Egypt projects implement effective and measurable advocacy activities that deliver results for girls and, where possible, contribute to Country office’s global advocacy agenda and a global movement for girls and gender equality.
• Ensure Plan International Egypt is represented in relevant networks for programme expansion and advocacy opportunities at national and other levels,
• Track and report on progress in influencing and its contribution to change, including to donors as appropriate.
• Develop an appropriate dissemination plan for Plan International Egypt Country Strategy and programmes to build knowledge, understanding and credibility of the work of PIE among key stakeholders 

5. Build and monitor partnerships

• Ensure that Plan International Egypt localization and partnership strategy is developed in line with Building Better Partnership principles
• Develop PIE strategic partnerships and engage with organisations, networks, policy contacts and other key stakeholders to further plan the implementation of the country strategy.
• Ensure that partner organisations are supported to develop an appropriate organisational culture, systems and procedures

6. Donor relationships

•  Ensure that safeguarding requirements are included in eligibility criteria and approval processes
• Ensure PIE funding strategy is aligned and responsive to the country strategy and support the development and maintenance of positive relationships with National organizations and donors.

• Provide project ideas based on PIE country strategy and programme priorities to the grants and business development team to look for funding opportunities
• Develop a strategy and proposals for scaling up the programme and identifying implementing partners

7. Staff Management and Development

• Record and recognize performances of direct report
• Identify and address professional development in conjunction with P&C
• Provide coaching, mentoring and advice to direct reports as required.
• Assist P&C in arranging appropriate staff development events. 

8. Implementation of the child and young person safeguarding policy

• Ensure that Plan International's global policies for safeguarding children and young people and those on gender equality and inclusion are fully integrated in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy, including the implementation of standards and guidelines applicable to their area of responsibility.
• Ensure that staff and associates know and understand their responsibilities under these policies and the Plan International Code of Conduct, their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with appropriate procedures.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Qualifications/ experience essential:

• A Master’s Degree in Social work, International Relations, Development or similar field.
• Relevant experience in INGO Sector or demonstrated equivalent combination.
• At least 10 years of experience (including international) in managing development programmes, preferably with a disaster response component, with large and complex budgets
• Proven experiences and ability to coordinate and collaborate with different civil society and Community based organization.
• Demonstrable working experience in development programme.
• Knowledge of developmental agendas in complex and protracted development and humanitarian landscape.
• Experience in context, funding and market analysis.
• Ability to communicate effectively and authoritatively on area of expertise, and influence others to reach common goals.
• Demonstrated track record of proposal writing and budget management
• Experience in leading team, coaching and mentoring, especially managing a large team.
• Excellent experience in conflict resolution.

Click on the following link to access the full Job Description: JD Head of Programmes.pdf 

Location: Egypt 

Reports to: Country Director

Closing Date: 12th August 2025

This role is open to Egyptian Nationals only

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Disclaimer: Plan International is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate applicants on any basis. We also do not charge Job seekers any fees at any point of the recruitment process.