HEAD OF PROGRAMME AND STRATEGY

ROLE PROFILE

Title Head of Programmes and Strategy

Functional Area Programmes

Reports to Country Director

Location Amman, Jordan

Travel required As Required

Effective Date ASAP

Grade Level 18

The organization

Plan International is an independent child rights and humanitarian organisation committed to children living a life free of poverty, violence and injustice. Plan actively unite children, communities and other people who share our mission to make positive lasting changes in children’s and young people’s lives. Plan support children to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to claim their rights to a fulfilling life, today and in the future. Plan place a specific focus on girls and women, who are most often left behind. Plan have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years and are now active in more than 70 countries. Plan International Jordan is established in 2016 and has programmes in governorates in the centre, north and south regions as well as host communities and Azraq camp

ROLE PURPOSE

The Head of Programme and Strategy (HoPS) is a new consolidated senior leadership role that brings together programme implementation, technical quality, and organisational strategy under one unified mandate. The role reports directly to the Country Director and is a standing member of the Country Management Team (CMT).

The HoPS assumes full accountability for the effective delivery of all Plan Jordan programmes across all thematic areas and locations — both host communities and Azraq Refugee Camp — and is the primary custodian of Plan Jordan's programmatic vision, translating the Country Strategy 2025–2030 into coherent, evidence-based, gender-transformative programming that delivers lasting impact for children, girls and young people in Jordan. The role operates deliberately across the humanitarian-development nexus, requiring a leader who can hold both dimensions simultaneously without compromising either.

The post holder serves as a strategic thought partner to the Country Director, contributing to CMT leadership on organisational direction, programme innovation and evidence-based decision making, and works in close collaboration with the Head of Resources Mobilisation to ensure programme quality and evidence systematically strengthen donor engagement and resource mobilisation.

Dimensions of the Role

• Reports to the Country Director and is a standing member of the Country Management Team (CMT).
• Directly supervises: SOYEE Programmes manager, Inclusive Education/Protection Programmes manager, Impact and Research Manager, Technical specialists, and Senior International Expert
• Oversees the implementation of the Plan Jordan Country Strategy 2025–2030, ensuring quality, evidence-based and rights-grounded delivery across all thematic areas.
• Holds a unified mandate across two dimensions: (1) programme implementation and leadership; (2) technical quality, sector strategy and programme design; where as advocacy, influencing and strategic positioning is encompassed throughout.
• Ensures effective and efficient use of organisational resources, adherence to all relevant Plan policies and procedures and local laws across the full programme portfolio.
• Provides technical oversight across Plan Jordan's thematic sectors: Inclusive Quality Education (IQE), SOYEE (Skills, Opportunities and Youth Economic Empowerment), Child Protection and GBV, Psychosocial Support, and Gender.
• Acts as the senior representative for Plan International Jordan at governorate, national, and where relevant, international levels.
• Works in close collaboration with the Head of Resources Mobilisation, the P&C Manager, the Head of Support Services, and the PMU to ensure integrated, cross-functional delivery.

Accountabilities

1. Strategic Planning and Country Strategy Implementation

• Lead and support the annual planning process for the full programme portfolio, ensuring alignment with the Plan Jordan Country Strategy 2025–2030 and Plan International's global strategies and campaigns.
• Work closely with all Country Office departments to ensure project budgets are developed and implemented in tandem with the country approved budget and relevant financial policies.
• Ensure that all funded projects are implemented to a consistent high standard, on time, within approved budgets and in line with approved log frames.
• Review and ensure alignment of programme priorities, strategies and plans with the Country Strategy and the broader Plan International frameworks.
• Support the Country Director and CLT in the development of both strategic and operational plans in accordance with Country Strategy and planning guidelines.
• Provide leadership in strategy formulation, implementation planning, execution, and monitoring to ensure alignment with global Plan International guidance, regional strategy, country context, and donor requirements.
• Develop and review technically sound sector approaches and strategies enabling PIJO to respond to both humanitarian emergency and sustainable development needs across all operational areas.

2. Programme Implementation Leadership

• Lead, coach and support the Thematic Programmes Leads, Projects Managers/experts in Azraq Camp and HCs, and Senior in achieving the targets of the annual plans.
• Develop appropriate work mechanisms ensuring that teams work in coordination, leading to the achievement of planned objectives set out in approved annual plans and the Plan Jordan Country Strategy.
• Foster a values-based, feminist leadership culture within all programme teams.
• Ensure an enabling environment for staff performance, recognition and innovation across the full programme portfolio.
• Ensure close coordination between programme implementation, the MERL function, and the Head of Resources Mobilisation to ensure quality field inputs to grant proposals and strategic initiatives.
• Ensure close coordination with P&C and Support Services to ensure compliance with Plan's and donors' policies and procedures across all programme activities.
• Ensure the production of high-quality internal reports and donor reports in close coordination with National Offices and the Regional Hub.

3. Technical Quality and Programme Design

• Lead the technical quality agenda across Plan Jordan — ensuring that all programmes meet Plan International's global quality standards and sector-specific minimum standards (INEE, CP in Humanitarian Action, SPHERE, etc.).
• Co-Lead on proposal development and submission, including identifying priority areas of intervention, potential partnerships, and ensuring timely and high-quality submission to donors.
• Lead rapid and detailed assessments in new target areas; determine priorities, immediate activities, and required resources.
• In close collaboration with regional specialists, define objectives and key outcomes of Plan Jordan's programmatic response in line with national strategies.
• Develop evidence-based programme plans including programmatic, research and advocacy priorities, closely linked to sector programmes.
• Ensure robust monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) systems are in place, and that the country office engages in the collection, use and sharing of evidence for decision-making.
• Ensure regular communication with thematic leads and project coordinators to integrate appropriate technical input and priorities in programme design and implementation.
• Coordinate regular field monitoring visits to assess progress, identify technical quality issues, provide solutions and implement modifications as required.
• Ensure that quality data collection and information management systems are in place for appropriate programme analysis, planning, evaluation and advocacy.
• Ensure outcomes from regular monitoring and periodic evaluations feed into learning and improvement of projects — and that learning is documented in the most effective way, demonstrating value for money.

4. . Resource Mobilisation Support and Donor Engagement

• Work in close collaboration with the Head of Resources Mobilisation to leverage programme quality, technical expertise and field evidence in funding applications, donor reports and strategic positioning.
• Build and maintain direct relationships with donor technical staff, representing Plan Jordan's programme quality and thematic expertise in donor dialogue.
• Identify and pursue strategic partnership and consortium opportunities that strengthen Plan Jordan's competitive positioning.
• Support the Country Director in representing Plan Jordan's value proposition — including the humanitarian-development nexus positioning and flex fund return on investment story — to donors, National Offices and the Regional Hub.

5 . Networking, Partnerships, Safeguarding and Inclusion

• Build and maintain relationships with government ministries, UN agencies, INGOs, national NGOs, local partners and relevant coordination platforms across all thematic areas.
• Represent Plan Jordan in network and alliance meetings, working groups and thematic task forces at national and international levels.
• Ensure Plan International's safeguarding, gender equality and inclusion policies are fully embedded across all programmes, partnerships and implementation modalities — treating safeguarding as a programmatic priority, not a compliance exercise.
• Ensure all supervised staff understand and fulfil their safeguarding and Code of Conduct responsibilities, and that partner organisations are adequately assessed and monitored on safeguarding and GEI standards.
• Promote gender-transformative and inclusive programming across all thematic areas, ensuring girls and young women are positioned as rights-holders and agents of change.

6. People Management

• Lead, manage and develop supervised staff — fostering an empowering, inclusive and values-based work environment aligned to Plan's feminist leadership principles.
• Set clear performance objectives, conduct appraisals, provide coaching and mentoring, and ensure performance records are submitted to P&C on time.
• Work with the P&C Manager to identify training needs, support recruitment, and ensure succession planning across the programme team.

Child protection, gender equality and inclusion

• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children, Young People and Programmes Participants and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan

Key relationships

Internal:

• Country Director — primary line manager and CMT business partner.
• SOYEE Programmes manager, Inclusive Education Programmes manager Projects Manager Azraq Camp, MERL Manager, Senior International Expert DAAP — direct reports.
• Head of Resources Mobilisation — close collaboration on donor engagement, proposal development, and strategic positioning.
• Key CMT members
• Protection, Gender & Safeguarding Specialist — technical guidance and safeguarding oversight.
• PMU — coordination on programme management quality, MERL and donor reporting.
• Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) — engagement and representation.

External:

• Government counterparts — Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Interior, and relevant governorate-level authorities.
• UN agencies, INGOs, national NGOs, and civil society networks.
• Plan International National Offices, Regional Hub, and global technical networks.
• Donors — representation, reporting, and relationship management.
• National and sub-national advocacy and policy forums, coalitions, and working groups relevant to Plan Jordan's thematic priorities.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

• A Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, International Relations, or a related field.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in development and/or humanitarian programming, with at least 5 years at senior management level in an NGO or INGO environment.
• Proven track record in both programme implementation leadership and technical quality management across at least two of the following sectors: child protection, education, GBV, youth economic empowerment, gender, psychosocial support.
• In-depth and strategic understanding of integrated development issues and critical analysis of child poverty.
• High-level knowledge of strategic planning processes and theories of child-rights programming.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to children's issues in Jordan and the region.
• Proven understanding of gender-in-development concepts and the promotion of girls' rights in the context of international conventions (CRC, CEDAW) and the SDGs.
• Strong experience in proposal development, programme design, and donor engagement across multiple funding mechanisms.
• Demonstrated ability to network and liaise with UN bodies, coordination mechanisms, government authorities, and donors.
• Excellent skills in project design, time management and problem-solving.
• Proven skills in developing and managing effective, motivated and diverse teams.
• Excellent English and Arabic language skills, both written and spoken.

Desirable

• A Master's degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, International Relations, or a related field.
• Knowledge of the national policy and legislative landscape related to education, child protection, gender, and youth in Jordan.
• Experience in programming related to child labour, child marriage, girls' rights, SRHR, and ECCD.
• Familiarity with Plan International's programme quality frameworks and global campaigns.
• Experience working in camp or refugee settings.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
• We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace
• We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives.

Physical Environment

Typically office-based with regular in-country travel and occasional international travel.

Level of contact with children

Mid contact: Occasional interaction with children

ROLE PROFILE

Type of Role: Fixed Term Contract

Contract Duration: One year, renewable subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

Reports to: Country Director

Location: Amman, Jordan

Grade: Level 18

Closing Date: 19 July 2026

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply. Plan International operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all areas of the international community.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

Internal candidates will be given priority consideration.

Please note that only applications and CVs written in English will be accepted.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Child Safeguarding Policy.