Overview
The Zonal Programs Manager provides leadership and oversight for all programs and projects within an assigned zone to achieve child well-being objectives. This role ensures effective implementation of Technical Programmes, fosters strategic partnerships, and ensures quality assurance.
Tasks Summary
- Contribute strategic inputs to the development and review of the National Strategy, Technical Programs, and key policies and procedures.
- Lead annual planning and budgeting processes for the zone.
- Provide guidance and oversight to Area Program Managers and Project Managers for effective program/project implementation.
- Lead and coordinate zonal technical teams to ensure integrated and high-quality delivery of Technical Programs.
- Review AP/project reports and consolidate zonal reports for submission.
- Ensure robust internal controls are in place and consistently applied.
- Oversee grant management to ensure compliance with donor requirements and quality standards.
- Conduct monitoring visits and facilitate reflection sessions with staff and partners to ensure alignment with the National Office Strategy and achievement of objectives.
- Coordinate all zonal functions for efficient technical program delivery.
- Provide strategic leadership to integrate Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Response into program design, implementation, and M&E.
- Support and coordinate Humanitarian Emergency Affairs (HEA) activities during emergencies.
- Promote documentation of best practices and strengthen linkages between local-level advocacy and national-level advocacy initiatives.
- Ensure all program are implemented in line with the Development Program Approach/ Adaptive Program Approach principles, including effective multi‑stakeholder partnerships, with technical support from the CESP Lead.
- Collaborate with Technical Program Managers in the development and adaptation of Technical Programs.
- Ensure high‑quality implementation of Technical Programs within the assigned zone.
- Ensure program quality assurance mechanisms are effectively applied and adhered to across all Area Programs and projects in the zone.
- Coordinate and facilitate zonal reflection and review meetings, ensuring timely follow‑up and implementation of agreed recommendations.
- Strengthen targeting of Registered Children (RC) and Most Vulnerable Children (MVC), and track their participation and impact across all programs and projects.
- Ensure effective integration of Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) across all Technical Programs.
- Develop and implement an annual zonal workforce plan in collaboration with the People & Culture (P&C) Department.
- Participate in the recruitment and selection of key zonal positions (e.g. Area Program/Project Managers, TPOs/PEOs) and provide input into other staffing decisions as required.
- Lead the performance management process for direct reports and support line managers within the zone to effectively carry out performance management for their teams.
- Support staff in developing and implementing individual and career development plans, including coordinating zonal learning and capacity‑building events.
- Identify, nurture, and develop potential successors for key positions, including zonal and Area Program/Project Manager roles.
- Liaise with the P&C Department to manage employment actions for direct reports (contract signing, renewal, and termination) in compliance with labor laws, and support timely resolution of employee relations issues in line with organizational policies.
- Promote staff care, engagement, and spiritual formation through appropriate activities and initiatives across the zone.
- Implement mechanisms to gather staff feedback and engagement insights, including participation in Our Voice surveys and other feedback tools.
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with commune, district, and provincial authorities, major donors, non‑state actors, businesses, and other organizations operating within the zone.
- Contribute to partner mapping, partner vetting, and partnership development in line with approved partnering protocols at provincial and district levels.
- Ensure meaningful donor engagement through well‑organized field visits and timely, responsive communication.
- Support Area Program Managers in Private Non‑Sponsorship (PNS) and resource mobilization efforts to ensure adequate and sustainable funding for Area Programs.
- Support the GAM and PNS teams in grant, PNS, and corporate fundraising processes, including maintaining the funding pipeline, contributing to Go/No‑Go analysis, reviewing proposals, and providing inputs to key position JDs when required.
- In coordination with the GAM and PNS teams, ensure high‑quality PNS concept notes are developed and submitted to donors.
- Work closely with the Operations Coordinator to facilitate the acquisition and effective utilization of Gifts‑in‑Kind (GIK) within Area Programs to enhance Child Well‑Being (CWB) outcomes.
- Oversee regular field financial and sponsorship performance reviews, ensuring timely follow‑up and corrective actions.
- Lead the implementation and oversight of audit recommendations at Area Program and zonal levels.
- Ensure Area Program compliance with World Vision policies, standards, and guidelines through effective orientation and ongoing support.
- Provide leadership for team safety and security management in line with WVV guidelines, including risk assessment and mitigation.
- Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate operational, financial, and compliance risks.
- Lead regular reviews of sponsorship performance trends using key reports and indicators (e.g. GNOD, SOI, RC participation, MVC inclusion), and provide strategic guidance to Area Programs to strengthen sponsorship effectiveness.
- Coordinate with National Sponsorship Operations, DMEAL, and technical teams to ensure effective integration of sponsorship within Technical Program, CESP, and Area Program‑level programming.
- Provide leadership to Area Programs to ensure full compliance with World Vision Child Protection and Safeguarding policies, standards, and procedures in all aspects of sponsorship management.
- Work closely with the Sponsorship Manager to ensure consistent implementation of sponsorship guidelines, standards, and quality requirements across the zone.
- Perform other tasks assigned by the manager to contribute to the team performance.
Experience Requirements
- Minimum 10 years of progressive management experience in program and/or project management within complex international development or humanitarian organizations.
- Proven experience managing large-scale, multi-sector program portfolios, including multi-million-dollar budgets and multiple funding streams (grants, sponsorship, donors).
- Strong end-to-end understanding of the program/project management cycle, including design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, risk management, and sustainability/transition.
- Demonstrated experience leading geographically dispersed, multi-cultural teams and working with diverse stakeholders (communities, government, partners, donors, internal leadership).
- Ability to operate effectively at both strategic and operational levels, translating organizational strategy into zonal and field-level delivery.
- Experience working in fragile, complex, or high-risk contexts is a strong advantage.
Qualification Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in International Development, Social Sciences, Project Management, Public Administration, or a related field.
- A postgraduate qualification (e.g. Master’s degree) in Development Studies, Management, Public Policy, or a related discipline is strongly preferred.
- Formal training in program/project management, including Results-Based Management (RBM), Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), and quality assurance in development or humanitarian contexts.
- Demonstrated training in leadership and people management, including managing senior staff and multidisciplinary teams.
- Mandatory training in safeguarding, child protection, security management, and accountability to affected populations, in line with INGO standards.
