Head of Programs

Career Opportunities: Head of Programmes (54963)

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We assist children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to produce for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

ROLE PURPOSE

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We assist children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to produce for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge. We won’t stop until we are all equal.

The Head of Programmes is tasked with leading and providing strategic leadership and operational oversight for designing, implementing and evaluating quality gender transformative programmes and influencing that are consistent with the Country Strategy of Plan International Rwanda and Plan International standards, priorities and principles for advancing children and youth’s rights and equality for girls.

As a staff member of a child-centred international development and humanitarian organisation, the Head of Programmes will commit to complying with Plan International’s standards and policies related to Safeguarding and PSHEA (Preventing Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse), gender equality, inclusion and diversity. All Plan staff are expected to uphold the organisation's values and behaviours in every aspect of their work.

The Head of Programmes provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all programmatic aspects of the country office. S/He is tasked with developing and executing programmes aligned with the country office strategy, ensuring high-quality, gender-transformative projects that advance children and youth’s rights, with a focus on girls' equality. S/He works closely with Programme Managers, Project Managers, and Programme Unit Managers to oversee project design, planning, implementation, monitoring, risk and budget management, and project closure, all within the framework of the Country Strategy and Plan International standards of project management and of management standards.

As a strategic member of the Country Management Team, the Head of Programme provides strategic vision on the implementation of the Country strategy but also supports the Country Office through its technical advisers in fundraising, through positioning and supporting the development of strong quality proposals.

S/He also plays a crucial role in integrating safeguarding policies into programmatic work, ensuring that all activities are carried out with the highest standards of safety and protection for children and youth.

By fostering collaboration, driving continuous learning, and influencing positive change, the Head of Programmes plays a pivotal role in shaping impactful, sustainable programmes that transform the lives of children, girls and young people across the country.

To view the Job description click here:Head of Programmes_JD.pdf

Location: Country Office-Kigali

Type of Role: Head of Programmes (For Rwandan National Only) 

Reports to: Country Director

Grade: Level 18

Closing Date: 30/09/2026

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 collaborate 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 make sure 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 theInter 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.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.