Director of Programmes – HQ

Position description

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.

Terms of reference

Job Title: Director of Programmes

Code: SR-00-10097

Duty station: HQ Rome with field missions

Starting date: 09/03/2026

Contract duration: 24 months, renewable in an open ended contract

Reporting to: Deputy Director General

Supervision of: Regional Directors

Type of duty station: Non-family duty station

General context of the project

INTERSOS is a humanitarian organisation founded in 1992, working on the frontlines of crisis situations. In its countries of operation, INTERSOS intervenes to assist the most vulnerable populations affected by conflicts, extreme poverty, natural and manmade disasters in challenging and hard-to-reach areas, where the humanitarian needs continue to be the greatest and where the humanitarian presence is often weak. In such contexts, INTERSOS focuses on providing forcibly displaced populations and host communities with life-saving humanitarian assistance, mainly in the areas of Protection, Health & Nutrition.

INTERSOS’ operations are guided by its Charter of Values and the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. Specifically, INTERSOS is borderless, impartial, independent, sensitive to local cultures, attentive to local capacity, professional in solidarity, and transparent. INTERSOS also adheres to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief.

INTERSOS’ Programmes Department consists of three Regional Offices: Africa, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and the Regional Office for Emergencies (ROE). The Programmes Department is supported by the Programmes Quality and Impact Unit, comprising the technical advisors (Protection and Medical), MEAL and the Localisation Advisor. As of January 2026, INTERSOS is operational in 21 countries.

INTERSOS is committed to an inclusive workplace environment that promotes diversity, equality and inclusion. INTERSOS encourages applications from qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds, regardless of age, gender identity, race, ethnic background, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity or nationality.

General purpose of the position

Under the supervision of the Deputy Director General (DDG), the Director of Programmes (DoP) will provide strategic and operational management and leadership to all INTERSOS Regional Offices and field programmes, in line with INTERSOS Strategic Plan (ISP) 2026-29. Furthermore, the DoP will provide the Organisation with operational vision, as defined by INTERSOS Charter.

In particular, the role of the DoP will focus on:

• Actively contributing to the development and implementation of a multiyear programmes strategy, and related priorities, especially in the sectors of Protection and Health & Nutrition;
• Managing the challenges and the risks of the Organisation in its countries of operation;
• Driving the enhancement of the quality and relevance of INTERSOS operations;
• Supporting the strengthening of accountability of INTERSOS programmes, particularly in relation to Accountability to Affected People (AAP).

In carrying out this role, the DoP will lead and be responsible for a department managing 21 missions with an annual portfolio (2026) of about €80 million.

The DoP is a member of the Directors’ Team along with four other Directors (Deputy General Director, Finance, Human Resources and ITC-Change Management- Logistics & Supply).

Main responsibilities and tasks

Under the supervision of the DDG, the DoP will be responsible for:

Operational management and support:

• Leading the development and management of Regional Offices’ dynamic programmes portfolio, in line with the ISP 2026-29 and anchored in field realities;
• Ensuring strong Regional Offices’ management of country programmes, in line with approved programme objectives, timeframes and resources;
• Monitoring the capacities of Regional and Country offices to deliver agreed operational priorities, and coordinating the required support in line with available resources;
• Supporting organisational coherence by ensuring that Regional and Country Offices are aligned with organisational strategic directions;
• Ensuring that the Programmes Department Annual Action Plan is sound, comprehensive, realistic, and elaborated in a timely manner;
• Responding to new humanitarian developments and crises by initiating feasibility/exploratory fact-finding deployment missions;
• Participating in the development and improvement of policies, processes, guidelines, and reference documents related to the management of Programmes;
• Supporting Regional Offices in forging and building operational partnerships with INGOs and local organisations;
• Supporting Regional Offices in operational preparedness capacities and processes, to enable timely and appropriate responses to new and emerging priorities in their areas of intervention.

Risk management:

Within the limits of the delegated authority by the Director General,

• Regular monitoring, evaluation, and mitigation of operational risk exposure;
• Regular monitoring of the financial sustainability of the country offices through increased control of compliance
• Regular discussion of new operational risk management developments with the Director General in order to mitigate and prevent risks for both the staff and the Organisation in the countries of operation, as well as to mobilise organisational response to serious risk events;
• Ensuring that the Deputy Director General is informed in a timely manner of any critical incident and participates in the Critical Incident Management Team.

Strategic support:

• Leading discussions on operational strategies of interventions, operational models, and support functions;
• Proactively contributing to the broader reflection on INTERSOS organisational evolution;
• As a member of the Directors Team, contributing to the definition of the overall strategy of the Organisation;
• Playing a key role in information sharing, and encouraging reflection and debate around programmatic stakes.

Accountability:

• Launching regular evaluations and critical reviews of field projects and operational approaches;
• Ensuring Regional Offices prepare quality proposals and deliver quality and timely reporting and updates, in line with grant requirements and compliance issues;
• Ensuring Regional Offices provide monthly report on programmes achievements, challenges and issues, highlighting areas requiring specific support;
• Lead and promote integrated work processes between Regional Offices and all other organisational HQ departments and functions to ensure a unified organizational approach to field support.

Human Resources:

• Ensuring that the Programmes Department’s HR requirements are clearly defined, in line with specific management and operational needs;
• Supporting, and managing the Programmes Department staff under his/her direct supervision;
• Identifying and developing talents, ensuring diversity and inclusion within the operational line;
• Foster an inclusive and collaborative work environment by encouraging the exchange of best practices and mutual support between Regional Offices and Headquarters departments;
• Validating Heads of Mission, in close collaboration with HR.

Advocacy, representation, and donor relations:

• Representing INTERSOS with external stakeholders, both in Italy and internationally, to position INTERSOS on priority operational issues;
• Coordinating and supporting Regional and Country Offices’ engagement and mobilisation in advocacy initiatives, ensuring INTERSOS operational perspectives are considered;
• Proactively engage with the Business Development function to diversify the donor portfolio and explore new funding streams.

Communications:

• Contributing to the definition and the implementation of operational communications and global advocacy dossiers.

Qualifications

Education

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, International Development, or a related field.

Professional Experience

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in the field of humanitarian aid, with significant field experience as a HoM and/or Programmes Manager at HQ level.

Professional Requirements

• Strategic vision that translates into concrete operational implementation;
• Demonstrated leadership skills;
• A team player with strong interpersonal skills;
• Excellent people management skills;
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written).

Languages

• Fluency in English and French is essential; other languages are an asset.

Personal requirements

• Dynamic and proactive, as well as solution-oriented
• Willingness and availability to travel frequently, as mobility between headquarters and field projects is vital
• Adherence to INTERSOS principles and managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust, Empowerment
• Adherence to INTERSOS Code of Ethics.

Salary and benefits

• Italian labour law contract (Inquadramento quadro, CCNL terziario).
• 1 day a week from home, and 4 days working from INTERSOS HQ.
• Meal vouchers for every day of work (7€ a day).
• Health insurance QuAS.

NOTE: Candidates must have the legal right to work in Italy at the time of Application.

Application instructions

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