Head of Programme

Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) is a faith-based humanitarian relief and development organisation working to save and transform the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Established in 1984, with an active presence in over 45 countries, we strive to make the world a better and fairer place for those affected by poverty, conflict and natural disasters.

IRW’s International Programme Division is currently recruiting for the position of Head of Programmes. The Head of Programmes is responsible for the strategic leadership, coordination, quality assurance, and overall management of the country programme portfolio. S/he will work closely with the Country Director to ensure that all interventions are relevant, well-designed, effectively managed, and aligned with the organization’s strategy and the needs of the communities served.

The successful candidate must have or be:

• Master’s degree in International Development, Social Sciences, Project Management, or a related field.
• Proven relevant professional experience, particularly in a senior programme management role at country level, ideally in humanitarian, development, or fragile contexts.
• Demonstrated success in developing high-quality funding proposals and securing funds from a range of institutional donors such as EC, ECHO, UN agencies, SIDA, CHAF, GAC, and FCDO/DFID.
• Experience in managing and mentoring diverse teams, including both local and international staff, with a commitment to participatory and inclusive management practices.
• Familiarity with key international frameworks and standards, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Sphere Standards, Do No Harm principles, Red Cross/Red Crescent Code of Conduct, and the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including active listening, cultural sensitivity, openness to diverse perspectives, and effective conflict resolution.
• Excellent organizational skills and practical knowledge of support service management, including logistics, finance, and human resources.
• Sound knowledge and experience in key programme areas such as emergency response, community development, microfinance, food security/nutrition, and WASH.
• Fluent in French (spoken and written); excellent written and spoken English is required.

Pre-employment Checks:

Any employment with Islamic Relief will be subject to the following checks:

• screening clearance
• receipt of satisfactory references

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

IRW is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom IRW engages. IRW expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records checks. IRW also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme

In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job 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 his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Applicants should be sympathetic to the values of Islamic Relief:

(Sincerity, Excellence, Compassion, Social Justice and Custodianship)

Islamic Relief is an equal opportunities employer