Director, Project

Overview

About This Role ChildFund is conducting a preliminary search for a Project Director to lead a proposed regional initiative focused on eliminating violence against women and girls (VAWG), addressing harmful practices, and advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights in Africa. The Project Director will provide strategic, technical, operational, and partnership leadership for ChildFund’s project if awarded. The role will oversee results-based planning and delivery; coordination with the donor, African Union and regional bodies, civil society organizations, women’s rights organizations, youth-led networks, survivor-led groups, and other stakeholders; compliance with donor requirements; and high-quality reporting, learning, and adaptive management over the expected two-year implementation period. The position will require regional travel and coordination across multiple countries, regional institutions, and partner organizations. Required Experience And Education Bachelor’s degree required in a relevant field such as gender studies, public health, social sciences, international development, human rights, law, public policy, program management, or a related discipline; master’s degree preferred. At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience leading donor-funded international development, gender equality, protection, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), VAWG prevention and response, women’s rights, youth engagement, or civil society strengthening programs. At least 5 years in senior leadership roles managing complex, multi-country or regional programs, preferably in Africa. Demonstrated experience with UN, EU, AU, or other multilateral donor-funded programs; experience with donor partnership or responsible party mechanisms is an asset. Proven experience managing partnerships with civil society organizations, women’s rights organizations, youth-led organizations, regional networks, or consortia. Experience with grant-making, sub-partner selection, due diligence, capacity strengthening, risk management, and technical assistance to local or regional organizations. Demonstrated expertise in results-based management, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, learning, and donor reporting. Experience advancing safeguarding, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, survivor-centered approaches, ethical data practices, and accountability standards. Primary Responsibilities Lead overall strategic, technical, operational, and financial delivery of the program, ensuring alignment with the program results framework, selected component(s), donor requirements, and ChildFund standards. Represent ChildFund with the donor, consortium partners, African Union and Regional Economic Community stakeholders, civil society partners, and other regional and national actors. Oversee the development and implementation of results-based work plans, budgets, monitoring frameworks, risk registers, learning plans, and donor reporting processes. Guide technical strategies related to ending violence against women and girls, harmful practices, SRHR, gender equality, women’s rights, youth leadership, survivor-centered services, and inclusive regional advocacy, depending on selected program component(s). Lead partner and sub-partner engagement, including transparent selection processes, due diligence, grant or sub-award management, technical assistance, capacity strengthening, performance monitoring, and compliance oversight. Ensure strong coordination and communication across ChildFund teams, consortium members, responsible parties, civil society networks, women’s rights organizations, youth-led groups, and marginalized communities. Promote inclusive and intersectional approaches that meaningfully engage populations facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. Ensure that safeguarding, PSEA, anti-fraud, protection, data privacy, ethical engagement with survivors, and accountability requirements are integrated into all aspects of project design and implementation. Lead adaptive management, knowledge generation, documentation of good practices, learning exchanges, and dissemination of evidence and lessons through regional and continental platforms. Manage and mentor project staff and consultants, fostering a collaborative, accountable, inclusive, and high-performing team culture. Required Competencies ChildFund’s Core Competencies Teamwork: Works effectively across diverse teams, organizations, cultures, and geographies; values and respects individual differences. Communication: Communicates with clarity, empathy, diplomacy, and cultural sensitivity with internal and external stakeholders. Results orientation: Drives high-quality delivery, accountability, and continuous improvement against agreed outcomes and standards. Decision making: Applies sound judgment, evidence, risk analysis, and adaptive learning to solve complex program and partnership challenges. Resilience: Thrives in fast-changing, politically sensitive, and operationally complex environments. Digital literacy: Uses technology effectively for collaboration, monitoring, reporting, knowledge management, and stakeholder engagement. Other Required Competencies Fluency in English; Strong understanding of gender equality, VAWG prevention and response, harmful practices, SRHR, human rights-based programming, and survivor-centered approaches in African regional contexts. Ability to lead multi-country, multi-partner initiatives and manage relationships with regional institutions, governments, UN agencies, civil society networks, and community-based actors. Demonstrated knowledge of civil society strengthening, grant-making, organizational capacity development, compliance, and responsible partnership management. Strong financial stewardship, budget oversight, risk management, and donor compliance skills. Ability to build trust, negotiate priorities, manage complexity, and maintain accountability across diverse stakeholders and implementation contexts.