Programme Quality & Development Professional
Unit: MA Development & Support - Programme Quality & Development Support
Preferred Location: Vienna (Austria), Nairobi (Kenya), Skopje (North Macedonia), Amman (Jordan), Faridabad (India), La Paz (Bolivia), Dakar (Senegal)
About us
SOS Children's Villages, founded in 1949, is the world's largest non-governmental organization focused on supporting children and young people without parental care, or at risk of losing it.
Child neglect, abuse and abandonment is everywhere. Families are at risk of separation. Locally led, we work in more than 130 countries and territories to strengthen families who are under pressure so they can stay together. When this is not in a child or young person's best interests, we provide quality care according to their unique needs.
Together with partners, donors, communities, children, young people and families, we enable children to grow up with the bonds they need to develop and become their strongest selves. We speak up for each child's rights and advocate for change so all children can grow up in a supportive environment.
Mission
Enhance programme development, implementation, quality assurance, and learning across all Member Associations (MAs) to ensure that programmes are designed and delivered based on evidence, organisational standards, and best practice.
The position supports Member Associations (MAs) in implementing quality, evidence-based programmes in line with organisational standards and agreed methodologies. The role provides basic to intermediate technical support in assigned programme areas, contributes to capacity-building activities, and supports the application of quality standards, tools, methodologies and guidance materials.
The position contributes to learning and continuous programme improvement by supporting documentation of practices, sharing lessons learned, and feeding operational insights into team learning processes. The role operates within a structured support framework, complementing the Programme Quality & Development Support function and strengthening consistent programme quality across MAs
Tasks and Responsibilities
- Provide technical support to MA programme staff within assigned thematic areas (Alternative Care, Family Strengthening and community empowerment), ensuring alignment with organisational standards and guidance.
- Assist in the delivery of trainings and workshops aimed to strengthening the capacity of MA programme staff on programme quality standards and relevant thematic areas.
- Support the implementation and monitoring of organisational and international quality standards across MAs, and promptly report any identified gaps or risks to the Supervisor.
- Provide technical input to MA programme teams in project design and planning processes, including the development of humanitarian and development proposals, and support quality assurance checks in coordination with the Supervisor.
- Assist MAs in contextualising federation quality requirements to local settings while ensuring adherence to established standards.
- Contribute to the documentation of practices, lessons learned, and programme improvement insights, supporting organisational learning and continuous quality enhancement.
- Support the development and implementation of MEAL tools and processes within the MA support department and across supported MAs.
- Support peer learning initiatives, exchange activities, and learning sessions, including the documentation and dissemination of good practices.
- Assist in the development or adaptation of tools, guidance materials, and templates, and support their implementation within MAs.
- Provide support to MA programme teams during programme adjustments, such as piloting new approaches or managing transitional phases, as assigned.
- Participate in external technical forums or networks, as required, supporting knowledge exchange and learning processes without assuming an independent representational role.
Responsibilities to Uphold Safeguarding (standards) and Promote a Safe Environment
As someone working for or on behalf of SOS Children’s Villages, you are responsible for helping to create and maintain a safe and protective environment for staff, as well as for the children, young people, and adult programme participants supported and cared for by SOS Children’s Villages. You are expected to:
- Commit to the Code of Conduct and reflect on the safeguarding implications of your work on an ongoing basis.
- Actively participate in team discussions to identify risks and share and apply preventative and mitigation measures and strategies.
- Integrate safeguarding principles into your daily decisions and tasks.
- Report any safeguarding concerns promptly and in line with procedures.
- Promote values-based culture, accountability and zero tolerance of harm.
Requirements
- A Master’s degree is required, preferably in social sciences, Project Management , Psychology, Child Rights, Development Studies, or a related field.
- Strong understanding of programme cycle management and RBM (Project design, implementation and evaluation)
- The position requires 5–8 years of relevant professional experience.
- This includes demonstrated experience in programme quality, programme development, or related technical support roles within development, humanitarian, or social service organisations.
- Candidates should have hands-on experience in providing technical programme support in at least one thematic area, such as alternative care, family strengthening, child and youth development, or mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS).
- Proven experience in supporting programme teams and applying organisational quality standards is essential.
- Experience contributing to programme design, planning, and quality review processes is required, alongside progressive involvement in capacity-building initiatives, including trainings, workshops, or learning events.
- Experience working in multicultural and multi-stakeholder environments is also required.
Technical Skills (with indication of skill level; indicate if essential or desired)
- Solid knowledge of programme quality assurance processes and organisational standards.
- proven experience in supporting programme planning, implementation, and monitoring.
- Intermediate experience in organising and supporting trainings, workshops, and learning activities.
- Intermediate level of contextual and cultural awareness relevant to programme implementation environments.
- Knowledge of safeguarding, accountability, and ethical programming principles (desired)
- Good experience in monitoring, evaluation, or learning processes (desired)
- Exposure to programme reviews, assessments, or audits (desired)
Other competencies and soft skills:
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
- High ethical standards and a demonstrated commitment to safeguarding.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and perform effectively under pressure.
- Willingness to learn and contribute to continuous improvement processes.
Ways of working
- Global collaboration and communication – Working effectively across countries, cultures, and time zones by maintaining clear communication, transparency, and shared understanding within distributed teams.
- Cross-functional collaboration – Working closely with colleagues across different functions and areas of expertise to combine knowledge, solve problems collectively, and deliver meaningful outcomes aligned with the organisation’s mission.
- Effective collaboration within matrix structures – Working constructively within solid and dotted reporting lines by maintaining open communication, aligning priorities with both line and functional managers, and ensuring clarity on roles, responsibilities, and expectations to support coordinated delivery across teams.
- Flexibility and adaptability – Remaining responsive to evolving contexts and adjusting priorities, approaches, and ways of collaboration as projects, services, or organisational demand evolve.
- Ownership and accountability – Taking responsibility for advancing tasks and initiatives, proactively addressing obstacles, and ensuring that commitments, decisions, and actions are carried through to completion, taking initiative within your scope of responsibility rather than waiting for direction.
- Strengthening member associations and their autonomy – Ensuring that knowledge, tools, and lessons from projects and services are shared with member associations so they can learn from the work carried out and progressively strengthen their capacity and independence.
- Continuous feedback and transparency - Contributing to a culture where feedback and data are shared openly and constructively, enabling teams and stakeholders involved to reflect, learn, and continuously improve their work and impact.
What We Stand For
SOS Children’s Villages is committed to creating and maintaining a caring and protective environment, which promotes its core values, and prevents and addresses child abuse and exploitation. We strongly condemn all forms of child abuse and exploitation, be it within or outside of our organization, and always respond to any case of proven, alleged or attempted abuse within our sphere of influence according to its nature. Efforts ensure that mechanisms are in place to raise awareness, aid prevention, encourage reporting and ease response. They range from human resource development actions such as training and counselling to measures such as suspension, dismissal, and legal action.
SOS Children’s Villages is committed to creating and maintaining a safe working environment for our staff, the children and young people and the communities that we work for. The organization prohibits harassment, exploitation and abuses by or of any employee, supervisor, manager, child, young people, community, contractor, applicant, or other individual with whom SOS Children’s Villages employees come into contact by virtue of their work. All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our prevention and protection against Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse policy.
In addition, SOS Children’s Villages apply a zero-tolerance concerning any fraud situation. The organization does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
Successful candidates will have to submit a criminal record certificate, current within the last three years. In accordance with the organisation’s child protection policy, these positions will be subject to criminal record checks.
How to apply?
If you are interested in this position, please send your detailed application in English through ICISMs here: https://careers-sos-kd.icims.com/
Please note that applications will be reviewed and suitable candidates will be contacted for interviews on an ongoing basis. The position will remain open until filled.
