Head of Programs

Job Title: Head of Programs

Role Summary:

The Head of Programs is responsible for spearheading the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of innovative humanitarian programs at the Khalid Bin Sultan Al Qasimi Humanitarian Foundation (KSQF). This role involves overseeing the effective distribution of grant funding, managing advocacy, relationships, monitoring and evaluation, and impact assessment. As a key external representative for the foundation, the role requires international travel and field visits to ensure program effectiveness and compliance.

Accountabilities:

- Grant Management:
- Oversee the entire grant-making process, including managing calls for proposals, evaluating grant requests, preparing summaries and recommendations, and coordinating with Legal and Finance teams on grant agreements.
- Ensure effective distribution of grants and timely disbursements.

- Monitoring & Evaluation:
- Implement and manage monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks for all KSQF grants/projects.
- Conduct assessments to measure the impact of programs, providing recommendations for future funding, scaling, or replication.

- Program Development:
- Identify and explore innovative projects to maximize grant impact.
- Ensure coordination and coherence across KSQF’s portfolio of grants.

- Strategic Planning:
- Contribute to strategic planning and decision-making for KSQF’s programs.
- Assist in developing and executing partnership and fundraising strategies to support the foundation’s mission.

- Relationship Management:
- Oversee relationships with implementing/funding partners and stakeholders at national and international levels.
- Represent KSQF at events, conferences, and networking opportunities.

- Field Operations:
- Conduct field visits to program sites to supervise operations and M&E activities.
- Provide on-the-ground support and conduct assessments.

- Compliance & Reporting:
- Maintain records of grants and performance information.
- Ensure compliance with grant requirements and health and safety policies.
- Prepare periodic reports on grant management and program performance.

Occupational Health & Safety:

- Adhere to workplace policies and procedures for risk management and control.
- Participate in health and safety management activities and report any risks, incidents, or accidents.

Communication & Working Relationships:

- Internal:
- Collaborate with KSQF team, Director, Alef team, and The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) team.

- External:
- Engage with implementing/funding partners, key stakeholders, local, regional, and international NGOs, and relevant associations.

Desired Candidate Profile:

- Competencies:
- Strategic and Analytical Thinking: 5
- Project Management Skills: 4
- Innovation and Adaptability: 4
- Communication Skills: 5
- Job & Industry Knowledge: 5
- Leadership: 5
- Self-Development: 4

- Experience & Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Political Science, International Relations, International Development, Public Policy, Psychology, Business, or a related field preferred.
- Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in non-profit programs, public policy, CSR, or related fields. Experience in the MENA region is desirable.
- Passion for humanitarian work and innovative approaches.
- UAE National preferred.

- Knowledge & Skills:
- Expertise in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and impact assessment.
- Strong collaborative skills for working with diverse teams and stakeholders.
- Excellent communication skills in English; Arabic is a plus.
- Strong analytical, report writing, contract drafting, and presentation skills.
- Good interpersonal skills and ability to relate well to colleagues and partners.