Deputy Director of Programme Operations

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>About Us&nbsp;<br></strong>GOAL has responded to the world’s major humanitarian crises since its founding in 1977, working with vulnerable communities in 14 countries across the globe with a dedicated team of personnel. While GOAL continues to be an agile first-responder to humanitarian crises, it is also committed to working with vulnerable communities to help them survive crises and support them on the road to recovery.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Job Purpose&nbsp;<br></strong>We are seeking a <strong>Deputy Director of Programme Operations</strong> to join our senior leadership team and help drive operational excellence across our global portfolio of humanitarian and development programmes. This is a new strategic leadership role reporting to the <strong>Director of International Programmes &amp; Operations</strong>, with significant responsibility for leading programme operations, people management, organisational performance, and risk management across multiple regions.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><em>**This is a full time, permanent position based in our HQ in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin but with regular international travel required**</em></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>About the Role<br></strong>You’ll play a critical role in ensuring our country programmes have the leadership, systems, support, and operational oversight needed to deliver impact in some of the world's most complex operating environments. You will act as a key partner to Regional Directors and Country Directors, helping translate GOAL’s strategy into effective action while ensuring programmes remain efficient, accountable, safe, and responsive to the needs of communities we serve. </span><br><br><span style="font-size: 10pt;">You will also provide leadership oversight to global safety and access functions and deputise for the Director of International Programmes &amp; Operations when required.&nbsp; This is an opportunity for an experienced humanitarian professional who combines strategic thinking with practical operational expertise and who understands the realities of both country programme leadership and HQ decision-making.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Key Areas of Responsibility:&nbsp;<br></strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Providing Strategic Leadership</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Leading and strengthening operational performance across multiple regions and country programmes.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Working closely with regional and country leadership teams to align priorities, improve programme quality, and drive organisational performance.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Supporting organisational strategy implementation and ensuring strong collaboration between programme, finance, HR, logistics, compliance, and technical teams.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Strengthening Global Programme Operations</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Overseeing operational performance reviews and driving continuous improvement.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Supporting effective decision-making through reporting, risk management, and performance monitoring systems.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Ensuring strong coordination between HQ and field teams while promoting learning and best practice across the organisation.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Leading and Developing People</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Directly managing senior programme leaders across multiple regions.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Building leadership capability through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and talent development.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Managing Risk and Supporting Emergency Response</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Providing oversight of programme risk management frameworks and crisis response readiness.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Supporting organisational preparedness for emergency deployments and responses.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Ensuring safety, security, and access considerations are embedded in programme planning and implementation.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Representing the Organisation Externally</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Building and maintaining strong relationships with institutional donors and strategic partners.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Supporting funding opportunities, donor engagement, and organisational representation at senior levels.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Contributing to board reporting and strategic communications.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>About You<br></strong>We are looking for a confident and credible humanitarian leader who has successfully navigated both field and HQ environments and who can operate effectively at strategic and operational levels.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>You'll bring:</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Significant experience living and working in humanitarian contexts, ideally across Africa and/or the Middle East and/or Latin America.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">10 years' experience leading programme operations in humanitarian or fragile settings.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Senior leadership experience within an international NGO or humanitarian organisation.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Experience managing multi-country programmes or regional portfolios.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Strong understanding of humanitarian operations, organisational risk management, donor compliance, security management, and emergency response.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">proven track record of leading change, improving performance, and strengthening teams.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Excellent leadership, communication, stakeholder engagement, and decision-making skills.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Willingness and ability to travel internationally, including to complex and fragile operating environments.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Why Join Us?</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">This is a rare opportunity to help shape and strengthen humanitarian programmes that reach millions of people across multiple countries.</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">You will join a passionate global team committed to delivering high-quality humanitarian assistance and long-term development impact,</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">You’ll play key role in shaping operational strategy, developing future leaders, and supporting emergency responses around the world.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><em>**GOAL offers staff flexible working with our hybrid model, we require our HQ employees to <strong>work 2 days </strong>per week from our office in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin**</em></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><em>&nbsp;</em></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">We strongly encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every single requirement listed.&nbsp; At GOAL we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please just contact our Recruitment Team at <a href="mailto:recruitment.hq@goal.ie"><strong>recruitment.hq@goal.ie</strong></a> &nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong><em>&nbsp;</em></strong><strong><em>GOAL commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:</em></strong></span><br><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><em>GOAL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all employees. </em><em>We foster an inclusive culture where all voices are heard and valued, we are particularly eager to receive applications from women (and other underrepresented groups).</em> <em>We know that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. </em></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">All employees share in the responsibility for fulfilling GOAL’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and equal treatment. GOAL does not discriminate against any employee or volunteer; or any applicant for employment or volunteering on the basis of age, gender identity, ancestry, political opinion, civil status, medical condition, ethnic background, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><strong>Accountability within GOAL<br></strong>A commitment to GOAL values and GOAL’s integrity framework is critical to working with GOAL. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability: 1) Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols; 2) Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area; 3) Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><strong>Safeguarding<br></strong>Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with GOAL as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><strong>General Terms and Conditions<br></strong>This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available. GOAL reserves the right to change this document.</span></p> <p><em>&nbsp;</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>