Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) is an international, non-profitable, non-governmental humanitarian relief organization with its head quarter in Birmingham, UK. It enjoys consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and is a signatory to the Code of Conduct for International Red Cross and red Crescent Moments and NGOs in Disaster Relief. Islamic Relief has been working in Afghanistan for more than 23 years, providing emergency relief and implementing life-changing development projects for some of the most vulnerable people in the country. Islamic Relief set up our first Afghanistan office in 1999. Since then, IRA continued providing assistances in emergency relief, food security, livelihood, education, health, nutrition, shelter, orphan sponsorship, Ramadan and Qurbani programmes.

Job Summary

The Programs Operation Manager will deliver operational leadership on IRA’s program; it involves leading teams to successfully deliver programs within agreed timelines and ensure cohesive supporting Provincial Managers in implementing and executing Islamic Relief Afghanistan’s Programs and projects.

The Programs Operation Manager (POM) at Islamic Relief Afghanistan is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing the effective implementation of Islamic Relief Afghanistan's programs, ensuring they meet quality, compliance, and donor requirements. The POM manages program budgets and staff, fosters partnerships, and supports capacity building for Provincial Managers, program Coordinators, ultimately working to maximize the positive impact of programs for affected people in Afghanistan.

·      Internal: Country Director, HOP, Provincial managers, Program development, MEAL, Finance, HR, SC.

·      External: Donors, Line ministries, Clusters, UN agencies, INGOs, community leaders.

Duties & Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Program Management

• Oversee the implementation of all programs operating in IRA’s field offices, ensuring that programs are delivered according to awards agreement requirements, humanitarian standards, and Islamic Relief Afghanistan standards.
• Develop and introduce program implementation strategies and ensure integration of cross-cutting themes (gender, protection, climate resilience).
• Ensure that activities are appropriately planned and resourced, with work plans, procurement plans, and phased budgets in place for each project and that progress is systematically monitored monthly against targets for both budgets and programmatic targets and issues are flagged for support in a timely manner.
• Develop Program implementation SoPs outlining project cycle managements approaches aligned with organization strategic plans.
• Establish sound coordination mechanism between Islamic Relief Afghanistan and various stakeholders engaged with projects.
• The POM ensure performance indicator tracking system are established for all projects, reviewed in a monthly basis and provided proper operational support for meeting the agreed indicators within timeline and budget.
• Assist HoPs in ensuring that strategic decisions regarding program operation are implemented.
• Ensure MEAL related activities are planned, resourced, and carried out in a timely manner.
• Ensure all programs are completed within the appropriate timeframe, within budget, and achieve their objectives and suggest/takes necessary actions in case of delays and issues.
• Coordinate with and support area and provincial offices to implement the project according to the project document and work plan.
• The POM will facilitate Field Leadership meeting under supervision of HoPs and would ensure minutes and follow-up actions have materialized to ensure proper program implementation.
• The POM will facilitate monthly BvAs review meeting for entire programs and would ensure minutes, and follow-up actions have materialized to ensure proper budget planning, monitoring and reporting.
•  The PoM established an operational mechanism for extending technical support between the technical departments & provincial offices to ensure necessary technical support is provided for quality implementation of projects.

2. Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Establish participatory management to optimize resources and efficiency.
• Implement mentoring/coaching for staff development and performance improvement.
• Mentor Program implementation staff and partners through capacity-building on tools like CaLP standards and market-based programming.
• Manage annual leave plans to ensure work-life balance and operational continuity.
• Conduct performance reviews with timely feedback and goal alignment.

3. Quality Assurance & Implementation

• Ensure high-quality deliverables for beneficiaries per SPHERE/CHS standards.
• Monitor field activities to address gaps and adapt strategies.
• Develop/Validate tools, SOPs, and training materials to meet humanitarian standards.
• Promote innovation.

4. Stakeholder Coordination & Reporting

• Strengthen coordination with clusters, authorities, donors, and HQ.
• Provide regular updates/data analysis to stakeholders.
• Ensure timely, accurate donor reports (narrative/financial).

5. MEAL & Accountability

• Collaborate with MEAL to track outcomes, conduct evaluations, and adapt programs based on data.
• Empower community participation in monitoring and feedback mechanisms.
• Document success stories and lessons learned for organizational learning.
• Use data for decision-making and program adaptation.
• Conduct regular field visits to ensure quality and smooth implementation of projects

6. Compliance & Safeguarding

• Uphold Islamic Relief’s policies (Safeguarding, Code of Conduct).
• Mitigate risks (e.g., diversion, market distortion) in cash/food distribution.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The post holder must show a good understanding and empathy for Islamic values and principles and commitment to IRW’s vision and mission.

Essential:

Education: 

• Bachelor’s degree preferably in agriculture, Economics, Environmental Science, Social science, or Civil Engineering
• Master’s degree in development studies is preferred.

Experience:

• At least 5-7 years of programming experience in humanitarian and development settings. At least 2-3 years at senior or similar position within international NGOs.
• Demonstrate experience working on community-based program initiative.
• Demonstrate experience in participatory methods and approaches.

Skills:

• Fluent in English and Dari/Pashto.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, and team leadership abilities.

Values: Commitment to Islamic Relief’s values and humanitarian principles.

Interested and qualified national candidates should submit a cover letter explaining their motivation and an updated CV to the following link:

https://jobs.af/jobs/programs-operation-manager

The closing date for accepting applications is 27 September 2025

Please note that applications received after the closing date will not be considered, and only short-listed candidates will be called for written test.