Senior Officer, Program Operations

Role Overview

This position coordinates the operational backbone of a global programmes portfolio, ensuring that planning, delivery, risk management, and performance reporting run as one connected system. You will work across teams and time zones to maintain visibility of milestones, dependencies, and emerging risks, and turn that information into clear materials for senior decision-makers. Your coordination directly strengthens the organisation's ability to deliver impactful programmes on time, within scope, and with accountability.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive the annual planning cycle for global programme operations, tracking workplan activities, key performance indicators, and deliverable deadlines across the portfolio.
• Maintain risk and performance registers, consolidating inputs from multiple workstreams and ensuring action plans are current, consistent, and ready for review.
• Prepare dashboards, briefing packs, and presentations for leadership forums and governance meetings, translating complex operational data into clear recommendations.
• Facilitate collaboration between programme operations teams and wider international programme stakeholders, supporting integrated planning and smooth handoffs.
• Coordinate change and transformation initiatives, including implementation activities, communications, and stakeholder engagement plans.
• Support learning and capacity strengthening efforts by organising communities of practice, knowledge-sharing events, and accessible resource libraries.
• Develop engaging newsletters and internal communications that keep teams aligned on priorities, achievements, and lessons learned.
• Provide operational and project support to senior leaders, including scheduling strategic sessions, preparing agendas, and following up on action points.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Essential: A bachelor's degree in international development, business administration, project management, public administration, organisational development, risk management, social sciences, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Essential: At least three to five years of experience supporting complex projects, programmes, or operational initiatives in an international setting.
• Essential: Proven ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders and workstreams within a matrixed environment, balancing competing priorities effectively.
• Essential: Strong project management skills, including planning, progress monitoring, reporting, and risk tracking.
• Essential: Experience with performance management, risk management, continuous improvement, or organisational change processes.
• Essential: Ability to analyse data, identify trends, and turn findings into practical recommendations for decision-makers.
• Essential: Excellent written and verbal communication, facilitation, and presentation skills, with professional fluency in English.
• Essential: Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint, plus comfort with virtual collaboration tools.
• Desirable: Experience within an international NGO or a humanitarian/development organisation.
• Desirable: Professional certification in project management (PRINCE2, PMP, Agile, MSP, or equivalent) or training in risk management, monitoring and evaluation, change management, or knowledge management.
• Desirable: Familiarity with Power BI, data visualisation, or similar reporting and knowledge-management platforms.
• Desirable: Working proficiency in French, Spanish, or Arabic.