Vacant Positions

Head of Programs

Arigatou International draws on universal principles of common good to fulfill its “All for Children” mission. At the heart of our work is creating inclusive spaces for shared action to promote children’s rights and well-being. We encourage individuals and organizations to take action to ensure that all girls and boys grow up safe and sound, develop to their full potential, and are inspired and empowered to work with others to make a difference in their communities. 

Arigatou International develops and sustains multi-stakeholder initiatives designed to ensure that all children are treated with dignity and that all of their rights are respected and protected. Engaging diverse collaborators, we employ interfaith and intercultural approaches to bring about positive change for children at all levels—from the grassroots to the global.

The Arigatou International office in Geneva, Switzerland manages the Ethics Education initiative through its enhancement, further development and partnerships. It also serves as liaison office with UN agencies and child-rights-focused NGOs.   Ethics Education for Children promotes values and ethics for children within the framework of the child’s right to education as stated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Responsibilities

The Head of Programs is in charge of the programs department of Arigatou International Geneva, which includes ethics education and child engagement programs and activities.  The Head of Programs is part of Arigatou International Geneva management team, supporting programmatic management decisions and strategic management processes in close collaboration with the Executive Director. 

Specific responsibilities:

Program management

• Manage and provide strategic direction to the programmatic area of Arigatou International Geneva.
• Oversight all ethics education and child engagement programs, including budget planning, overview, and tracking, ensuring progress according to set objectives and providing quality assurance.
• Supervise program officers, including setting weekly meetings with them to review progress and provide support, and ensure proper implementation of programs.
• Oversight the training area of Arigatou International Geneva, including providing advice to the Program Officers in charge of training, coordinating and delivering trainings as necessary, and liaising with different partners.
• Coordinate the International Consortium on Nurturing Values and Spirituality in Early Childhood and liaise with Program Officer in charge of implementation of Consortium toolkit as well as well as with Advocacy and Communications Officers to support program implementation.
• Liaise with project partners for technical advice and collaboration, including but not exclusively, to programs related to issues of migration and discrimination in Europe, Learning to Live Together in the Digital Environment, Resilience and Children on the Move, and Fellowship on Ethics Education for Children in formal education.
• Oversight implementation of ethics education programs with Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) partners, including providing support to ensure quality in the planning, development, evaluation and follow up of training and implementation programs.
• Design, coordinate and implement Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Framework of all programs.
• Liaise with Communications officer to ensure proper communication support to the program area.
• Provide support to resource mobilization efforts by reviewing proposals to ensure that they respond to the needs of the programmatic area.

Child Participation

• Serve as a Child Safeguarding Focal Point.
• Support the mainstreaming of the Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct into programs as well as training for Arigatou International Staff and GNRC Coordinators in close collaboration with Child Rights Program Officer.
• Convene the Arigatou International Working Group on Child Participation.

Representation

• Represent Arigatou International in webinars and conferences as well as in different platforms, as necessary.
• Work in close collaboration with colleagues from the different Arigatou International offices.

Management

• Provide support to the Executive Director regarding decisions on programmatic aspects.
• Attend periodical meetings with Management team to discuss strategic direction of the office.
• Support follow up of strategic action plan and support tracking implementation of programmatic areas.

Eligibility Requirements

• Master’s degree in a field relevant to international development, education, peacebuilding, or social sciences
• Between 6 to 10 years of working experience in program design, management, implementation and Monitoring and Evaluation
• Proven experience in designing and implementing Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Frameworks
• Experience working on education programs, particularly peace education, early childhood, interfaith dialogue, children and youth empowerment
• Excellent understanding of child rights and child safeguarding
• Fluency in English with strong oral and written communication skills and strong analytical skills
• Excellent professional proficiency of Spanish, and additional good professional proficiency of French, Portuguese or Arabic, is preferred
• Knowledge of project management software and familiarity with Results-Based Management tools
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong attention to detail in all tasks
• Excellent organizational skills: the ability to track and follow-up on various efforts
• Good interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity: the ability to work in a multicultural environment and successfully interact with people from different cultural and religious backgrounds
• Flexible work attitude: the ability to work under pressure and short timelines; the ability to follow direction, work independently and effectively learn and work in a multicultural environment as well as self-motivate.
• Desire to work with religious communities and learn about interfaith programs.

Reports to: Maria Lucia Uribe, Executive Director Arigatou International, Geneva

Timeframe: This is a full-time position. The selected candidate should start in the beginning of August 2023.  Initial contract is for one year with possibility of extension and permanent position.  

Location: Europe.  Remotely with travel to Geneva and at least 30% travel to other locations during the year.  Please note that applicants who do not have a residence in Europe will not be considered.

Application process:

1. Fill in the application form, by clicking here.
2. Send your CV and motivation letter to genevavacancies@arigatouinternational.org by 15 June 2023. Please include your full name in the Subject: Head of Programs NAME

Please note that applicants who have not filled in the form at the time of receiving the CV and motivation letter, will not be considered. Both steps are mandatory for consideration. 

Also note that, owing to the volume of expected applicants, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. We regret that we are unable to answer phone or email enquiries.