Head of Programs 

Reports to:

National Director

Supervise:

Program Managers and technical specialists 

Work Location:

Vietnam (Hanoi as a base is preferred, but open to hybrid)

JOB SUMMARY

The Head of Program Operations is responsible for supervising the smooth operations of Habitat for Humanity Vietnam programs. S/he shall ensure: (i) leading the application of the Global Theory of Change (TOC) and Program Strategy among National Organizations (NO) and Branches in Asia-Pacific (AP) as part of Habitat’s Global Impact; (ii) programs, projects, and efforts across the three regions are convened, aligned, and consolidated; (iii) alignment of the country program with the Habitat mission as well as Habitat Vietnam strategy); (iv) program quality and effectiveness; (v)  compliance of the country program with applicable Habitat, donor, partner and government policies and requirements;  (vi) develop and update program policies, procedures, and guidelines.

Under the guidance of the National Director, the Head of Program Operations will contribute to the growth of the country program by working closely with the National Director to effectively identify and develop appropriate strategic and operational goals/objectives and business models for the design and implementation of short and long-range plans that are founded on peoplecentered, partnership-driven housing ecosystem approach.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1.     Mission and strategy alignment

• Develop, implement, ensure quality, monitor country strategy and operational plans, the annual operating plan and budget that meet the commitments to partners and Habitat
• Vietnam’s strategic business plan and reach significant housing impact in the context of Vietnam 
• Review the application of Habitat’s guidance for mission alignment in proposed projects and initiatives
• Provide input and support for the overall strategy and programs of HFHV as a member of the Asia-Pacific Country Leadership Team (CLT)
• Develops and implements strategic plans for HFHV and operations in alignment with HFH Asia Pacific programs and the organization’s mission and vision; Provides visionary leadership to the regional teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence; Champions the application and contextualization of HFHV in the global HFH’s global strategy and AP addressing the root causes that create and sustain the housing gap so that everyone has a decent place to live; Supports and guides PMs in the creation of country strategies that align to HFH’s global strategy, and focuses on the programmatic strategies within them to maximize impact and opportunities for scale and funding.

2.     Developing partnership with government authorities, development peers, private sectors and others

• Network and maintain effective strategic relationships with the authorities and relevant governing bodies, development organizations and other key actors
• Stay abreast of changes in relevant governmental policies and regulations. Provide analysis of its impact to HFHV’s operations together with solutions.
• Work with government partners to advocate for changes in governmental housing policies and programs, and to resolve challenges in program/projects’ operations.
• Establish, cultivate, and maintain strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders (e.g. international organizations, government agencies, and local communities) to enhance the impact of our programs. 
• Collaborate with external partners to identify funding opportunities to support international initiatives

3.     Program quality and effectiveness

• Review and ensure the relevance, coherence, and likely sustainability and scalability of proposed projects and initiatives. 
• Encourage innovation in the design of interventions, partnerships, technology, or way of doing things. 
• Ensure lessons learned are incorporated into project variations for improvement and new programs/projects.
• Ensure efficient and effective program implementation through regular communication with MEAL and program staff as well as with external stakeholders
• Develop and drive proactive and continuous quality improvement systems and processes
• Contribute to creating platforms for co-creation within HFHV.

4.     Program Management

• Oversees the planning, implementation, and evaluation of HFH’s programs such as DRR-CCA/Climate Resilience, WatSan, Construction Excellence, Housing Market Systems Development, and Rural & Urban Programs to ensure they are executed effectively and achieve desired outcomes; Monitors AP program budgets, timelines, and resources, making necessary adjustments to ensure successful program delivery; Coordinates the application of the Program Strategy as well as the development of regional strategies; Leads the appraisal and evaluation of the NO capacity to implement quality programs and projects; Coordinates processes with AP Programs, and with TCIS for areas under their expertise.
• Team Management – Leads and mentors a diverse team of program managers, coordinators, and support staff located in different countries; provide guidance, support, and professional development opportunities to enhance team members’ skills and capabilities; Provides leadership and direction to the Program Operations department comprised of
• Branch national directors, MEAL, technical experts (DR3, WASH, Construction Quality and Urban Programs) and program managers
• Operations Oversight – Streamlines international operations, ensuring efficient processes for procurement, logistics, compliance, and reporting; Implements and enhances systems to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of operations, making data-driven improvements as necessary; Implements, reviews, and ensures the quality of impact reporting to the Country Office and Headquarters; Collaborates with internal stakeholders in increasing the evidence-based content; Creates opportunities to increase capacity among NO’s in partnership with other AP departments and Program Operations Units
• New Mission Opportunities – Ensures the programmatic quality and evidence-based content (based on MEAL) of project proposals as they are developed by the AO departments (Resource Development, Global FOI), NOs, and HFHI departments outside of AP as necessary; Co-owns the development and implementation of mechanisms to review the quality of grant proposals irrespective of the source of funding (examples are the Go/No Go processes as well as the review of Concept Notes).
• Risk Management – Identifies potential risks and challenges related to HFHI’s programs and operations and develops mitigation strategies.

5.     Compliance

• Review and ensure compliance of projects and initiatives to Habitat for Humanity International, donor, partner and government policies and requirements.
• Promote continuous learning of these compliance requirements • Work collaboratively with finance lead to ensure projects’ budgetary requisites are met and effectively stewarded

6.     Growth of country program

• Lead the program team’s collaboration with finance, RD&C, PD-MEAL, and HR teams in the co-creation of fundable projects and initiatives and foster a collaborative and dynamic working relationship across departments.
• Identify potential partners for Habitat Vietnam 
• Contribute to managing and stewarding donor relations
• Identify and evaluate the risks associated with program activities and take appropriate action to control the risks. Proactively raise concerns to the National Director as needed.

7.     Advocacy

• Lead the program team in adapting the Habitat for Humanity International global advocacy campaign to the context of Vietnam.   
• Identify targets and partners for Habitat Vietnam’s government-people engagement or influencing work – individuals, groups, institutions, policies, or areas of potential change 
• Represent Habitat Vietnam in various learning, advocacy, or networking events

8. Urban programming 

• Guide the design and implementation of more comprehensive urban housing programs
• Develop and lead country strategies, standards, guidelines, tools, and capacity building approaches for Habitat Vietnam’s urban programming 
• Advocate for and demonstrate the transformational impact of housing and its contribution to urban development
• Work with Senior Management in the development of strategic partnerships with complementary organizations in addressing housing challenges in the urban sector.
• Build and maintain relationships with external partners and experts in the urban sector ensuring that Habitat Vietnam’s urban programs align with sector norms and standards.

CRITICAL JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Post-graduate degree in International Development, Social Sciences, or equivalent work experience related to the mission of HFHI and a minimum of 8 years in managerial roles with substantial level of responsibilities of multidisciplinary teams
• At least a 10-years-experience implementing housing or service solutions for the most vulnerable groups and/or in International Development, and with extensive technical experience of at least three (3) of the sectoral programs, such as, Affordable Housing, Housing Market Systems Development, WatSan, Disaster Risk Reduction, Land and Housing Policy
• Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEAL) – Reviewing programs utilizing the MEAL methodology to track progress against work plans. This is for adjusting, assessing program impact, facilitating learning, and providing feedback to relevant stakeholders. 
• Market Orientation – Understanding how to analyze and synthesize market and competitive data. Able to think of new and exciting ideas that will drive customer stickiness and satisfaction. Focuses on discovering and meeting the needs of the clients and donors.
• Solid professional experience in development or humanitarian programming, program development and grant writing.
• Leadership competencies in thinking, collaboration, communication, as well as mission alignment and ethical governance.
• Successful experience in coordinating institutional capacity building 
• Highly skilled in strategic and operational planning and program management
• Strong urban programs, advocacy/government-people engagement, local partnership development 
• Demonstrated experience in partnership development  
• Background in construction an advantage 
• Strong in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint etc.

AT HABITAT WE COMMIT TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH FOLLOWING VALUES: 

1. Competitive salary and benefits comparing with other foreign NGOs in Vietnam  
2. Open, collaborative, and enabling working environment
3. An upbeat, creative, and enthusiastic workplace 
4. Experience in people-centered development through housing and human settlements