Title: Job Opportunity: Head of Programmes – SOS Children’s Villages Tanzania – January 2026

Organization overview SOS Children’s Villages Tanzania is a local non-governmental organization established affiliated 60 years to SOS Children’s Villages International, a worldwide childcare and protection organization that provides orphaned and destitute children with a permanent family home and educational opportunities. Currently SOS Children’s Villages International has Children’s Villages and other projects in 135 countries around the world. Globally, it runs the SOS Children’s Village Programme which has two main arms, i.e. Family Like Care based at SOS Children’s Villages and Family Strengthening Programmes supporting families in local communities. SOS Children’s Villages has been working in Tanzania since 1991. Our programs are currently working in Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Iringa, Dodoma, and Mtwara.

Job Title: Head of Programmes Duty station: National Office – Dar es Salaam Reporting to: National Director

Job Summary The Head of Programmes provides strategic leadership, technical direction, and oversight of high-quality, relevant, and sustainable programmes that align with the SOS Children’s Villages Tanzania mission and the overall strategic plan. The role ensures high programme relevance, impact, and sustainability through evidence-based decision-making, strong partnerships with government institutions, civil society, donors, and other stakeholders, and continuous programme improvement.

Major Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of all programmes in line with the 2024-2028 Strategic Plan and SOS CV Strategy.
• Drive the transition from residential care to family- and community-based care models, ensuring quality and safeguarding standards.
• Translate strategic objectives into annual operational plans, results frameworks, and budgets.
• Ensure programmes are evidence-based, child-centred, gender-responsive, and safeguarding-focused, while complying with national and international child rights policies.
• Strengthen results-based management (RBM), monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) systems.
• Lead care reform initiatives, including reintegration of children into families of origin and kinship care, and support development of alternative care systems in partnership with government and other actors.
• Build and manage strategic partnerships across programmes with government MDAs, LGAs, CSOs, INGOs, UN agencies, and academia.
• Lead programme alignment-building and joint programming with partners.
• Support consortium-building and joint proposals with national policies, strategies, and legal frameworks.
• Lead or support Fund Development and HIPO concept notes, proposals to diversify funding sources.
• Work closely with Fund Development and IPD teams to ensure effective donor engagement, reporting, and compliance.

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Abilities, and Behavioural Competences

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Community Development, Youth Development, or related field. A postgraduate qualification (Master’s degree) in a related area is an added advantage.
• At least 8-10 years of progressive experience in child protection, family strengthening, alternative care systems, and/or related social development programmes.
• Extensive experience in child protection, family strengthening, alternative care systems, and multi-sectoral programmes.
• Strong leadership and team management experience, with prior management or consulting in international development preferred.
• Proven experience working with donor-funded programmes, including donor liaison, reporting, and compliance.
• Strong analytical, research, facilitation, and capacity-building abilities.
• High proficiency in MEAL systems, databases, data reform, data analysis tools, and rights-based programming.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills (written and verbal) across functions.
• Fluency in both English and Swahili.

Interested candidates should submit an application letter via email, along with a detailed and updated CV which includes email contacts, email address, position applied for. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews. The candidate MUST clearly indicate the title of the position in the subject line of the email and professional references. Closing date is 31st January 2026. Please send to: The National Director, Dar es Salaam, SOS Children’s Villages Tanzania [email protected]

Please note: SOS Children’s Villages Tanzania is an equal opportunity employer. The organisation does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.