Program Desk Officer Multi Country

Coordinatore Programma-Coordinamento

Descrizione

Position: Program Desk Officer Multi-Country
Countries covered: Ukraine, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.
Duty Station: VIS HQ (Rome) or remote, with missions abroad.
Start date: 1 January 2026
Duration: 12-month contract (renewable)
Contact persons: the direct supervisor will be the Head of the HQ VIS Programs Department.

Description of VIS and country contexts:

VIS – Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo (International Volunteering for Development) is a non-governmental organization involved in development cooperation and international solidarity and an educational agency that promotes and organizes awareness-raising, education and training activities for development and global citizenship.

In Ukraine, since the early stages of the war, VIS has coordinated its emergency response actions to maximize the effectiveness of humanitarian interventions and alleviate the suffering of the civilian population and the most vulnerable groups. In close collaboration with the Italian Salesian International Solidarity Organizations (ESISI), other international NGOs, the Don Bosco Network and the Greek Catholic Salesians of Ukraine, VIS operates in the areas of Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhian, Kiev and Lviv.

VIS has been present in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2002, working in Goma and Shasha in North Kivu, Nyangoma in South Kivu and Mbuji Mayi in East Kasai, areas affected by decades of war with disastrous effects on security, education, human rights, health and food security. The resurgence of the emergency in North Kivu due to a deterioration in security in 2024 led VIS to devote part of its time to seeking resources to respond to the new humanitarian needs of displaced populations.

VIS has been present in Burundi since 2004 and over the years its work in the country has focused on the areas of protection and strengthening civil society actors.

Main Responsibilities and Objectives:

The Program Desk Officer Multi-Country provides strategic leadership and oversight of VIS’s operational management in Ukraine, DRC and Burundi. He/She ensures that programs are implemented in accordance with VIS internal procedures and donor’s procedures, guides the national team, supervises financial and operational management in close collaboration with the Administrative Desk Officer, and ensures that good relations are maintained with the Salesian Partner and all international partners and other relevant stakeholders in the countries concerned.

The Program Desk Officer Multi-Country is specifically responsible to:

Ensure remote monitoring and coordination of ongoing VIS programs in Ukraine (70%) and in the Great Lakes region, mainly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi (30%).
Improve the effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability of the programs in Ukraine and the DRC, and contribute to the repositioning of VIS in Burundi through the identification, formulation and presentation of new projects and by contributing to the strategic reprogramming of the country for the coming years.
Through the human resources (expatriate and non-expatriate) responsible for program implementation and coordination of interventions in the countries of reference, he/she is responsible for the proper execution of interventions carried out in the countries and for the planning and design of new interventions in the area.
Act as a liaison between the program and administrative chains, working in close collaboration with the relevant Administrative Desk Officer and acting as a liaison between the reference country and VIS HQ.

Main duties and activities to be carried out:

Contribute to the drafting of the country’s operational and financial planning and to the monitoring and possible variations thereof.
Monitor calls for proposals, identifying possible funding lines at both national and international level.
Formulate projects, in coordination with the Head of the Programs Department and any thematic Desk Officer, present proposals and follow up on preliminary investigations, responding to any additions and/or changes to the interventions financed on site.
Play a key role in building and maintaining strong relationships with Salesian counterparts, donors, humanitarian clusters and other international partners, ensuring that the VIS remains well connected and aligned with the country’s strategy.
Monitor and coordinate second-level interventions in the countries of reference, through the coordination of staff in the various local offices.
Contribute to the definition of VIS Strategic Planning and the development of guidelines for the countries of competence.
Collaborate with the Country Representative (RPL) in preparing the necessary documentation for the launch of approved interventions.
Collaborate with the Human Resources office in the phases of identifying new resources to be hired, job analysis, selection, pre-departure training, capacity building, evaluation and debriefing of staff in the countries of reference.
Oversee the preparation and submission of variations, extensions or modifications of ongoing projects.
Oversee the process of closing each ongoing project in the country, handover, interim and final reporting, and submission of official documentation to the donor.
Contribute to the definition of the ToR for technical consultancy and interim/final and ex-post evaluations of programs underway in the country of reference.
Participate to events organized by third parties, networks and/or thematic platforms related to programs in the countries of reference.
Ensure the accountability of VIS actions in the countries of reference through the implementation of VIS internal procedures and compliance with VIS safeguarding policies and its Code of Conduct.
Collaborate with other VIS HQ departments as required.

Requirements:

Willingness to travel for missions, including long-term missions, in the reference countries.
Willingness to travel periodically to VIS HQ in Rome.

Knowledge and skills:

Master’s degree, preferably in economics and/or humanities, with specialization in International Cooperation.
At least 5 years’ previous professional experience in the management of humanitarian and recovery projects/programs, including financial and logistical management responsibilities, in similar positions (Desk HQ, Regional Coordinator, Country Representative), gained within an international NGO. At least 3 years’ professional experience in complex emergency contexts and unstable countries.
Previous experience in writing and managing project proposals for major donors and in-depth knowledge of these donors (including: AICS, ECHO, UHF, UN agencies, DG INTPA).
Knowledge of essential humanitarian standards, Sphere and Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP) standards, and other international humanitarian guidelines and protocols.
Advanced planning, evaluation and analysis skills. Good report writing skills;
Excellent knowledge of English and French (spoken and written). Good knowledge of Italian (spoken and written).

Skills and psychological aptitude:

Strong organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines.
Strong writing skills and attention to detail.
Strong ability to work in a team and motivate colleagues in the field.
Strong interpersonal skills: communication, diplomacy and problem solving.

HOW TO APPLY:

Submitting applications: fill in the form specifying the role: e.g. 3529 Programs Desk Officer Multi-Country
Please submit your CV, cover letter and references (at least 2 contacts).
Application deadline: 29/12/2025
Only candidates who meet the requirements will be contacted.