Background

The education sector is a broad one. Because VVOB wants its results to be both impactful and sustainable, we make choices. We focus on the professional development of teachers and on effective school leadership in four educational subsectors, by developing the capacity of local education actors. VVOB was founded in 1982. Teachers and school leaders Be...

Position in the organisation

As Global Director of Programmes, you are a member of the Global Leadership Team and report directly to the General Director. You provide strategic leadership to VVOB’s global programme portfolio and ensure the quality, relevance and impact of all programme interventions across countries.

You work in close cooperation with Programme Managers, programme teams at global office level, and external partners, including ministries of education and investors.

Result areas of this position

Strategic programme leadership

You lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of VVOB’s global programme strategy, in alignment with the organisation’s overall strategy and governance model.

You translate global trends and insights in education, international cooperation and financing mechanisms into strategic programme choices and portfolio development.

You safeguard coherence across countries and themes, while allowing for contextual relevance.

Quality assurance and learning

You ensure high-quality design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all programmes.

You strengthen VVOB’s approaches to partnerships of education actors and system-level change.

You foster a strong culture of learning; evidence use and continuous improvement across the programme portfolio.

Programme portfolio and funding

You oversee the content-related aspects of programme formulation, donor engagement and reporting, in close cooperation with Finance and Country Teams.

You contribute actively to business development efforts, including engagement with existing and new public and private donors and foundations.

You establish and lead a structured approach to continuously scan, prioritise and convert funding opportunities into a strong, forward-looking programme pipeline.

People and team leadership

You provide direct leadership to the global programme team at the shared global office.

Together with the General Director, you support and guide Programme Managers in the strategic and qualitative management of their programmes.

You act as a coach and leader, creating an environment in which teams can perform, learn and grow.

External relations and representation

You represent VVOB towards technical, policy and funding partners.

You maintain and expand VVOB’s network of programme-related partners and experts, in close coordination with the General Director.

Who are you?

You want to contribute to improving the quality of education in Africa by working closely with expert teams and ministries of education. You are results-driven and recognise that sustainable results are achieved through people. Strong people management is therefore central to your approach.

Required expertise and experience

• A relevant master's degree or equivalent experience.
• Extensive international experience, preferably in education and in low- and middle- income countries.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic programme leadership within complex, multicultural organisations.
• You have strong, proven management and leadership skills, with a track record in managing senior professionals and leading teams across geographical distances.
• Proven experience with investors and other donors, including project formulation and reporting.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to connect strategy, content, results and resources.
• English proficiency: CEFR level C1.
• You are authorised to work in Belgium or Kenya.

Matching competences

VVOB core competences:

• Result-oriented
• Continuous improvement
• Cooperation

Function specific competencies:

• Persuasiveness

• Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of VVOB’s global programme strategy.
• Translate global trends and insights into strategic programme choices and portfolio development.
• Safeguard coherence across countries and themes.
• Ensure high-quality design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all programmes.
• Strengthen VVOB’s approaches to partnerships and system-level change.
• Foster a strong culture of learning, evidence use and continuous improvement.
• Oversee content-related aspects of programme formulation, donor engagement and reporting.
• Contribute actively to business development efforts.
• Establish and lead a structured approach to scan, prioritise and convert funding opportunities.
• Provide direct leadership to the global programme team.
• Support and guide Programme Managers.
• Act as a coach and leader.
• Represent VVOB towards technical, policy and funding partners.
• Maintain and expand VVOB’s network of programme-related partners and experts.

• Strategic programme leadership
• Quality assurance and learning
• Programme portfolio and funding management
• People and team leadership
• External relations and representation
• Strong management and leadership skills
• Proven experience with investors and donors
• Strong analytical skills
• English proficiency (CEFR level C1)
• Persuasiveness

• A relevant master's degree or equivalent experience.
• Extensive international experience, preferably in education and in low- and middle- income countries.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic programme leadership within complex, multicultural organisations.
• Strong, proven management and leadership skills, with a track record in managing senior professionals and leading teams across geographical distances.
• Proven experience with investors and other donors, including project formulation and reporting.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to connect strategy, content, results and resources.
• English proficiency: CEFR level C1.
• Authorised to work in Belgium or Kenya.