Systems Director - Ethiopia

About Us

GOAL has responded to the world’s major humanitarian crises since its founding in 1977, working with vulnerable communities in 14 countries across the globe with a dedicated team of personnel. While GOAL continues to be an agile first-responder to humanitarian crises, it is also committed to working with vulnerable communities to help them survive crises and support them on the road to recovery.

GOAL Ethiopia
GOAL implements a range of multi-sectoral development, resilience, and humanitarian programmes in Ethiopia. Our work is guided by a strong commitment to cross-cutting issues such as gender equality, accountability, protection, and HIV/AIDS. We currently support vulnerable groups including street children, pastoralist communities, and rural smallholder farmers, responding to both humanitarian needs and long-term development challenges in close collaboration with local communities, government authorities, donors, and other key partners.

GOAL’s humanitarian response is centred on nutrition, WASH, livelihoods, multipurpose cash, NFIs and protection interventions, while the development focus are on livelihoods, economic opportunities, health and nutrition, markets systems development and WASH.

Job Purpose
The Systems Director is a key part of the Country Management Team (CMT) responsible for the leadership and strategic direction of the country programme. The System Director leads the systems functions (IT, Logistics, Procurement, Compliance, and Legal) ensuring efficient, effective, and compliant support to the delivery of the country programme. The System Director will ensure a culture of continuous improvement based on department performance and changing contextual needs. Collaboration with the global team of systems directors will form part of the role to learn from others, share experiences, and input to global organizational systems improvements.

** This role is based in Addis Ababa, we are seeking candidates who are currently in country who are eligible to work on a permanent basis in Ethiopia, please note this role is not a international deployed position**

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Align the systems functions with the country and global strategic plans and develop department plans and budgets
• Collaborate closely with the country management team and HQ technical leads on funding opportunities to ensure appropriate systems functions and cost allocations
• Ensure full systems participation in grant management with a focus on timely, efficient, and compliant grant implementation and reporting
• Lead the country systems team and directly manage the team functional leads. Ensure a team culture that enables learning and development of team members
• Track all systems functions performance, monitor KPIs, and take corrective action. Seek to identify and tackle root cause problems thus providing sustained solutions
• In line with GOALs global digital transformation strategy ensure fully adoption of digital solutions and actively participate in development of new solutions
• As a Senior Management Team member support the Country Director in ensuring the safety of GOAL staff through establishing and implementing appropriate procedures across the country team
• Manage the country’s risk profile by ensuring that policies and procedures are in place, participating in the management of the country Risk Register and addressing internal audit and compliance issues
• Assist the CD in the management of the Security Plan and monitor staff's understanding and implementation of the plan at every level

Procurement and Logistics (Supply Chain):
• Direct management of the technical leads
• Coordinate two teams ensuring context appropriate and cost effective support to the country programme
• Ensure coordination between programmes, logistics, and procurement on project design and delivery, including but not limited to fleet requirements, procurement plans, staffing, stock movements
• Monitor the performance of the departments and ensure delivery on KPIs. Seek to delivery continuous improvements through efficiencies based on a strong strategic and contextual understanding

Information Communication Technology / Digital Transformation:
• Develop and deliver a country technology plan sufficient for current and future programme requirements
• Advise the senior management team on implementation of technology solutions including ensuring correct digital document management, management of SharePoint, and cyber security actions
• Ensure country compliance with GOAL policies and standards for technology adoption. Be proactive in asking for technical support and ensure timely engagement of HQ technical functions
• Manage the IT team ensuring appropriate service support to the country programme. Use KPIs to track service performance and be proactive in tackling root cause problems

Financial / budget management:
• Prepare and manage the overall core cost budgets for GOAL Ethiopia
• Manage the equipment budget and fleet budget for all GOAL Ethiopia grants
• Support the Financial Controller with the preparation of budgets and forecasts for donor proposals, annual budgets and support the preparation of the year-end financial statements
• In conjunction with the FC, monitoring and controlling expenditure on the core costs budgets and highlight, as appropriate, under/overspends and agree actions required

Internal, Donor and Regulatory Compliance:
• Stay informed of and ensure adherence to the standard of GOAL procedures and policies in relation to Logistics, Finance, HR and Programmes as set out in the relevant manuals, policies and guidelines.
• Lead on implementation of GOAL’s assurance framework in the systems functions, and work with the CMT to identify areas of improvements.
• Provide support to any internal audit, compliance and financial investigation assignments ensuring GOAL policies are followed.
• Responsible for the management of the country Conflict of Interest register updating users and tracking completion of all declarations.
• Manage the compliance team and coordinate with other functions to ensure adequate training, and support is provided to GOAL staff to enhance their knowledge and understanding of GOAL and Donor policies and procedures and ensure proper implementation and on-going use.
• Ensure GOAL Ethiopia adheres to the regulatory requirements of the government of Ethiopia with regard to visas, work permits and registration in liaison with the Country Director.
• Ensure organizational compliance to donor policies and guidelines.

Skills & Qualifications
• Extensive experience in Operation, Procurement and logistics related management, with at least 3 years at a senior management level
• Good understanding of donor rules and regulations and implementation of strong compliance and control framework
• Compliance and audit experience and excellent attention to details
• Proven strong budgetary control and financial management skills
• Proven track record in systems implementation and development
• Experience in managing and developing teams
• Experience in data analytics and using data to monitor service delivery and procedural compliance
• Experience in adopting digital solutions to improve process efficiencies or compliance

We strongly encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every single requirement listed. At GOAL we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please just contact our Recruitment Team at recruitment.hq@goal.ie

GOAL commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
GOAL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all employees. We foster an inclusive culture where all voices are heard and valued, we are particularly eager to receive applications from women (and other underrepresented groups). We know that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.