Programme Officer

Programme Officer 

Apply by 23rd November 2026 at 5:00 PM (E.A.T)

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; therefore, applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

About Restless Development

We have worked in Uganda since 1997, guided by four goals shaped by young people: Voice and Democracy, Education and Livelihoods, Gender and Sexual Health, and Climate Justice. We support young people to influence decisions, access quality education and sustainable livelihood opportunities, advance sexual and reproductive health and rights, promote gender equality, and lead action towards a just and sustainable future. We currently work in districts across Northern, North-Eastern, Central and Eastern Uganda, with offices in Kampala, Jinja, Moroto and West Nile. For more information, visit www.restlessdevelopment.org. 

Our approach to safeguarding

Restless Development considers the welfare and protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults to be an organisational imperative with primacy over the success of programmes or strategic objectives. We recognise that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and we expect all of our staff, volunteers and partners to ensure we protect the communities in which we operate from harm and abide by our Safeguarding Policy. 

About SHE SOARS Programme

Restless Development is implementing the Sexual Reproductive Health and Economic Empowerment Supporting Out-of-school Adolescent Girls' Rights and Skills (SHE SOARS) project with funding from Global Affairs Canada. The project is implemented in the districts of Kampala, Arua, Terego and Madi Okollo. It focuses on improving the delivery of SRHR services, addressing gender-based inequalities and increasing decision making power for young people. The project also aims to strengthen the capacity of local women’s rights and youth led groups to advocate for and monitor the implementation of policies and programmes that promote SRHR.

About the Role:

 The Programme Officer will deliver the SHE SOARS activities with young people, community structures, health care providers at government health facilities and local government leaders in the districts of Terego and Arua in West Nile.  The role will help adolescents understand and claim their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). It will challenge the harmful gender norms that limit those rights through community sensitisation, working with the Intergenerational Dialogue Mentors and Social Analysis and Action Facilitators. It will also strengthen gender and youth-responsive health systems by working with District Health Management Teams, VHTs, and Health Technical Working Groups.

Reporting to the Assistant Programme Coordinator, the Officer will take a lead role in planning and implementation, manage and mentor Community Structure Volunteers, and integrate Behaviour Change and Communication outreaches in the communities.

Job title: Programme Officer

Location: Arua-West Nile, Uganda

Project coverage: West Nile, (Arua, Terego & Madi-Okollo) and relevant national programme activities.

Level of Effort: 50% FTE

Salary: UGX 24,152,267 Gross per Annum 

Preferred start date: As Soon As Possible

Duration: 1 year, renewable depending on funding and performance

Reports to: Assistant Programme Coordinator

Direct Reports: Young Leaders, where applicable

Expected travel: Regular domestic travel, particularly within West Nile and to other programme locations as required. 

Key responsibilities

Programme Preparation and delivery (40%)

• Take a lead role in the planning and implementation of the SHE SOARS programme components.
• Plan and deliver a comprehensive community sensitisation programme on SRHR and harmful gender norms that affect young people’s ability to ensure their SRHR rights in the target communities.
• Take responsibility for volunteer safety and welfare through training volunteers in Safety and welfare, risk assessment, management, and reporting.
• Support the recruitment and retention of Team leaders and Community Structure Volunteers, including the Intergenerational Dialogue Mentors, Social Analysis and Action Facilitators, and Youth Advisory Structure members.
• Promote health systems strengthening through collaborating with the District Health Management Teams and Health Technical Working Groups to promote gender/youth responsive and inclusive planning, budgeting, data for decision-making and SRH supportive supervision, and development of appropriate training manuals.
• Collaborate with Health Facilities to ensure that integrated Behavioral Change and Communication outreaches are held in hard-to-reach areas to promote access to Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health.
• Support in all training preparations for volunteers.
• Ensure monitoring, evaluation, and reporting procedures and timelines are followed by team leaders and volunteers through the M&E systems.
• Develop monthly and quarterly programme narrative reports and review quarterly financial reports, as well as leading on annual programme reports and internal programme reports
• Participate in the development and continuous improvement of volunteer activities and events innovatively.

Partnership Development Management (30%)

• Ensure that key staff at the district and sub-county offices have a clear understanding of the SHE SOARS programme and other Restless Development programs.
• Work with research teams to ensure the effective sharing of research findings with key stakeholders
• Prepare and submit quarterly reports to district and sub-county local governments and ensure all records are updated
• Represent Restless Development Uganda at meetings with government and NGO partners as required
• Identify and establish relationships with different stakeholders including community leaders, refugees, host communities, schools and health centres, and ensure a good working relationship is maintained.

People Management and Development (20%)

• Take a lead role in the selection and recruitment of team leaders and volunteers.
• Lead performance and line management of team leaders and volunteers as required, serving as a role model at all times.
• Ensure that all team leaders have clear performance objectives, monitored on a monthly basis.
• Continually support and supervise the outputs of the team leaders through line management and performance reviews.
• Build the capacity of team leaders and volunteers to meet their targets and address challenges among them and their teams.
• Ensure Handover notes are documented per- cycle.
• Ensure that researchers, volunteers and team leaders understand and adhere to the code of conduct.
• Report all volunteer and team leader incidents in line with Restless Development health & safety policies and procedures.
• Lead support and welfare meetings with team leaders and researchers.
• Track the project budget and develop quarterly financial reports.
• Ensure that financial management is undertaken according to Restless Development policy and procedures.
• Lead the generation of regular updates and reports as required.

Other (10%)

• Other duties as required, sometimes requiring working on weekends and holidays for which time off in lieu can be taken.

Qualifications and Experience

Skills and experience

Essential

• Graduate-level degree in a relevant field, such as Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Public Health, Social work, Social Sciences, or Development Studies, or equivalent work experience. Post graduate studies are an added advantage.
• At least 2-3 years of experience managing similar programmes.
• Significant experience designing and delivering youth engagement programmes, with a particular focus on youth sexual reproductive health and livelihoods.
• Experience working in emergency and development settings, SRHR, youth leadership and meaningful youth engagement is essential.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, fluency in written and spoken English.
• Ability to communicate in languages used in the project's West Nile communities.
• Ability to ride a motorcycle with a valid riding permit
• Excellent IT & computer skills including Excel and Word.
• Strong financial & budget management skills 
• Ability to solve problems and make sound operational decisions.

Desirable

• Experience in lobbying and advocacy, partnership management and working with a diverse range of partners.
• Experience working in a youthful, multicultural environment, including welfare provision.
• Experience in implementing similar interventions in Arua, Terego and Madi Okollo.
• Ability to analyse problems and make sound operational decisions.
• Excellent organisational skills and a methodological approach to programme management

To Apply

Please submit your CV and a cover letter that provides tangible examples of how your skills, knowledge and experience will support your ability to perform the key priorities outlined in the above job description (using no more than 750 words)

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