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.
Job Purpose
We are seeking a Deputy Director of Programme Operations to join our senior leadership team and help drive operational excellence across our global portfolio of humanitarian and development programmes. This is a new strategic leadership role reporting to the Director of International Programmes & Operations, with significant responsibility for leading programme operations, people management (4 Direct Reports) organisational performance, and risk management across multiple regions.
**This is a full time, permanent position based in our HQ in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, Ireland but with regular international travel required**
About the Role
You’ll play a critical role in ensuring our country programmes have the leadership, systems, support, and operational oversight needed to deliver impact in some of the world’s most complex operating environments. You will act as a key partner to Regional Directors and Country Directors, helping translate GOAL’s strategy into effective action while ensuring programmes remain efficient, accountable, safe, and responsive to the needs of communities we serve.
You will also provide leadership oversight to global safety and access functions and deputise for the Director of International Programmes & Operations when required. This is an opportunity for an experienced humanitarian professional who combines strategic thinking with practical operational expertise and who understands the realities of both country programme leadership and HQ decision-making.
Key Areas of Responsibility:
Providing Strategic Leadership
- Leading and strengthening operational performance across multiple regions and country programmes.
- Working closely with regional and country leadership teams to align priorities, improve programme quality, and drive organisational performance.
- Supporting organisational strategy implementation and ensuring strong collaboration between programme, finance, HR, logistics, compliance, and technical teams.
Strengthening Global Programme Operations
- Overseeing operational performance reviews and driving continuous improvement.
- Supporting effective decision-making through reporting, risk management, and performance monitoring systems.
- Ensuring strong coordination between HQ and field teams while promoting learning and best practice across the organisation.
Leading and Developing People
- Directly managing senior programme leaders across multiple regions.
- Building leadership capability through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and talent development.
- Fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.
Managing Risk and Supporting Emergency Response
- Providing oversight of programme risk management frameworks and crisis response readiness.
- Supporting organisational preparedness for emergency deployments and responses.
- Ensuring safety, security, and access considerations are embedded in programme planning and implementation.
Representing the Organisation Externally
- Building and maintaining strong relationships with institutional donors and strategic partners.
- Supporting funding opportunities, donor engagement, and organisational representation at senior levels.
- Contributing to board reporting and strategic communications.
About You
We are looking for a confident and credible humanitarian leader who has successfully navigated both field and HQ environments and who can operate effectively at strategic and operational levels.
You’ll bring:
- Significant experience living and working in humanitarian contexts, ideally across Africa and/or the Middle East and/or Latin America.
- 10 years’ experience leading programme operations in humanitarian or fragile settings.
- Senior leadership experience within an international NGO or humanitarian organisation.
- Experience managing multi-country programmes or regional portfolios.
- Strong understanding of humanitarian operations, organisational risk management, donor compliance, security management, and emergency response.
- proven track record of leading change, improving performance, and strengthening teams.
- Excellent leadership, communication, stakeholder engagement, and decision-making skills.
- Willingness and ability to travel internationally, including to complex and fragile operating environments.
Why Join Us?
- This is a rare opportunity to help shape and strengthen humanitarian programmes that reach millions of people across multiple countries.
- You will join a passionate global team committed to delivering high-quality humanitarian assistance and long-term development impact,
- You’ll play key role in shaping operational strategy, developing future leaders, and supporting emergency responses around the world.
**GOAL offers staff flexible working with our hybrid model, we require our HQ employees to work 2 days per week from our office in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin**
How to apply
To apply click here