Area Manager – South-Central Area Office

About the role

The Area Manager for the South‑Central Area Office will be the senior representative of Save the Children in Ethiopia, leading a team of more than 80 staff across multiple field and project offices. Reporting to the Director of Program Operations, the role ensures effective delivery of programmes in health, nutrition, WASH, education, food security, livelihoods, child protection and child rights.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and manage three or more field offices and project sites, supervising field managers and functional leads (finance, supply chain, HR/Admin, safety & security).
• Oversee implementation of Save the Children programmes, ensuring alignment with operational core business processes, policies and donor requirements.
• Develop and execute area‑level strategies and annual operational plans, coordinating with country‑level units (PDQ, HR, Finance, Safety & Security).
• Maintain a budget of over USD 5 million and manage more than eight active awards from bilateral and multilateral donors.
• Build and sustain partnerships with government, NGOs and other stakeholders in the Oromia and Sidama regions.
• Respond to major humanitarian emergencies, adapting working hours and priorities as needed.

Required profile

• Proven senior‑level experience in humanitarian or development programme management, preferably overseeing multiple field offices.
• Strong leadership and people‑management skills with responsibility for large teams and budgets.
• Excellent understanding of donor compliance, financial management and operational policies.
• Willingness to travel regularly within the South‑Central area of Ethiopia.
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to emergency contexts.

Required skills