Context of the position:

SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda is an independent, non-governmental social development & child-focused organization. The Organization supports vulnerable children and young people in four locations of Kigali, Gicumbi, Kayonza and Nyamagabe. SOS Rwanda applies a holistic approach to childcare ensuring that the best interest of the child is catered for. SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda therefore seeks to recruit Grants & Family Strengthening Area Specialistto support the implementation of our program’s activities in the mentioned Program area.

Job purpose:

The Grants & Family Strengthening Area Specialist is responsible for leading the design, integration, and quality implementation of Family Strengthening Program (FSP) interventions alongside effective grants management. The role ensures that all projects are strategically aligned with organizational priorities, donor requirements, and national frameworks, while delivering measurable and sustainable impact for vulnerable children, families, and communities.

The Specialist provides technical leadership in program planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of grants-funded initiatives. He/she strengthens collaboration among program teams, partners, community structures, and relevant stakeholders to enhance service delivery, accountability, and learning. Grounded in professional social work principles, the role promotes child protection, family care, and community empowerment while ensuring compliance with donor regulations and organizational standards.

Additionally, the Specialist supports resource mobilization efforts, contributes to innovation and evidence-based programming, and may represent the Head of Program Area in coordination forums, Technical Working Groups (TWGs), partnerships, and strategic engagements when required.

Main clients:

• Head of Program Area
• Finance and Compliance Area Coordinator
• Grants Accountant
• Community Empowerment Field Officers
• Grants Project Coordinators
• Grants Project Field Officers

Main responsibilities and key performance areas

Programme Implementation and Coordination:

• Ensure identification of local needs and resources, develop quality annual work plans and budgets as part of increasing local relevance of interventions
• Ensure all family strengthening program interventions are implemented within schedule, plans, and budgets and regularly reviewed in full compliance with the available organizational policies and program guidelines
• In alignment with the government graduation program model, He/She oversees selection and verification of new program participants in liaison with the program Area team, implementing partners where applicable, community structures and local authorities.
• Ensure that family strengthening program interventions are inclusive and implemented in a multisectoral approach together with key stakeholders focusing on child protection, education & youth empowerment, health, MHPSS, WASH and livelihood support to facilitate self-reliance for targeted families & communities.
• Liaise with Program Area Planing, MEAL Officer to ensure that appropriate controls, monitoring and evaluation tools are in place and being utilized in a timely manner and as required.
• Ensure program data is continuously captured, validated and updated on SOS Children Villages Program Database (PDB2) and or any other approved system.
• Conduct and/or attend regular weekly and monthly planning/progress meetings as needed internally
• Perform any other duties as assigned by supervisor

Program Development and People Management

• Provides strategic leadership by guiding Family Strengthening Program implementation in line with organizational and donor priorities, while translating strategy into actionable plans and measurable results at area level.
• Map resource mobilization opportunities at local level and participate in developing new concepts and proposals in collaboration with national program teams for program scale up & impact
• Effectively manage staff performance ensuring competent and motivated staff, conduct bi-annual staff appraisals, encourage on-the-job coaching, identify and address learning/training needs opportunities
• Take lead in building FSP staff capacities in Child Protection, Education & Youth Empowerment, Health, MHPSS, WASH & Livelihood sector interventions through trainings and other information sharing avenues to handle program activities effectively.
• Identify, formally engage and build capacities of key implementing partners (FBOs, CBOs, NGOs) to enable them effectively intervene in direct service delivery work.
• Strengthens team capacity by identifying skills gaps and facilitating targeted training, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing in key areas such as child protection, livelihoods, and grant compliance.

Quality Assurance – Monitoring, Reporting and Documentation

• Assign staff to ensure activities are carried out as per developed work plan and budget,
• Conduct field visits, monitor program activities progress and expenditures and report any deviations or challenges to the Head of Program Area.
• Prepare Program reports as per agreed frequencies (monthly, quarterly, bi-annual and annual progress reports), documenting achievements/success stories, challenges, and lessons learned for internal and external reporting.
• Maintain accurate and organized project documentation, including budgets, activity plans, reports and program participant’s files.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation plans to measure program impact and effectiveness.
• Participate in regular program review meetings, team meetings and other monitoring mechanisms to assess program progress and resolve implementation bottlenecks.
• Proactively enforce controls and checks as well as ensure effective and timely response plans to all financial and audit findings on FSP initiatives and take the needed measures to prevent future recurrence.

Advocacy, Networking & Partnerships

• Collaborate closely with key government local authorities, including mult-sectorial district officials, and other like-minded partners to ensure program quality during implementation as well as provide technical support and assistance as and where needed for program sustainability purposes.
• Assist and participate (representation) in organized meetings, trainings, workshops and thematic assessments at program area level.
• Support program participants to engage in advocacy activities with duty bearers and strategic community structures at the sector level to address and inform national-level advocacy initiatives.
• Continuously provide content to the communications office by sharing impact stories and high-quality photos in line with SOS CV communications guidelines for external communication & visibility.

Child Protection Policy.

• At all times, avoid actions or behavior that could be construed as poor or potentially abusive practice.
• Report any child safeguarding concerns immediately in accordance with the organizational’s Child Protection Policy
• Promote and uphold the organisation’s values and child safeguarding principles in all interactions and decision - making

Data Protection Policy.

• At all times ensure that personal data of SOS Children’s Villages beneficiaries and their families as well as SOS Children’s Villages in Rwanda co-workers is handled confidentially and in accordance with prevailing SOS Children’s Villages.
• Ensure that personal sponsor information and data used and administered for the benefit of SOS Children’s Villages in Rwanda, is stored and transferred securely, handled confidentially and in accordance with prevailing data protection laws. Donor data will remain under the control of SOS Children’s Villages in Rwanda and shall not be forwarded to or swapped with other organizations.

Required key skill set.

• Must understand the following:
• The SOS Organization, be familiar with the background, philosophy, principles, policies, guidelines and structure
• The different roles of the SOS staff team members, in working together for best interest of the children and donors.
• Excellent communications skills.

Preferred personal attributes

• Passionate about childcare and development
• Punctuality and assiduity
• Knowledge of child rights and child development issues
• Good standards of conduct and ethics as well as integrity, appropriate judgment, independence and confidentiality
• Personal organization and planning skills; ability to organize and prioritize
• Capable of a rigorous analytical approach and result oriented.
• Ability to place details in a wider context (understanding the broader context).
• Flexible, resilient and able to manage stress.

Formal qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in social work, Rural Development Studies, or related field. A master’s degree is an added advantage.
• Professional Qualification: Family systems/case management training preferred
• Experience: 5+ years family strengthening/community development; 3+ years management.
• Skills & Competencies: Family Strengthening Approaches, Community Mobilization, Grant Implementation, Partnership Coordination, Reporting, Team Supervision.
• Language Proficiency: English & Kinyarwanda, French (optional).

Experience requirements

• Ability to get tasks done efficiently while exercising good judgment
• Meets goals and maintains high standards in service delivery
• Skilled in implementing and maintaining office systems and procedures
• Provides exceptional support and guidance to staff
• Strong verbal and written communication for effective liaison with staff and functional units
• Excellent computer skills, including proficiency in working with various databases as well as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Good organizational, analytical and programmatic reporting skills.

• Ensure identification of local needs and resources, develop quality annual work plans and budgets as part of increasing local relevance of interventions
• Ensure all family strengthening program interventions are implemented within schedule, plans, and budgets and regularly reviewed in full compliance with the available organizational policies and program guidelines
• In alignment with the government graduation program model, He/She oversees selection and verification of new program participants in liaison with the program Area team, implementing partners where applicable, community structures and local authorities.
• Ensure that family strengthening program interventions are inclusive and implemented in a multisectoral approach together with key stakeholders focusing on child protection, education & youth empowerment, health, MHPSS, WASH and livelihood support to facilitate self-reliance for targeted families & communities.
• Liaise with Program Area Planing, MEAL Officer to ensure that appropriate controls, monitoring and evaluation tools are in place and being utilized in a timely manner and as required.
• Ensure program data is continuously captured, validated and updated on SOS Children Villages Program Database (PDB2) and or any other approved system.
• Conduct and/or attend regular weekly and monthly planning/progress meetings as needed internally
• Perform any other duties as assigned by supervisor
• Provides strategic leadership by guiding Family Strengthening Program implementation in line with organizational and donor priorities, while translating strategy into actionable plans and measurable results at area level.
• Map resource mobilization opportunities at local level and participate in developing new concepts and proposals in collaboration with national program teams for program scale up & impact
• Effectively manage staff performance ensuring competent and motivated staff, conduct bi-annual staff appraisals, encourage on-the-job coaching, identify and address learning/training needs opportunities
• Take lead in building FSP staff capacities in Child Protection, Education & Youth Empowerment, Health, MHPSS, WASH & Livelihood sector interventions through trainings and other information sharing avenues to handle program activities effectively.
• Identify, formally engage and build capacities of key implementing partners (FBOs, CBOs, NGOs) to enable them effectively intervene in direct service delivery work.
• Strengthens team capacity by identifying skills gaps and facilitating targeted training, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing in key areas such as child protection, livelihoods, and grant compliance.
• Assign staff to ensure activities are carried out as per developed work plan and budget,
• Conduct field visits, monitor program activities progress and expenditures and report any deviations or challenges to the Head of Program Area.
• Prepare Program reports as per agreed frequencies (monthly, quarterly, bi-annual and annual progress reports), documenting achievements/success stories, challenges, and lessons learned for internal and external reporting.
• Maintain accurate and organized project documentation, including budgets, activity plans, reports and program participant’s files.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation plans to measure program impact and effectiveness.
• Participate in regular program review meetings, team meetings and other monitoring mechanisms to assess program progress and resolve implementation bottlenecks.
• Proactively enforce controls and checks as well as ensure effective and timely response plans to all financial and audit findings on FSP initiatives and take the needed measures to prevent future recurrence.
• Collaborate closely with key government local authorities, including mult-sectorial district officials, and other like-minded partners to ensure program quality during implementation as well as provide technical support and assistance as and where needed for program sustainability purposes.
• Assist and participate (representation) in organized meetings, trainings, workshops and thematic assessments at program area level.
• Support program participants to engage in advocacy activities with duty bearers and strategic community structures at the sector level to address and inform national-level advocacy initiatives.
• Continuously provide content to the communications office by sharing impact stories and high-quality photos in line with SOS CV communications guidelines for external communication & visibility.
• At all times, avoid actions or behavior that could be construed as poor or potentially abusive practice.
• Report any child safeguarding concerns immediately in accordance with the organizational’s Child Protection Policy
• Promote and uphold the organisation’s values and child safeguarding principles in all interactions and decision - making
• At all times ensure that personal data of SOS Children’s Villages beneficiaries and their families as well as SOS Children’s Villages in Rwanda co-workers is handled confidentially and in accordance with prevailing SOS Children’s Villages.
• Ensure that personal sponsor information and data used and administered for the benefit of SOS Children’s Villages in Rwanda, is stored and transferred securely, handled confidentially and in accordance with prevailing data protection laws. Donor data will remain under the control of SOS Children’s Villages in Rwanda and shall not be forwarded to or swapped with other organizations.

• Excellent communications skills.
• Family Strengthening Approaches
• Community Mobilization
• Grant Implementation
• Partnership Coordination
• Reporting
• Team Supervision
• Ability to get tasks done efficiently while exercising good judgment
• Meets goals and maintains high standards in service delivery
• Skilled in implementing and maintaining office systems and procedures
• Provides exceptional support and guidance to staff
• Strong verbal and written communication for effective liaison with staff and functional units
• Excellent computer skills, including proficiency in working with various databases as well as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Good organizational, analytical and programmatic reporting skills.

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, Rural Development Studies, or related field. A master’s degree is an added advantage.
• Family systems/case management training preferred
• 5+ years family strengthening/community development
• 3+ years management
• English & Kinyarwanda, French (optional) proficiency
• Must understand the SOS Organization, its background, philosophy, principles, policies, guidelines and structure
• Must understand the different roles of SOS staff team members