Program Director

African Women Rising (AWR) empowers women and families in Northern Uganda and South Sudanese refugee communities to rise out of extreme poverty through regenerative agriculture, microfinance, adult learning, and girls’ education. Their integrated approach strengthens livelihoods, restores degraded landscapes, and builds long-term resilience in post-conflict settings.

About the role

This role combines program leadership, operational oversight, and team management, ensuring that Lok Neno functions effectively as a working demonstration farm, training center, and research hub.

The Director will oversee day-to-day operations at Lok Neno, including farm activities, training delivery, and site management. The role requires a strong on-site presence to ensure effective team leadership, operational discipline, and coordination across multiple functions. The Program Director will also support program implementation across three core functions: demonstration, a Training-of-Trainers certification program, and applied research. In addition, the role will contribute to partnership engagement and the ongoing development of Lok Neno as a center of excellence.

This is a site-based leadership role, requiring residence at Lok Neno from Monday through Friday to ensure strong operational oversight, team leadership, and engagement with partners and participants.

Key dimensions of the role

Strategic Leadership and Program Management

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for all Lok Neno activities, ensuring alignment with AWR’s mission and strategic plan.
• Oversee the day-to-day management and performance of the Lok Neno site, including farm operations, training delivery, and facility management.
• Ensure effective management of demonstration plots, livestock, nursery, and seed bank, maintaining strong oversight of live agricultural assets.
• Lead annual work planning, budgeting, and monitoring of program performance.
• Establish and strengthen operational systems, routines, and quality control measures to ensure consistent delivery and accountability.
• Supervise and mentor the Lok Neno technical and administrative teams (approx. 7 direct reports), ensuring high performance and clear task ownership.

Partnership and Collaboration

• Serve as primary liaison with technical partners, including Resilience Design Consulting, coordinating inputs while ensuring alignment with AWR’s direction.
• Strengthen partnerships with UN agencies, NGOs, research institutions, and government bodies engaged in climate resilience and humanitarian response.
• Represent AWR and Lok Neno in regional and international fora, building visibility and partnerships.
• Host and engage external stakeholders visiting the site, ensuring a high-quality and well coordinated experience.

Technical Quality and Learning

• Champion the integration of Resilience Design principles across Lok Neno activities and broader AWR programming.
• Oversee data collection, basic analysis, and learning systems to document and communicate impact.
• Support development of training materials, technical briefs, and learning outputs.
• Ensure that site activities (demonstration, training, research) are well-coordinated, integrated, and effectively executed.

Resource Mobilization and Growth

• Identify opportunities for collaboration, partnerships, and program development.
• Support proposal development and fundraising efforts by providing inputs and technical insights.
• Contribute to the long-term sustainability and positioning of Lok Neno.

Compliance and Administration

• Oversee financial management, procurement, and reporting for Lok Neno activities in compliance with AWR policies and donor requirements.
• Ensure adherence to safety, safeguarding, and environmental standards.
• Maintain a well-organized, safe, and functional site environment.

Skills and experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in management, business administration, development, or related field; equivalent experience considered.

Experience

• Minimum 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience in program management, ideally in agriculture, climate resilience, or humanitarian programming.
• Demonstrated experience leading multi-stakeholder partnerships and technical teams.
• Field experience in East Africa, preferably in Northern Uganda or refugee contexts.
• Familiarity with regenerative agriculture or permaculture methodologies is a strong asset.

Skills and Attributes

• Strong people management and team leadership skills.
• Proven ability to run operations and enforce accountability.
• Ability to manage complex, hands-on environments with multiple moving parts.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to engage effectively with external stakeholders and partners.
• High level of adaptability, resilience, and practical decision-making.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Research shows that individuals from underrepresented groups are less likely to apply for roles unless they meet every listed qualification. At Millar Cameron, we are committed to supporting our clients in building diverse and inclusive teams. If you’re enthusiastic about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply - you could be exactly what our client is looking for, either for this position or another.

Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are only able to respond to candidates who are shortlisted for the next stage of the process. We sincerely appreciate your interest and the time taken to apply.

Since 2007 Millar Cameron has specialised in sourcing leadership and keyperson talent across a number of industries, including agribusiness, international development, industrial, consumer, financial and professional services, private equity, and technology, media and telecommunications. Our mission and purpose is to positively contribute to the development of Africa, and other emerging markets, through the provision of people.