Programme Director Job Description and KRAs

A Programme Director heads all the programmes of an NGO, making sure they are designed well, funded, delivered on time and measured for impact. They lead programme managers, set standards, manage donor relationships on delivery, and turn field results into learning. The role reports to the Executive Director. A good programme director keeps a portfolio of programmes delivering to plan and budget, meets donor commitments, and builds the systems and people that let programmes scale.

Detail	For this role
Department	NGO and Social Sector
Level	Senior management
Reports to	Executive Director
Direct reports	Programme Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager
Experience	10+ years in programmes with 4 years leading teams

Programme Director job description template

Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.

Job title: Programme Director

Department: NGO and Social Sector

Reports to: Executive Director

Location: [City], [office, branch or site]

About the role

Key responsibilities

Set the design, standards and targets for the organisation's portfolio of programmes.
Lead programme managers and hold each programme to its plan, budget and outcomes.
Review programme progress through data, field visits and monitoring reports, and correct off track work.
Manage donor relationships on delivery, including reviews, reports and change requests.
Approve programme budgets and monitor spending against grants and timelines.
Turn field results and evaluations into learning that improves programme design.
Coordinate across programmes so field teams, resources and geographies are used well.
Build programme staff capability through recruitment, training and mentoring.
Manage programme risk, safeguarding and quality across all project locations.
Support fundraising by shaping strong programme designs and proposals with the fundraising team.

Requirements

Postgraduate in development, social work or public policy
MSW or MA in development studies is common
Experience across multiple programme areas
10+ years in programmes with 4 years leading teams

KRAs and KPIs for a Programme Director

Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.

Key result area	How to measure it
Delivery	Programmes meeting their annual plan and outcome targets across the portfolio
Budget	Programme spending within grant budgets with utilisation above the agreed level
Donor commitments	Donor reviews and reports delivered on time with no compliance issue
Quality	Programme quality standards met on monitoring visits across sites
Learning	Evaluation findings acted on in the next programme cycle
Team capability	Programme manager positions filled and trained against the plan

Skills and tools

Programme designPortfolio managementDonor managementBudget oversightMonitoring and evaluationTeam leadershipProblem solvingReport writing

Tools used day to day: MS Excel and PowerPoint, Programme trackers, M and E dashboards, Grant management software, Video conferencing.

Reporting line and career path

Moves up from: Programme Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, Senior Programme Officer
Next roles: Deputy Director, Executive Director, Country Director

Interview questions for a Programme Director

How do you keep a portfolio of programmes on track across several districts?
How do you decide when a programme needs redesign rather than more effort?
How do you manage a donor who wants results faster than the field allows?
How do you build the field evidence that a programme is working?
How do you develop programme managers who are stretched thin?
Describe a programme you scaled and the systems you put in to do it.

Managing a Programme Director in ZeniaHR

AttendanceThe programme director works the general shift from the office and punches by web from the office network, with frequent site visits filed as on duty. The mobile app captures a located punch at a project site, so field days are recorded rather than counted as absence.LeavePlan leave around donor reviews, evaluation periods and grant reporting deadlines. Use the leave calendar to keep programme oversight covered when programme managers are also in the field. Balances sit in the leave ledger.Performance and KRAsSet delivery, budget and donor commitments as weighted goals in an annual review cycle with a rating scale, rated by the executive director. Review portfolio progress each quarter against plans and grant timelines.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a programme director do in an NGO?

A programme director heads all the programmes of an NGO. They set programme design and standards, lead programme managers, hold each programme to plan, budget and outcomes, manage donor delivery, and turn field results into learning. They make sure the organisation's programmes deliver quality results and meet donor commitments.

What is the difference between a programme director and a programme manager?

A programme director leads the whole portfolio of programmes, sets standards, manages senior donor relationships and develops managers. A programme manager runs one programme or project, managing its plan, budget, field team and reporting. The director works across programmes, while the manager owns delivery of a single one.

What qualifications do you need to be a programme director?

Most programme directors hold a postgraduate degree in development studies, social work or public policy, such as an MSW or MA. Employers look for years of experience running programmes, a track record across multiple project areas, strong donor and budget management, and the ability to build monitoring systems and develop programme teams.