| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | NGO and Social Sector |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | Programme Manager |
| Direct reports | Community Mobiliser, Social Worker |
| Experience | 2 to 5 years in field programme delivery |
Programme Officer 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 Officer
Department: NGO and Social Sector
Reports to: Programme Manager
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Programme Officer runs a specific component of a programme, working directly with communities to deliver activities and outcomes. They facilitate trainings and meetings, support beneficiaries, collect data, and document results for their theme, whether education, health, livelihoods or rights. The role reports to the Programme Manager or Programme Coordinator. A good programme officer delivers their component's targets with quality on the ground, builds trust with the community, and keeps honest records of what happened and what changed.
Key responsibilities
- Deliver the activities of the assigned programme component to plan and quality.
- Facilitate trainings, meetings and community sessions on the programme theme.
- Support beneficiaries directly and connect them to services and entitlements.
- Collect activity and beneficiary data for the component and keep records current.
- Build relationships with community members, groups and local officials.
- Prepare component reports and updates for the coordinator or manager.
- Identify local problems and adapt delivery within the programme design.
- Support community mobilisers and volunteers working on the component.
- Maintain consent forms, attendance and case records for the component.
- Contribute field learning and observations to improve the programme's approach over time.
Requirements
- Graduate or postgraduate in social work or a relevant field
- MSW is an advantage
- Local language fluency
- 2 to 5 years in field programme delivery
KRAs and KPIs for a Programme Officer
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 |
|---|---|
| Component delivery | Assigned component activities and targets met each quarter |
| Beneficiary outcomes | Outcome indicators for the component on track against the annual target |
| Community engagement | Participation in sessions meeting the planned turnout |
| Data and records | Component data and case records complete and accurate each cycle |
| Service linkage | Referrals to services and entitlements followed up to closure |
| Quality | Sessions meeting programme quality standards on monitoring visits |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: MS Excel and Word, KoboToolbox or ODK, Training materials, Smartphone for field data, Case record formats.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Programme Coordinator, Programme Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Interview questions for a Programme Officer
- How do you facilitate a community training so people actually take part?
- How do you support a beneficiary to access a government entitlement?
- How do you keep accurate case and attendance records in the field?
- How do you adapt an activity when the community responds differently than planned?
- How do you build trust in a community that is wary of outsiders?
- Tell me about a beneficiary or group you helped and the change you saw.
Managing a Programme Officer in ZeniaHR
Hire and manage your NGO and social sector team in one place
Post the role, onboard the new hire, and track attendance, leave and KRAs in ZeniaHR. Free for your first 50 employees.
Book a free demoSee pricingFrequently asked questions
What does a programme officer do?
A programme officer runs a specific component of an NGO programme, working directly with communities. They facilitate trainings and meetings, support beneficiaries, connect them to services, collect data, and document results for their theme such as education, health or livelihoods. Their job is to deliver the component's targets with quality on the ground.
What is the difference between a programme officer and a programme coordinator?
A programme officer delivers a specific programme component, working closely with beneficiaries on that theme. A programme coordinator organises activities and field staff across a wider area and focuses on logistics and coordination. Both work in the field and report up to the programme manager, but the officer is closer to the content and the community.
What qualifications do you need to be a programme officer?
Most programme officers hold a graduate or postgraduate degree in social work or a related field, and an MSW is an advantage. Fluency in the local language is important. Employers look for community facilitation skills, experience delivering field activities, careful data and case record keeping, and genuine empathy for the people the programme serves.