OVERVIEW

Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty. We are shop volunteers, women's rights activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won't stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of an international confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries.

The Humanitarian Action Programme Manager provides strategic, technical, and operational leadership for emergency preparedness, anticipatory action, response, and recovery across the Southern Africa (SAF) Cluster. The role ensures that humanitarian interventions are timely, principled, and aligned with organisational standards, humanitarian principles, and the triple nexus approach. The Programme Manager leads a multi-country humanitarian team, strengthens partner capacity, and ensures that humanitarian action is integrated with development programming and influencing efforts.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Strategic Humanitarian Leadership & Positioning (15%)

• Define humanitarian priorities across preparedness, response, and recovery.
• Support integration of humanitarian action within cluster strategy.
• Support positioning Oxfam as a credible and effective humanitarian actor in the region.

2. People Management & Leadership of Humanitarian Function (20%)

• Line manage humanitarian staff, including emergency response and programme roles.
• Establish strong performance management systems, including objective setting, feedback, and accountability.

3. Emergency Preparedness & Anticipatory Action (15%)

• Develop and maintain preparedness plans and contingency frameworks.
• Support anticipatory action approaches linked to early warning systems.

4. Humanitarian Response & Multi-Country Coordination (15%)

• Coordinate multi-country responses and ensure alignment across teams.
• Provide technical guidance during emergencies.

5. Humanitarian Standards, Quality & Accountability (10%)

• Promote adherence to humanitarian principles and standards.
• Strengthen quality assurance and accountability mechanisms.

6. Partner Support & Localisation (10%)

• Support partners in preparedness, response, and recovery programming.
• Promote localisation and equitable partnerships.

7. Integration with Programme & Influencing (10%)

• Support alignment with climate, economic, and gender justice programmes.
• Contribute to nexus approaches linking humanitarian, development, and peace efforts.

8. Experience, Knowledge and Competencies

• Capture and document lessons learned from responses.
• Support knowledge sharing across teams and partners.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Master's degree in Humanitarian Studies, Public Health, Development Studies, Environmental Studies or equivalent qualification. A Bachelor's degree combined with relevant postgraduate or professional qualifications and significant experience of at least 10 years may be considered.
• 6 years of relevant experience in humanitarian programming, including emergency response, preparedness, and coordination. Strong technical knowledge of humanitarian standards and principles, including at least 3 years in a team leadership or management role.
• Strong technical expertise and ability to integrate programme design with influencing and policy work.
• Proven experience in managing teams and working across multi-country or multi-stakeholder environments.
• Strong communication, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to build strong, credible relationships with internal and external individuals and organisations.
• Excellent personal communication skills, in written and verbal English, with strong influencing and persuasive skills.
• A high level of self-awareness, personal energy, stamina and flexibility.
• Proven experience as a team worker and demonstrably cooperative with members of other teams.
• Commitment to Oxfam's safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Organisational Values

• Accountability: Our purpose-driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable.
• Empowerment: Our approach means that everyone involved with Oxfam, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can make change happen.
• Inclusiveness: We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences.

Languages

• Fluent in written and spoken English and ideally Portuguese.

WHAT WE OFFER

We offer a competitive salary and a range of additional benefits to staff including flexible working options, generous pension scheme, annual leave, additional leave allowances, company sick pay, life assurance and a range of other benefits.

From the day you join Oxfam we invite you to stretch and learn in your role. Our wide range of Learning & Development opportunities includes in-house courses, e-learning modules, on-the-job learning opportunities, coaching and mentoring, and much more.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online through the link: https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk/jobs/vacancy/humanitarian-action-programme-manager-int11740/24916/description/

As part of your online application, please upload your up to date CV and Cover Letter explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.

Application Deadline: 13th August 2026

SAFER RECRUITMENT

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants' previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.