Head of Programs

Head of Programs

Role Overview

The Head of Programs is the programmatic engine of GOALS Armenia. Reporting directly to the CEO, you will be responsible for the full lifecycle, strategic evolution, and high-quality delivery of all our athletic and educational initiatives. As a key thought partner to the CEO, you will translate our mission into scalable, cohesive, and impactful programs. This is a hands-on leadership role, you will manage our core programmatic team (Football Lead, Basketball Lead, and Education Specialist) while maintaining direct visibility and presence in the communities we serve to ensure programmatic excellence.

Defining Success

You will have succeeded when:

  • Programmatic Rigor: Our programs are recognized for their excellence, and our "GOALS girl journey" is implemented consistently and effectively across all 80+ communities.

  • Data-Driven Evolution: Monitoring and evaluation data is consistently used to inform strategic shifts, ensuring our programs remain relevant to beneficiary needs.

  • Team Empowerment: The programmatic leads are mentored into a high-performing, autonomous unit that delivers results with minimal daily oversight.

  • Trust and Presence: You have established a strong, hands-on presence in the field that inspires staff, reinforces our values, and maintains deep community trust.


Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Program Leadership & Cohesion

  • Vision & Alignment: Serve as the primary driver for our programmatic strategy, ensuring that our football, basketball, and educational pathways are seamlessly integrated and aligned with the "GOALS girl journey."

  • Strategic Thought Partner: Work closely with the CEO to iterate on our long-term roadmap, identify gaps in our current programmatic impact, and pivot our methodology to meet the evolving needs of our beneficiaries and the changing landscape in Armenia.

  • Programmatic Excellence: Oversee the end-to-end execution of all program initiatives, from initial project design to successful delivery and final reporting.

2. Team Management & Capacity Building

  • Leadership: Directly manage and mentor the Football Lead, Basketball Lead, and Educational Programs Coordinator. Foster a high-performance, collaborative culture across our programmatic departments.

  • Development: Build the capacity of our regional staff and coaches. Ensure that training, evaluation, and performance monitoring are not just administrative tasks, but core drivers of program quality.

3. Grant & Project Delivery

  • Accountability: Take full ownership of grant-funded programs. You are responsible for ensuring that the programmatic promises made to our donors in terms of outcomes, timelines, and impact metrics are met or exceeded.

  • Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E): Oversee rigorous M&E processes. Use data, field observations, and stakeholder feedback to refine our programmatic approach and generate high-quality reporting for external partners.

4. Field Presence & Hands-on Execution

  • Programmatic Engagement: You are not a "desk-only" leader. You will be expected to frequently visit the field to observe sessions, ensure programmatic quality, and maintain a deep, real-world understanding of our 80+ communities.

  • Problem Solving: Act as the primary escalation point for programmatic challenges. Whether it is a curriculum hurdle or a community-level implementation issue, you lead the solution.

Qualifications & Experience

Requirement

Description

Leadership Experience

Proven track record in managing teams for at least 3+ years, ideally in a non-profit, NGO, or sports-for-development context.

Educational Background

Strong background in educational development, pedagogy, or social work is highly desirable. Experience designing curricula that blend sports with social-emotional learning is a major plus.

Programmatic Rigor

Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects from "A to Z," including design, timeline management, and grant-related program reporting.

Strategic Mindset

Ability to see the "big picture" of our mission while staying focused on the minute details of daily program execution.

Communication

Fluency in Armenian and English is a must; comfortable representing GOALS to donors, stakeholders, and community leaders.

Adaptability

A high degree of comfort with ambiguity and the fast-paced nature of a growing organization. Familiarity with AI tools is a big plus. 



To apply, send your CV with a Cover Letter to info@goalsarmenia.org. Do not forget to mention Head of Programs in the subject line. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

Teny Avakian