UNPAID VOLUNTEER - Director of Programmes (DPG)

UNPAID VOLUNTEER – Director of Programmes

Role Title: Director of Programmes
Role Type: Unpaid Volunteer
Number of Positions: 1
Office: Director-General’s Office / Programme Coordination
Location: Home-based / Remote
Reporting To: Chief of Staff

THIS IS AN UNPAID VOLUNTEER ROLE.

About DTID

The Digital Technology Institute for Development (DTID) is an international non-profit institute advancing the responsible use of artificial intelligence, blockchain and emerging digital technologies to support sustainable development and policy implementation.

DTID brings together professionals, researchers, technology specialists and other stakeholders to generate research, develop practical solutions, strengthen partnerships and support informed decision-making at the intersection of technology, climate change and sustainable development.

The Role

DTID is seeking an experienced and strategically minded Director of Programmes to provide organisation-wide leadership for the development, coordination and delivery of DTID’s programme portfolio.

Reporting to the Chief of Staff, the Director of Programmes will work across DTID’s Divisions to ensure that institutional priorities are translated into well-designed programmes, clearly defined projects and measurable outcomes.

The successful candidate will coordinate multidisciplinary teams drawn from research, technology, capacity building, communications and other functions, ensuring that projects are properly planned, resourced, monitored and delivered.

The Director of Programmes will also support the identification and evaluation of new programme opportunities, strengthen programme governance and delivery standards, monitor implementation risks and provide senior management with a clear view of programme performance.

This is a senior leadership role requiring strong programme-management capability, strategic judgement, stakeholder-management skills and the ability to coordinate complex work across a globally distributed organisation.

Key Responsibilities

The Director of Programmes will:

• Develop and oversee DTID’s organisation-wide programme strategy in alignment with institutional priorities.
• Translate strategic objectives into coherent programmes, projects, implementation plans and measurable outcomes.
• Coordinate cross-divisional programme design and implementation involving research, technology, communications, capacity building and other teams.
• Assess and prioritise new programme and project opportunities in collaboration with senior leadership.
• Establish clear programme governance, delivery standards, milestones and reporting requirements.
• Monitor implementation progress, risks, dependencies, budgets and delivery challenges across the programme portfolio.
• Work closely with Directors and Heads of Division to resolve programme bottlenecks and maintain effective cross-functional coordination.
• Support the development of programme teams and clarify roles, responsibilities and accountability.
• Build and maintain relationships with governments, international organisations, academic institutions, civil society, private-sector partners and other stakeholders.
• Support development of programme proposals, partnership opportunities and funding-related initiatives where appropriate.
• Ensure that learning, evaluation and lessons from programme implementation are captured and applied to future work.
• Prepare programme reports, presentations, dashboards and management updates for the Chief of Staff and senior leadership.
• Lead selected high-priority or institution-wide projects where required.
• Support programme-related stakeholder meetings, external engagements and institutional partnerships.
• Promote a collaborative, inclusive and delivery-focused working culture across programme teams.

Requirements

Skills and Abilities

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Strong programme and project-management capability.
• Excellent strategic planning and organisational skills.
• Strong leadership and team-coordination skills.
• Ability to manage complex programmes involving multiple teams and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
• Ability to identify risks, dependencies and implementation challenges early.
• Strong decision-making and professional judgement.
• Excellent stakeholder-management and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong presentation, reporting and executive-briefing skills.
• Ability to facilitate collaboration across organisational boundaries.
• Ability to resolve implementation challenges constructively.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and delivery deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of organisational outcomes.
• Ability to work effectively within a remote and internationally distributed organisation.
• Cultural sensitivity, adaptability and confidence working across different professional and geographical contexts.
• A practical, collaborative and solutions-focused leadership style.

General and Specialist Knowledge

Candidates should have knowledge or experience in several of the following areas:

• Programme and portfolio management.
• Project design and implementation.
• Strategic planning.
• Programme governance.
• Monitoring, evaluation and learning.
• Risk management.
• Partnership development.
• Stakeholder engagement.
• Organisational planning and performance monitoring.
• Programme budgeting and resource planning.
• Proposal and programme development.
• International development.
• Climate change and sustainability programmes.
• Technology-enabled development programmes.

Knowledge of international climate and development processes would be advantageous, including:

• UN climate-change processes.
• International sustainable-development frameworks.
• Technology transfer.
• Climate finance.
• International development funding mechanisms.
• Multilateral and intergovernmental institutions.

Knowledge of artificial intelligence, blockchain, emerging technologies and their application to sustainable development would also be advantageous.

Candidates should demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Office 365, including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Experience using project and programme management tools would also be expected.

Education and Training

Candidates should preferably possess:

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Programme Management, Project Management, Business Administration, International Development, Public Administration, Sustainability, Environmental Studies, International Relations, Public Policy or another relevant discipline.

A postgraduate qualification would be highly desirable.

Relevant professional certifications such as:

• PMP.
• PRINCE2.
• MSP.
• Agile programme or project management.
• Monitoring and evaluation.
• Programme management.

would be advantageous.

Equivalent substantial professional experience and demonstrated programme leadership may also be considered where appropriate.

Professional proficiency in English is required.

Knowledge of an additional international language would be advantageous.

Experience

Candidates should ideally demonstrate:

• Significant professional experience in programme management, project management, international development, sustainability, consulting or organisational delivery.
• Proven experience leading complex programmes or portfolios involving multiple workstreams.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary and cross-functional teams.
• Experience developing programme strategies, implementation plans and delivery frameworks.
• Experience monitoring programme performance, risks, milestones and outcomes.
• Experience managing or overseeing budgets and programme resources.
• Experience developing programme reports, executive updates and performance information.
• Experience working with senior leadership and advising on programme priorities.
• Experience building constructive relationships with external stakeholders.
• Experience coordinating work with governments, international organisations, academic institutions, private-sector organisations or civil society.
• Experience resolving delivery challenges and supporting teams to achieve agreed outcomes.
• Experience working independently and taking responsibility for complex programme delivery.

Experience managing remote or internationally distributed teams would be highly advantageous.

Experience within an international organisation, nonprofit organisation, multilateral institution, think tank, consultancy, research institution or technology organisation would also be advantageous.

Experience in programmes relating to climate change, sustainability, emerging technologies or international development would be particularly valuable.

What Difference Will You Make?

DTID’s work increasingly requires collaboration across research, technology, capacity building, communications and institutional partnerships.

As Director of Programmes, you will help ensure that these capabilities are brought together through well-designed programmes with clear objectives, realistic implementation plans and measurable results.

You will strengthen the link between institutional strategy and programme delivery, helping DTID move from good ideas to coordinated, well-managed and impactful implementation.

Your contribution will strengthen DTID’s programme quality, delivery discipline, cross-divisional coordination, stakeholder relationships and ability to implement complex international initiatives successfully.

Benefits

What Will You Gain from Volunteering with DTID?

Although this position is unpaid, volunteering with DTID provides opportunities to:

• Lead an international portfolio of programmes and strategic initiatives.
• Work closely with the Chief of Staff and senior leadership.
• Shape DTID’s programme-management and delivery approach.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams across research, technology, communications and capacity building.
• Develop experience managing complex cross-divisional programmes.
• Engage with governments, international organisations, academic institutions and other partners.
• Gain exposure to international development, climate action and emerging-technology initiatives.
• Strengthen programme leadership, stakeholder engagement and executive-reporting skills.
• Build international professional networks and strategic relationships.
• Contribute directly to DTID’s organisational growth and institutional impact.

Selection Process

DTID is committed to identifying talented individuals with demonstrated capability, leadership experience and strong potential.

Applications will be assessed on the basis of relevant programme-management experience, strategic judgement, leadership capability, stakeholder-management skills and demonstrated ability to coordinate complex projects and teams.

The selection process will normally include:

1. Application screening
2. Written or technical assessment
3. Interview and/or technical discussion for shortlisted candidates
4. Final selection and onboarding

The assessment will focus particularly on programme design, prioritisation, risk management, stakeholder coordination, problem-solving and the ability to manage complex cross-divisional delivery.

Candidates who successfully complete the written or technical assessment will be invited to progress to the next stage of the recruitment process.

Important Notice

This is an unpaid volunteer position.