SOUTH SUDAN - PROGRAM MANAGER - MALAKAL-ULANG

About us

SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL (SI) has been operating in South Sudan since 2006, conducting activities in emergency and post emergency context, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, including refugees/returnees and IDP camp settings.
Context:
Food insecurity is one of the highest in the world due to recurring shocks (consecutive years of widespread flooding, conflict-based displacement), and an ongoing protracted macro-economic crisis.
The country also faces cholera outbreaks on a yearly basis, has very limited sanitation coverage and safe water access remain a challenge for most of the population.
On top of these chronic situations, South Sudan has been highly impacted by the war that started in Sudan in April 2023. By end of 2024, more than 1,000,000 people had entered South Sudan, the vast majority entering through the Joda/ Wunthow border point in Renk County, Upper Nile State (northern part of South Sudan).
More recently, resurgence of internal tensions have led to heightened conflict and analysts are worried that the peace conditions offered by the Peace Agreement may not hold.
As a result, 9,3 million are in need of humanitarian assistance as of 2025.

SI sectors of intervention:
The portfolio includes both WASH & FSL activities. SI's expertise in running emergency WaSH intervention is highly acknowledged by all WaSH actors and donors and SI has been one of the first responders of the cholera response.

Areas of operation:

SI is present:

In Upper Nile, SI has an office in Renk and a sub-office in Malakal. The field office in Renk has been set-up to support the ongoing response to the Sudan Crisis and to ensure constant monitoring and rapid access to affected communities. SI's long term presence in Upper Nile enables the organization to ensure proper coordination with other key players on the ground in order to provide a high-quality response and avoid duplication of efforts. The response has focused on cholera since November 2024 while maintaining life saving WASH services for returnees and refugees in the two main transit centres of the country and intervening in the host communities.
In addition, SI has a rapid emergency team based in Juba, who is being deployed following Rapid Needs Assessment in flood, epidemic or conflict induced displacement in the country.
Size of operations:
In 2025, the mission’s estimated budget is around USD 6+ million, and there are 70+ employees. This is the result of a scale-down following US funding cut in 2025 that are finally relaunched.
To learn more about the South Sudan mission, please click here.

About the mission

SI base in Malakal is fully operational with South Sudanese and International staff working at the Humanitarian Hub. The staff of 10+ staff are supporting operations in Malakal town, Bulukat TC and in Fashoda (LuL, Wau Shiluk and Kodok). Si is looking to launch operations int he Sobat River area, Baliet and Ulang (potentially Nasir and Canal Pigi as well). The team in that area is yet to be defined but the PM would report to the Field Coordinator and having a fucntional link with the Programme Coordinator. In addition, s/he will heavily involved in the recruitment of the team in the area (supervisors and officers)

Priorities for the first 2-3 months: Carry out multisectoral and WASH-specific assessments in Ulang and Baliet to update baseline data and ensure activities are aligned with the most urgent community needs. Map water sources, sanitation facilities, and gaps in NFI coverage to inform targeted interventions. Establish Community Engagement and Accountability Mechanisms: Set up feedback and complaints mechanisms in collaboration with communities to guide programming and strengthen trust. Build initial links with community leaders, women’s groups, and other vulnerable populations to ensure inclusivity and participation in program design. Launch Priority WASH and NFI Interventions: Initiate immediate WASH activities (water chlorination, rehabilitation of boreholes, distribution of hygiene kits) in areas with critical needs. Ensure timely distribution and safe storage of NFIs to support displaced and vulnerable households. Strengthen Coordination and Partnerships: Engage actively in WASH, NFI, and inter-agency coordination platforms at county and state levels. Align with partners’ strategies to avoid duplication and maximize coverage, particularly in hard-to-reach locations. Prepare for Seasonal and Epidemic Shocks or Conflcit displacement: Ensure contingency plans are in place for anticipated emergencies (flooding, cholera outbreaks, new displacement). Pre-position essential WASH supplies and NFIs where feasible. Security Constraints: Position will initially be based in Malakal with travel to the Sobat area. During the rainy season, access to Ulang and Baliet is primarily by river, which carries inherent risks related to unpredictable water conditions, limited control over transport modalities, and the potential for clashes along the river if the security situation deteriorates. In the dry season, access shifts mainly to road transport, which poses different challenges, including poor road conditions, checkpoints, and exposure to ambush or banditry in more insecure stretches. These modalities require careful planning, strong coordination with authorities and partners, and constant monitoring of the evolving security context to ensure safe movement of staff and supplies.
In Ulang, the security environment is further complicated by recurrent community violence and open conflict. Such dynamics have repeatedly led to displacement, looting of humanitarian assets, and restrictions on access to affected populations. The volatility of the situation demands flexible operational approaches, robust contingency planning, and close engagement with communities and local stakeholders to mitigate risks, maintain acceptance for SI’s humanitarian activities, and ensure timely flow of information despite communication limitations. Network coverage is weak or absent in several locations, making it difficult to reliably place or receive calls and messages.

About the job

The PM is responsible for launching and leading SI's response in the Sobat area, with an initial focus on Ulang and Baliet, and potential into other counties. The role aims to establish SI’s operational presence and deliver timely, high-quality interventions that address urgent humanitarian needs in the sectors of WASH, Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL), and Non-Food Item (NFI) distribution.
S/he ensures that programs are designed, implemented, and monitored in line with donor requirements, organizational standards, and humanitarian principles. The PM will support the setting up of a string AAP mechanisms. The PM is also responsible for building trusted relationships with local authorities, community representatives, and coordination partners.

Issues and Specific Challenges - Operations in Areas with Recent Conflict and No Previous SI Presence: Ulang and other parts of the Sobat River area have been heavily affected by conflict, with little to no prior SI presence. This creates challenges in establishing trusted relationships, ensuring acceptance, and setting up operational structures from scratch. - Coordination with Diverse Authorities and Actors: The presence of multiple authorities and humanitarian actors with differing agendas complicates coordination and requires careful negotiation to ensure principled and effective delivery of assistance. - High Needs and Scarce Resources: The humanitarian needs in WASH, FSL, and NFIs far exceed available resources. Limited funding and competing priorities constrain the scale and scope of interventions, demanding strict prioritization and advocacy. - Logistical Constraints: Access to Sobat River locations is highly challenging due to poor infrastructure, seasonal flooding, and high transportation costs, which complicate timely delivery of assistance and sustainment of field operations. - Severe Gaps in Water Quality and Sanitation: Communities face acute shortages of safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, with needs that extend beyond immediate emergency response. Long-term water quality improvement and sanitation system strengthening are essential. - Safe Storage of Items and Community Engagement: Limited storage facilities and challenging supply chain conditions pose risks for the management of NFIs and WASH materials. At the same time, meaningful community engagement is critical to ensure accountability, participation, and ownership of the response.

Your profile

Diplomas: BA in Engineering, Biology, Water Resources Management, Hydrogeology, or similar

3-4 years of Experience in the Humanitarian Sector

3-4 years of Experience in a Similar Position

WASH Program Management: Proficiency in planning, implementing, and monitoring humanitarian projects, specifically WASH in hard to reach areas.

Emergency Response: Capability to adapt WASH interventions in response to emergencies, such as disease outbreaks, natural disasters and conflict.

Technical and project management documents writing. Ablility to develop technical BoQs.

Knowledge of distributions, CASH and NFI interventions.

Community engagement

Stakeholder Engagement

Autonomy & Rigor

Good communication skills and interdepartmental work

Languages:

Proficiency in written and spoken English

Arabic would be an asset

The position is technical in nature, requiring the ability to develop activities and adapt them flexibly depending on the context. Most of the data for Ulang are unclear, so there is a need to collect and analyze them to design the required activities. The PM must also be able to manage distributions and carry out basic repairs of sanitation and water supply facilities.

Living Conditions:

In Malakal, the Program Manager will be based in the humanitarian hub, with the option of staying in SI’s guesthouse with basic services provided. If relocated to Baliet or Ulang, living and movement arrangements are yet to be defined but will most likely involve accommodation within another NGO compound, with a private bedroom. The full setup is still to be established and will be a priority for the Field Coordinator.

SI will offer you

A salaried position:
According to experience, starting from EUR 2100 gross per month (2100 base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly Per Diem of USD 700.

SI also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate's country of origin and the place of assignment.

Breaks: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of 7 working days every three months (with a USD 850 break allowance, allocated by Sl). To these breaks periods, SI grants one (1) additional rest day per month worked.

Insurance package: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which refunds all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded

Application process

Do you recognize yourself in this description? If yes, please send us your CV and cover letter!

Please note that CV-only applications will not be considered, and that the vacancy may close before the deadline.

Thank you for your understanding.

To learn more about Sl: www.solidarites.org

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Solidarités International (SI) est déterminé à prévenir et à combattre tout type d’abus – tout acte d’exploitation, d’abus et/ou de harcèlement sexuels (SEAH) à l’encontre des membres des communautés bénéficiaires ou de ses collaborateurs et collaboratrices, atteinte aux personnes et/ou aux biens, fraude, corruption, conflit d’intérêt non déclaré, financement d’activités portant atteinte aux droits de l’homme - qui pourrait être perpétré dans le cadre de ses interventions. SI applique une tolérance zéro à l’égard de tout type d’abus, particulièrement des actes de SEAH.

Solidarités International est un employeur équitable qui combat toute forme de discrimination. SI ne demandera jamais une rétribution quelconque en vue de participer à un processus de recrutement.

Solidarités International (SI) is determined to prevent and fight all type of abuse – all act of exploitation, abuse and/or sexual harassment (SEAH) against members of beneficiary communities or collaborators, fraud, corruption, violation of persons and/or property, funding of activities harmful to human rights – that could be perpetrated in the frame of its interventions. SI implements a zero-tolerance policy regarding acts of abuse, notably acts of SEAH.

Solidarités International is an equitable employer committed to find all forms of discrimination. SI will ever ask for any remuneration to take part in a recruitment process.

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