Team Leader Bridge Project

Job Title: Team leader Bridge Project
Country/Location: Uganda/Fort Portal
Reports to: Programme Director/Country Director
Direct Reports 6
Contract 12 months

About Our Programme
GOAL has operated In Uganda since 1979, currently operational in the North, South, East and West of Uganda with seven established offices in Kampala, Jinja, Lira, Mbale, Kabarole, Hoima and Agago Districts. W implement integrated, systems-based programming across key sectors such as Agricultural, Livelihoods and Food Security, Health and Nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Resilience and Systems Strengthening.
With a current annual funding portfolio of approx. 15 million EUR (working with a number of key institutional donors such as the Mastercard Foundation and the Dutch Embassy in Kampala) Goal Uganda employs 115 staff in country.
About The Role
The Team Leader for Bridge is responsible for a project that aims to strengthen the resilience and prosperity of 210,000 smallholder farmer households, and farmer organizations in the highlands of Uganda (14 districts in Elgon, Rwenzori and Kigezi regions) by promoting sustainable, climate-smart farming systems and enhancing inclusive market opportunities. The Team leader is also responsible to ensure continuity of services, protection of previous investments, learning capture, adaptive management and positioning for future scale-up.
**Please note this is a new project currently undergoing a co-creation process with the donor and partners. The final offer will be contingent upon the donor’s approval of the proposed new project with a start date approx. Sept/Oct 2026**

Background: for the past four years, the target 210,000 smallholder farmers and farmer organizations were supported by different projects to adopt appropriate climate-smart agricultural techniques and technologies that conserve natural resources, improve productivity, and reduce vulnerability to economic and climate-related shocks. These projects are ending in September and October this year – the main purpose of the project is to bridge and ensure continued service provision to small holder farmers and farmer organizations, sustain the gains, capture learning and positive outcomes for future scaling in the same target areas.

About You
Ideally you will have broad international experience in the agriculture sector, food security, livelihoods and at least 10 years at senior management level, including leading diverse partners and successfully delivering programmes of similar complexity in similar contexts (preferably In Africa)
You have proven experience in the development of small holder farmers and farmer organizations, farming systems, bottom-up participatory approaches, markets development programming, and climate smart agriculture and sustainable land use practices.

We are seeking a Team Leader with a proven track record of providing strategic direction, building leadership and consensus, to take charge of programme operations and supervise programme staff (including providing leadership in partnership portfolio management).

Key Responsibilities:
Strategic and Technical Leadership

• Lead the strategic delivery and technical quality of the programme across all partners and components.
• Drive learning, evidence generation, and scale-up opportunities to strengthen future programme impact.

Programme Management

• Lead programme delivery, planning, and partner coordination to achieve agreed objectives
• Oversee programme operations, budgets, grants, and compliance in line with donor and organisational requirements.
• Monitor performance, capture learning, and ensure accountability to participating communities and stakeholders.

Partnership management

• Build strong partnerships through effective coordination, communication, and joint planning.
• Monitor partner performance and strengthen community engagement, feedback mechanisms, and stakeholder relationships.

Team/People Leadership

• Lead and develop programme teams and partners, fostering a culture of learning, collaboration, and adaptive management.
• Oversee staffing, performance management, and capacity building to ensure effective programme delivery.

Representation

• Represent the programme to the donor governance structures, local government, partners and to key stakeholders

Requirements (Essential)

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in agriculture, food security or livelihoods sector preferably within the region (Uganda or East Africa)
• Minimum 10 years at senior management level including leading consortia and successfully delivering programmes of similar complexity and contexts (preferably In Uganda or East Africa)
• Practical experience managing consortia led grants,
• Experience in building and maintaining effective partnerships with implementing and strategic partner agencies, government authorities and counterparts.
• Complex programme management experience (preferably for the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) and demonstrated success building, managing and leading a team of professionals using learning and adaptive management.
• Experience in people management, motivating and leading a team to deliver results
• Willingness to travel regularly to field locations in Uganda and to HQ in Dublin (when required)

Desirable:

• Proven technical experience in delivering farmer household and farming systems, sustainable land use, Market and value chain development programming, and experience in MSD.
• Working experience in Uganda or East Africa will be strongly preferred;
• Strong project financial management skills.

Why Join Goal
At GOAL, you'll join a global humanitarian and development organisation dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable communities. Working alongside talented colleagues and partners, you'll have the opportunity to:

• Lead a high-profile programme delivering lasting impact for over 210,000 farming households.
• Shape innovative approaches to climate resilience, agricultural development, and market systems.
• Influence future programme design through learning, adaptive management, and evidence generation.
• Full international deployment package including competitive salary, housing allowance, flights, CIGNA medical Insurance

GOAL commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
GOAL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all employees. We foster an inclusive culture where all voices are heard and valued, we are particularly eager to receive applications from women (and other underrepresented groups). We know that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.
All employees share in the responsibility for fulfilling GOAL’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and equal treatment. GOAL does not discriminate against any employee or volunteer; or any applicant for employment or volunteering on the basis of age, gender identity, ancestry, political opinion, civil status, medical condition, ethnic background, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Accountability within GOAL
A commitment to GOAL values and GOAL’s integrity framework is critical to working with GOAL. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability: 1) Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols; 2) Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area; 3) Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner.

Safeguarding
Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with GOAL as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.

General Terms and Conditions
This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available. GOAL reserves the right to change this document.