Program Officer – Change Management (OSPD)

Organization Information

Reports to: Principal Programme Management Officer – Planning
Directorate/Department/Organ: Office of Strategic Planning and Delivery (OSPD)
Division: PME
Number of Direct Reports: 2
Number of Indirect Reports: 0
Job Grade: P3
Number of Positions: 1
Contract Type: Fixed Term

Purpose of Job

The African Union launched the Second Ten Year Implementation Plan (STYIP) of the Agenda 2063 at a time when other significant reforms to enhance operational efficiency, strengthen governance, and improve service delivery by institutionalizing Results Based Management, were ongoing.  OSPD led the development of the first ever AU Strategic Plan (2024 – 2028) which has to be cascaded to several Organs and the Specialized Technical Offices, over and above to AUC Plan that has to align the internal portfolios. Systematic institutionalization of RBM and appropriate delivery of the Strategy requires a Programme Management Officer, experienced in Change Management to support this pillar of RBM through the design, implementation and review of the Change Management Pillar.

Transitioning to RBM is a huge change that should be well managed to minimize disruptions.  OSPD therefore needs to recruit an expert to facilitate transitioning the AU to Results Based Management.

This position shall fall under the supervision of the Principal Management Officer (P5) under the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division. The Program Officer – Change Management will lead the development and implementation of change management strategies to support the African Union’s transition to Results-Based Management (RBM). The Officer will be responsible for designing and implementing the change management framework, organizational transformation, policies and strategies as well as ensuring the smooth adoption of the RBM. The Officer will identify policy systems and processes requiring consequent amendment to the principles of RBM.  The Officer will manage implementation of the adopted change management framework across the African Union and report on the progress of its implementation.

Main Functions

• Develop a change management strategy based on the assessed readiness to transition to RBM
• Apply a structured change management approach to manage changes caused by projects and change efforts
• Identity potential people-side risks and anticipated points of resistance, and develop specific plans to mitigate or address the risks.
• Support the conducting readiness assessments, evaluation of results and presentation of findings
• Develop a set of actionable and targeted change management plans
• Ensure all components of the Change Management Pillar as outline in the RBM component are functional
• Communicate the Change Strategy throughout AU for uptake and alignment

Specific Responsibilities

• Develop and implement change management strategies to support the adoption of RBM practices, including the assessment of the AU Readiness to improve RBM, including  Policy Organ structures, implementation of programmes and Projects in the  AU’s operational environment.
• Design and implement a comprehensive change management strategy based on assessed organizational readiness to transition to Results-Based Management (RBM).
• Lead the communication and dissemination of the Change Management Strategy across the African Union to foster understanding, buy-in, and alignment among all relevant stakeholders.
• Apply a structured change management methodologies to effectively manage organizational change, mitigate risks, and facilitate stakeholder engagement and alignment across the institution.
• Identify potential barriers to change and develop strategies to address them.
• Conduct impact assessments to identify potential risks and mitigation strategies specific to AU’s operational environment.
• Monitor the progress of change initiatives and develop corrective strategies
• Prepare project progress and prepare reports on implementation of change initiatives and assess impact.
• Report on lessons learned and best practices to refine future change management efforts in line with Agenda 2063 objectives.
• Assist in preparing meetings, seminars, and workshops with relevant stakeholders on OSPD initiatives.
• Develop communication strategies to effectively raise awareness on reform processes across the AU organs and institutions.
• Perform any other relevant functions as assigned.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized institution in Strategy/Change management, Organizational Development, Human Resources or any other related field.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressive experience in change management, organizational development, or related roles, preferably within an international or multilateral organization. With proven experience in designing and implementing change management strategies and plans.

Or 

• Master’s degree from a recognized institution in Strategy/Change management, Organizational Development, Human Resources or any other related field, with seven (7) years’ experience as noted above.
• From the above experience, three (3) years should be in a supervisory role.
• Demonstrated sound understanding of Results-Based Management principles and their application in organizational contexts.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct organizational readiness assessments and stakeholder analyses.
• Professional certification in Change Management is desirable.

Required Skills

• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Excellent judgment
• Sound decision making
• High levels of discretion and confidentiality
• Knowledge of change management principles, practices, methodologies
• Good time management and organizational skills.
• Presentation Skills
• Ability to work across business units while having cultural sensitivity
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages is required, fluency in another AU language and or English or French in particular is an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Insight
• Developing Others
• Change Management
• Managing Risk

Core Competencies

• Building Relationship
• Foster Accountability Culture
• .Learning Orientation
• Communicating with Influence

Functional Competencies

• Conceptual Thinking
• Job Knowledge and Information Sharing
• Drive for Results
• Continuous Improvement Orientation

.TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:

The Appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables.

GENDER MAINSTREAMING:

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

LANGUAGES:

• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) is mandatory and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

REMUNERATION:

The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$  96,921.34 (P3 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 78,461.08 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Applications must be submitted no later than September 22, 2025 11h59 p.m. EAT.

– Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for interviews will be contacted.

– Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as Diplomas (Bac+2), Bachelor’s degrees (Bac+3), Master’s degrees (Bac+5) and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise.

– The African Union is an equal opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

– Candidates from least represented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to apply for positions that fit their profiles.

These countries include: Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Sahrawi D.R., Sao Tome and Principe., Seychelles, and Somalia.

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