IRC Project Director- PlayMatters Job 2026: Full- Time Education Leadership Role- Apply Now

IRC Project Director PlayMatters Job 2026 in Uganda – Apply Now

Explore the IRC Project Director – PlayMatters Job 2026 in Uganda, including responsibilities, qualifications, location and November 2026 application deadline.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is recruiting a Project Director – PlayMatters in Kampala, Uganda. This full-time leadership opportunity involves overseeing a major education programme supporting refugee and host-community children across Ethiopia, South Sudan and Uganda.

According to the vacancy information provided, applications close 30 November 2026.

PlayMatters 3.0 is described as a five-year, private foundation-funded project focused on increasing access to quality educational opportunities for refugee and host-community children.

The Project Director will provide strategic and technical leadership while coordinating IRC staff, partner organizations, government stakeholders and donors.

The role is based in Kampala, Uganda, with regular travel to Ethiopia and South Sudan.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be expected to:

Provide strategic and technical leadership for project implementation.
Develop and monitor annual work and performance plans.
Ensure activities meet project objectives and operational standards.
Oversee partners and subgrantees.
Support sound budgeting, financial tracking and donor reporting.
Maintain relationships with governments, partners and other stakeholders.
Represent the project in relevant meetings and public engagements.
Promote teamwork, trust and staff development.

Qualifications and Experience

Applicants should have:

An advanced degree from an accredited university in international development, humanitarian assistance or a related field.
At least 10 years of experience managing programmes for refugees or crisis-affected populations.
Experience managing large-scale, multi-million-dollar, multi-country and multi-partner projects.
Experience working in East Africa and/or Ethiopia, South Sudan or Uganda on education programmes.
Experience with staff capacity-building and participatory, flexible and gender-sensitive programming.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Fluency in English.

Location and Working Environment

Duty station: Kampala, Uganda

The position requires regular travel to Ethiopia and South Sudan.

The role reports to the Regional Vice President, CRRD / Senior Director Education.

Application Deadline

The vacancy information provided lists the closing date as:

30 November 2026

Employers can amend or close vacancies earlier, so applicants should verify the latest status on the official IRC recruitment platform before applying.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should review the complete vacancy requirements and submit their application through the International Rescue Committee’s official recruitment system.

Applicants should ensure that their CV and supporting materials clearly demonstrate relevant experience in humanitarian programmes, education, project management and work with refugee or crisis-affected populations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the IRC PlayMatters Project Director job?

It is a senior project leadership role overseeing PlayMatters 3.0, an education initiative working across Ethiopia, South Sudan and Uganda.

Where is the position based?

The position is based in Kampala, Uganda, with regular travel to Ethiopia and South Sudan.

How much experience is required?

The vacancy requires a minimum of 10 years of experience managing programmes for refugees or crisis-affected populations in challenging environments.