Departmental Planning Officer (OSPD) at the African Union (AU)

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999). We are an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Departmental Planning Officer (OSPD)

Req Id: 2808
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Job Grade: P3
Reports to: Head of Division – Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Division
Division: PME
Contract Type: Fixed Term

Purpose of Job

• The African Union launched the Second Ten Year Implementation Plan (STYIP) of the Agenda 2063. While at the same time the African Union Commission (AUC) is undergoing significant reforms to enhance operational efficiency, strengthen governance, and improve service delivery by institutionalizing Results Based Management were ongoing.  
• Institutionalizing the RMB, OSPD led the development of the AU-wide Implementation Plan (2024 – 2028) which must be cascaded to several Organs and the Specialized Technical Offices. Over and above to AUC Plan that has to align to the internal portfolios.  Systematic institutionalization of RBM and appropriate delivery of the Strategy requires a departmental planner, experienced in planning of the respective guidance frameworks. 
• OSPD therefore needs to recruit a departmental planning expert to facilitate transitioning the AU into Results Based Management, which requires effective coordination of a wide spectrum of stakeholders.
• Under the supervision of the Head of Division – Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Division (P5) under the Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Division. The Officer will also be responsible for periodic review and management of the AU frameworks, implementation of specified initiatives therein so as ensure the appropriate adoption of RBM, including recommendations for aligning leadership, organizational culture systems and processes.

Main Functions

• Coordinate and align the work of OSPD and internal demands for support on RBM.
• Manage information flow into OSPD interacting with stakeholders to ensure that commitments with either parties are timely met; including submission of reports.
• Conduct due diligence on all incoming and outgoing reports handled by the Office of Strategic Planning and Delivery (OSPD) to ensure accuracy, completeness, consistency with AU frameworks in alignment with RBM, and alignment with organizational priorities. This includes verifying the quality and coherence of submissions, identifying gaps or discrepancies, and providing recommendations for improvement prior to onward transmission or finalization.
• Effectively manage and respond to ad hoc, high-impact issues, ensuring timely research and analysis to advise the Office of Strategic Planning and Delivery (OSPD) on critical business matters. Demonstrate the ability to navigate complex situations with high-level implications, providing strategic guidance that supports informed decision-making and mitigates risks to organizational objectives.
• Identify issues of duplication and propose areas of synergy among the respective AU departments and organs.
• Support design and management of the corporate strategic results framework and ensure it implemented, monitored and assessed.
• Ensure all components of the Operational Management Pillar as outlined in the RBM concept are functional, this includes recommending and re-engineering of key business processes.
• Ensure effective coordination of the RBM transition process across the AU and contribute to the development of the change management strategy to close the gap in AUC Departments/Organs, Member States, and external stakeholders.

Specific Responsibilities

• Support assessment of the AU Readiness to improve RBM, including  Policy Organ structures, implementation of programmes and Projects in the  AU’s operational environment.
• Enhance the quality of programme management through development and maintenance of the alignment of reporting structures.
• Support processes of scorecard management and reporting, organizational alignment to ensure efficiency of the RBM framework.
• Prepare project progress reports on the implementation of on the pillars of the RBM framework.
• Collate or consolidate content in preparation for meetings, seminars, and workshops with relevant stakeholders institutionalizing RBM and other OSPD initiatives.
• Represent the perspective of the Director to effectively to effectively raise awareness on RBM and other reform processes across the AU organs and institutions.
• Perform any other relevant functions as assigned.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Public / Business Administration, Project / Programme Management, Strategic Management or a related field with ten (10) years’ experience in providing executive secretariat support to senior or executive-level leadership, demonstrated provision of high-level advisory services, supporting complex strategic planning, programme coordination, and implementation oversight within an institutional or organizational context.

Or 

• A Master’s Degree in Public / Business Administration, Project / Programme Management, Strategic Management or a related field, with seven (7)  years’ experience, as noted above.
• Of the above, the candidate to have least three (3) years of the above experience, accrued at a senior level, providing expert advisory services on corporate governance, administrative compliance, and secretariat support to high-level decision-making bodies.
• Professional Chartered Secretary certification is desirable.

Required Skills:

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

Leadership Competencies:

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

Core Competencies:

• Teamwork and Collaboration.
• Accountability awareness and Compliance.
• Learning Orientation.
• Communicating with Impact.

Functional Competencies:

• Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving
• Drive for Results.
• Continuous Improvement Focus.

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.

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.

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 Closing Date
22nd September 2025.