Country Director Malawi

For the Help a Child Malawi team, we are recruiting an ambitious, entrepreneurial, and high-energy Country Director!

Organization

Help a Child is a Christian international NGO specialized in community development with its headquarters in the Netherlands. Founded in 1968, Help a Child’s mission is to improve the wellbeing of children living in poverty and crisis through supportive communities. Currently, Help a Child is operating in Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan, DR Congo, Rwanda, Somalia and India. Help a Child has been operating in Malawi since 2009.  

We have been working with our partners in various regions of Malawi to implement community development programs that promote the well-being of children by empowering their families and communities. In cooperation with local NGO partners, Help a Child Malawi improves the resilience of households by implementing the Child Centered Community Development (CCCD) program. In this holistic program, various thematic interventions are combined. They focus on early childhood development, education & child rights, as well as youth development and economic empowerment. 

Position

As Country Director (CD), you will be responsible for the long-term and overall success of Help a Child’s country program in Malawi. The CD will manage the country office local team. You will be responsible for successful fundraising, the development and implementation of the Help a Child Malawi country strategy, delivering high-quality projects and strategic stakeholder management. Additionally, you will oversee quality control & evaluation, ensuring adherence to donor standards and quality reporting. You will lead a team of professionals. 

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Identify, create and capitalize on funding opportunities for further growth of the Help a Child portfolio. 
• Represent Help a Child at key events. 
• Successfully invest in and expand networks of relevant stakeholders, including Dutch and other foreign embassies, donor representatives, national and local government entities, and like-minded INGOs to develop partnerships. 
• Ensure strategic growth, development and delivery of the Help a Child Country Program in Malawi, in line with the Help a Child mandate, strategy and Theory of Change. 
• Ensure that existing and new projects are in line with strategy, operational plans and budgets. 
• Responsible for timely and high-quality reporting to donors and Help a Child’s international office. 
• End-responsible for sound financial management and control of the administrative and financial organization. 
• End-responsible for the country program and ensure the quality of partners in implementation standards, guidelines, and reporting. 
• Develop and maintain efficient and effective operating systems, ensuring compliance with all Help a Child management operating standards and standard operating procedures. 
• Manage the overall HR cycle of staff, fostering an organizational culture reflecting Help a Child’s values, promoting accountability and high performance. 

Qualifications & desired skills

This is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious, entrepreneurial, and high-energy professional with significant experience in (program) management and fundraising to join a growing country office.

Specific requirements include: 

• Minimum of an Advanced Degree in a relevant field. 
• 5+ years of relevant experience in a relief or early recovery setting, preferably in a similar position. 
• Proven track record in identifying, creating, and capitalizing on funding opportunities. 
• Demonstrated experience in building personal and professional networks at a senior level. 
• Good knowledge of protection, FSL, education, and community empowerment. 
• Preferably experience working in consortia and with implementing partner organizations. 
• Good understanding of program, financial and operational management processes. 
• Good understanding of key trends in international and humanitarian development. 
• Experience in managing a growing team of staff. 
• Experience in working in a post-conflict, transitional and cross-cultural context, preferably in Malawi. 
• Preferably experience in working with a Theory of Change as a framework. 
• Experience in managing safety & security needs. 
• Results-driven and motivated by a sense of performance excellence and urgency. 
• Fluent in English with strong communication skills, both verbal and written (including presentation skills). 
• Know how to drive and have a valid driver’s license of at least category B (for small cars and 4*4). 
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, interpersonal and cross-cultural sensitivity. 
• Being a Christian, adhering to the Christian identity of Help a Child.

Offer 

Help a Child offers the opportunity to become part of an ambitious, child-centered, and Christian international NGO with a dedicated team of professionals motivated to maximize impact. Help a Child offers a fair pay and benefits package that is justifiable to our donors. Additionally, you will be offered a fixed term two (2) year contract. Depending on funding, performance, and fit with the staff, the contract may be extended. 

How to apply

Interested and qualified candidates are kindly invited to apply before April 4th at 05 PM.  In your cover letter, please reflect on your motivation for wanting to become part of the Help a Child organization including a reflection on Help a Child being a child-centered and Christian organization. 

For more information about the position or the recruitment process, please contact our HR manager Patricia Janssen by emailing hr@redeenkind.nl. Due to the urgency to fill this role, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We reserve the right to close this advert before the confirmed closing date when we are in receipt of sufficient applications. Should you wish to apply for this post you are kindly advised to submit your application as soon as possible. A DISC assessment will be part of the selection process. 

The interviews will be at our office in Malawi, plot #14/189,  Area 14 – Lilongwe. 

Help a Child is committed to Keeping Children Safe. All staff is required to sign and adhere to the Help a Child’s Integrity Policy. Recruitment is subject to the successful completion of all applicable background checks, including criminal record checks. In this recruitment process, we ask the candidate for consent for obtaining the Statement of Conduct. We also participate in the SCHR Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. 

Apply here