Country Director

Role Purpose:                 
Within this dynamic working environment, diverse team and wide portfolio of programmes and donors, you will have overall responsibility for the strategic development and management of the Concern country programme in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). You will ensure that the programme meets objectives as set out in the DRC Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for 2022-2026, annual plans and programme proposals. You will also ensure that the country programme is in line with Concern policies, procedures and meets the Core Humanitarian Standards. You will lead the Country Management Team (CMT) and represent the organisation with government, donors and other international organisations. Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategic Direction:
• Leading the Country Management Teams and ensuring participative decision-making processes
• Leading a team of national staff and international staff, and ensuring staff capacity, organisational structures and programme approaches are fit for purpose and able to effectively deliver strategic organisational goals
• Leading by example and supporting the Concern team to achieve organisational outcomes.
• Providing overall leadership and management, strategic direction, and technical leadership to the country programme to achieve expected results within budget and timeframe.
• Serve as principal liaison to donors and the Government of DRC, ensuring high levels of coordination and maintaining productive working relations, while engaging with and nurturing relationships with all key stakeholders (partner organizations, local government, civil society, etc.) on administrative, financial, and programmatic matters.
• Engaging with major organisational advocacy issues, providing support and leadership for key strategic campaigns.
• Supporting and ensuring the implementation of the current CSP and lead the development of the next country strategic plan from 2027-2031.
• Championing gender equality, adaptation and mitigation of climate change, and conflict sensitivity across Concern’s programmes and systems.

‍Risk Management & Accountability:
• Ensuring optimal use of financial resources; managed in a transparent and accountable manner, consistent with Concern’s and donor policies, systems and procedures, delivering quality results and demonstrating value for money.
• Responding robustly to any suspicions or reports of fraud, safeguarding or code of conduct abuses or other misdemeanours, and adhering to Concern’s policy and procedures on investigations
• Ensuring Concern complies with all relevant national legal and administrative requirements
Identifying all risks and implementing mitigating measures in conjunction with the Country Management Team.
• Lead and manage the implementation of safeguarding policies and procedures, and response to breaches of the Concern Code of Conduct and associated policies, in collaboration with the Safeguarding department
• Promote and ensure compliance with the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) commitments and quality criteria
Ensure that all staff are familiar with the principles underpinning accountability, safeguarding and Concern’s Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) and ensure that information about Concern’s commitments on accountability and safeguarding are disseminated among programme participants and communities.

‍Security Management:
• Ensuring an overall comprehension of the security context and liaise with other organisations and key actors in the field of security.
• Overall responsibility for security management in-country and leading incident management in the event of a serious security incident
• Ensuring all staff are aware of and adhere to the Security Management Plan (SMP) as well as key security procedures in place and ensure these are reviewed regularly and updated as necessary

Programme Development & Implementation:
• Ensuring adequate financial resources for continual programming in country and engaging actively with in country and regional donors.
• Supporting the Programme Director to ensure programmes are designed, implemented, monitored and evaluated in line with Concern • Worldwide policies, incorporating a results-based management approach, and external standards such as the Red Cross/Red Crescent Code of Conduct, Sphere, and the CHS are adhered to
• Leading and supporting efforts in fundraising, identification of new opportunities, donor relations and leading the development of the country funding strategy
• Enabling an organisational culture that supports effective learning, sharing and continual improvement of programme quality.
• Conducting regular monitoring and support visit to the field bases.
• Championing sustainable approaches that empower communities to be more resilient.

Support Systems & People Management:
•Supporting and guiding the Systems and Finance functions to ensure effective and efficient HR, administrative, logistical and financial support is provided to staff of Concern Worldwide.
• Supporting the Country Finance Controller (CFC) in budget preparation, revision and monitoring; ensuring that budget holders actively manage their budgets and prepare accurate budgets in line with the annual plan.
• Ensure that Concern’s IT systems provide efficient and effective communication and data management for the organisation, linking with Concern Worldwide systems.
• Supporting and guiding the Operations Director and HR Manager to ensure there are competent and empowered human resources, in a fair, diverse and efficient workplace
• Undertaking initiatives to ensure a good working environment and team spirit so Concern is perceived as an employer of choice for national and international staff.
• Ensuring job requisitions are prepared on a timely basis for international positions
• Ensuring staff Performance and Development Review’s (PDRs) are undertaken for all staff with appropriate training, development and career opportunities identified and budgeted.
• Ensuring good working conditions for all staff and implementing team building activities

Representation & Networking:
• Creating a strong and visible profile for the organisation, as a leading actor in the fight against poverty, climate change, social protection and resilience programming.
• Communicating information regarding Concern and its programme at National level to Government, Donors and INGOs, alliances and networks across a range of fora.
• Ensuring the coordination with other NGOs, the United Nations Systems as well as other key actors in DRC.
• Engaging appropriately with the media to ensure that Concern’s values, vision and programmes are highlighted.
• Representing Concern Worldwide in strategic national and international meetings.
• Ensuring relationships and formal agreements with the government are maintained and updated.
• Ensuring regular contacts with the donor community