Country Director

Job Summary

Position Summary

The Country Director provides strategic leadership and overall management of War Child Canada's Afghanistan country program, ensuring the delivery of high-quality humanitarian and recovery programming that is responsive to community needs and aligned with the organization's global strategy. The role is responsible for overseeing program quality, operations, finance, security, risk management, and organizational compliance while fostering a strong, inclusive, and accountable organizational culture.

Working closely with local partners, communities, donors, UN agencies, relevant authorities, and War Child Canada's headquarters, the Country Director leads the continued growth and sustainability of the country program through strategic partnerships, resource mobilization, and representation. The Country Director ensures that programming is delivered effectively in a complex operating environment, while strengthening local capacity, maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders, and upholding War Child Canada's commitment to locally led, community-driven humanitarian action.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Management of the country program (30%)

1. Lead the strategic direction, growth, and expansion of War Child Canada’s Afghanistan program, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy and agreed country priorities.

2. Lead the development, implementation, monitoring, and review of the Country Strategic Plan, ensuring program quality, accountability, and organizational learning.

3. Ensure the effective delivery of high-quality, integrated programs that meet donor commitments and respond to evolving community needs.

4. Oversee compliance with organizational policies and donor requirements, including timely, accurate narrative and financial reporting.

5. Lead annual planning, performance management, and cross-functional co-ordination with Headquarters and country teams.

6. Foster a high-performing, inclusive organizational culture that promotes collaboration, accountability, innovation, and locally led programming.

7. Ensure accountability for the overall quality, relevance, effectiveness and impact of the country program.

Fundraising and Donor Engagement (25%)

1. Lead resource mobilization efforts by cultivating relationships with institutional donors, UN agencies, foundations, and strategic partners.

2. Work closely with Headquarters and the country office team to identify funding opportunities and develop compelling proposals aligned with country priorities and War Child Canada's strategy.

3. Maintain strong donor relationships through effective communication, stewardships, and high-quality reporting. Contribute to strategic positioning and partnership development to ensure the sustainability of the country program.

External Relations and Representation (15%) 

1. Represent War Child Canada with government authorities, donors, UN agencies, NGO and humanitarian coordination mechanisms, sector working groups, and other external stakeholders.

2. Build and maintain strategic partnerships that strengthen collaboration, program quality, and organizational impact.

3. Promote War Child Canada’s mission, programming, and technical expertise through effective external engagement and communications.

4. Lead and strengthen strategic partnerships with local organizations, supporting locally led programming, organizational capacity strengthening, and shared accountability for program delivery.

Financial and Resource Management (10%)

1. Provide effective and efficient management of the country’s budget, ensuring sound financial planning, forecasting, reporting and oversight.

2. Ensure compliance with donor and organizational financial, operational, and procurement policies, procedures, and audit requirements, maintaining accountability and transparency.

3. Oversee robust financial and operational controls and promote the efficient, accountable, and appropriate use of organizational resources.

4. Provide oversight, guidance, and support to operations and procurement functions to ensure transparent, accountable, efficient, and compliant operational support to program implementation, including the timely and appropriate procurement of goods, supplies, and services

Human Resources and Team Management (10%) 

1. Provide leadership and oversight to the country management team and all War Child Canada staff in Afghanistan, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.

2. Build organizational capacity through workforce planning, succession planning, recruitment, coaching, mentoring and performance management.

3. Foster an inclusive, respectful, and accountable workplace culture consistent with War Child Canada’s values.

4. Promote staff leaning, leadership development, and employee well-being.

Risk and Incident Management (10%) 

1. Provide overall leadership for comprehensive risk management, including security, safeguarding, business continuity, and legal compliance.

2. Ensure security management systems are maintained through regular context analysis, risk assessments, contingency planning, and incident reporting.

3. Promote a strong safeguarding culture, ensuring compliance with safeguarding, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, and Code of Conduct requirements.

Job Requirements

Qualifications

Experience & Knowledge

1. Master’s degree in International Development, Social Sciences, Public or Business Administration, Education, or related field. An equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.

2. Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in humanitarian and/or international development programming, including at least four (4) years in a country leadership position in a humanitarian or development context.

3. Proven experience managing multi-disciplinary teams, organizational change, and operational performance in complex environments.

4. Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-sector country programs in fragile, conflict-affected, or humanitarian settings.

5. Demonstrated success in fundraising, donor engagement, and managing grants from institutional donors, and securing large-scale project funding.

6. Extensive experience in program strategy, design, implementation, and management, particularly in the sectors of education, child protection, health, MHPSS, and/or livelihoods.

7. A strong understanding of security and incident management, safeguarding, PSEA, and risk management in complex operating environments.

8. Demonstrated experience ensuring compliance with donor regulations, organizational policies, and applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

9. Previous experience of working in Afghanistan is highly desirable.

Skills & Ability 

1. Excellent leadership and people management skills, with the ability to build, motivate, and develop high-performing, diverse teams.

2. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including proposal development, report writing, negotiation, and public representation.

3. Strong strategic thinking, decision-making and problem-solving abilities, with a proven ability to manage competing priorities in dynamic environments.

4. Excellent relationship management and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective partnerships with donors, UN agencies, government authorities, local partners, and communities.

5. Strong financial and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret budgets, financial reports, and organizational performance data.

6. Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change, solve complex problems, and support adaptive programming.

7. High level of cultural sensitivity, diplomacy, and political sensitivity, with the ability to work effectively in diverse and complex environments.

8. Strong organizational, analytical, and planning skills, with an ability to handle multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail.

9. Self-motivated and resilient, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

10. Commitment to War Child Canada’s mission, values, safeguarding standards, and locally led approach to humanitarian action.