Country Director – Central African Republic At International NGO Safety Organisation

Organisation Background

Founded in 2011, the International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) is an international non-governmental organisation that supports humanitarian aid workers by establishing safety coordination platforms in insecure contexts. INSO provides registered NGOs with a range of free services, including real-time incident tracking, analytical reports, safety-related data and mapping, crisis management support, staff orientations and training.

INSO provides daily support to more than 1,000 NGOs operating in 16 of the world’s most insecure countries.

INSO is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands- the international city of peace and justice.

INSO Central African Republic

INSO CAR opened in 2015 and currently supports 97 partners from a country office in Bangui and regional offices in Bosangoa and Bambari. The Central African Republic (CAR) consistently records one of the highest NGO incident rates of any country INSO monitors.

If you are captivated by the challenge of translating strategic concepts into workable practices in a difficult environment , this Country Director position is for you. This is an exciting and rewarding role with a high level of external representation and direct involvement in analytical and coordination services on humanitarian safety and access.

Job Summary

You will provide direct leadership, coordination, representation, supervision, and management in relation to all staff and services of the Country Office and set the overall strategic framework. You will possess solid NGO program and human resources management skills and will be a natural and confident leader, communicator, consensus-builder and networker. You will combine keen intellect and analytical skills.

The CAR platform is well established, and your main challenges will consist of maintaining the continuity and quality of services while ensuring long-term development.

While French is the working language, you must also be comfortable in writing analytical reports in English.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Program strategy and management

• Manage the Country Office team, including direct supervision of senior management and general oversight of the program, operations, and finance teams.
• Provide dedicated, effective leadership across the program and ensure cohesion across all functions.
• Develop overall strategy and deliver annual program planning.
• Steward INSO resources effectively and transparently in full compliance with internal and donor policies.
• Liaise with Regional Director and HQ technical referents of each department.
• Responsible for the safety and security of the staff, program and assets.

Representation and synergies

• Maintain and build the reputation of the organisation.
• Effectively represent and protect INSO’s principles of independence, impartiality and neutrality and promote INSO as an integral member of the humanitarian community.
• Maintain donor engagement and actively track country-specific funding opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with donor regulations and requirements and produce high-quality, compelling donor proposals and reports that underscore INSO’s impact.
• Engage with third parties, including local government, the UN, diplomatic missions, and international military forces.
• Participate in external coordination activities related to safety and security coordination and access.

Program support and monitoring

• Oversee the overall delivery of INSO services, ensure that program targets and objectives are met and quality is maintained
• Deliver strategic analysis to senior humanitarian leadership.
• Lead crisis management support to individual NGO partners or the NGO community at large during critical incidents.

Mandatory Requirements

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Master’s Degree-level of education or equivalent work experience.
• Fluency in French and English.
• 3-5 years relevant work experience as an NGO Country Director or equivalent senior management experience in conflict/post-conflict contexts.
• Experience with project management, donor liaison, reporting and compliance.
• Proven analytical skills.
• Solid understanding of principles and practices in broad humanitarian action, NGO safety and risk management, humanitarian access, and civil-military coordination.
• Excellent networking, diplomatic, and representative communication skills.

Nice to Have:

• Recent experience in the region.
• Direct experience and involvement in a crisis management role.
• Experience in an interagency role.
• Detailed understanding of INSO mandate and services.
• Previous INSO experience (as a team member, member of INSO’s country advisory board or as a beneficiary).

Personal Attributes

• Ability to identify issues and find a resolution.
• Excellent communication, organizational and managerial skills.
• Strong work ethic and capacity to take responsibility for your actions.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Confidentiality, integrity and an ability to sense conflicts-of-interest.

INSO’s Safeguarding Policy

INSO is fully committed to safe recruitment, selection and vetting of all potential new staff, trustees and volunteers and we will ensure rigorous compliance with our Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policy throughout the recruitment process.

Terms & Conditions:

Twelve-month contract, €5,500 per month salary, 4 calendar days annual leave per month and 7 days of R&R every 2 months with €1250 R&R allowance each cycle, global medical coverage (excluding USA), and AD&D coverage.