Job Location: Nairobi, Kenya with occasional travel to Ethiopia and Somalia, if the security situation allows.
Job Responsibilities and Accountabilities
Overall Job Purpose
The Country Director holds a key role within Johanniter International Assistance’s regional leadership team contributing to country-specific as well as regional and global objectives.
The position holder owns the development and implementation of the country strategy in line with regional and global strategies. The person in particular leads on country networking and positioning. The incumbent holds a key and direct responsibility for all funding, acquisition and management, together with others in the Country Senior Management Team as well as the Regional Funding Coordinator.
The Country Director manages the work in the Kenya country office and holds accountability for the operations in Ethiopia and Somalia, either implemented directly or with local implementing partners
The position holder is accountable for the performance, legal and regulatory compliance and strategic oversight of the country office in Kenya as well as all legal and regulatory requirements in Ethiopia and Somalia.
The Country Director works closely with the Regional Director and actively fosters strong collaboration between country, regional and global levels within the Johanniter International Assistance global set up.
Tasks
Strategy and Vision
- Actively supports the values of Johanniter and shapes his/her work according to these values
- Contributes to the development and implementation of the global strategy of Johanniter International Assistance
- Owns the development and implementation of the country strategies in line with regional and global strategy
- Supports the development of an organisational culture and leadership that addresses power relations and privilege, promotes diversity and inclusion, and encourages continuous self-reflection
- Provides advice on the development and monitoring of country strategies
- Supports the development of an organizational culture and leadership that addresses power dynamics and privilege, promotes diversity and inclusion, and encourages continuous self-reflection
Leadership
- Actively leads by example, upholding the Johanniter leadership principles and creating a culture where the leadership mindset can emerge and thrive, actively empowering and guiding team members to an inclusive, accountable work environment to achieve shared goals and embrace change
- Reflects the leadership principles in the day-to-day activities in line with the Code of Conduct and related policies to achieve our goals
Management
- Accountable for the performance, legal and regulatory compliance and strategic oversight of the Kenya country office and establishments in Ethiopia and Somalia
- Ensures effective consultative communication and information flow among Kenya and other country offices, regional office and headquarters
Emergency Response
- Owns in-country operations and liaises with the regional office and HQ’s humanitarian team and/or OPC – Operational Coordination Centre
- Owns development of country office emergency response plan
- Supports emergency response in the region and globally as needed, e.g. by providing technical or staffing capacities
Programme Implementation & Reporting
- Owns the country office budget as budget holder
- Owns regular country office reporting, e.g. review of monthly finance closure and logistics reports and regular reporting to regional office
- Responsible for addressing & taking necessary actions, programmatic and budgetary, at country office level
- Signs off for all country office operational business as per signing matrix
Human Resources and Team Management
- Line manages national and international staff at country office
- Collaborates with the regional office on short-term roving support for all staffing gaps in the region (e.g. extended) leave, illness, visa problems, longer vacancies)
- Creates and maintains a team culture ensuring that all staff have a clear understanding of their contribution to the achievement of Johanniter’s strategic objectives
- Develops and maintains an organisational culture of learning and reflection leading to positive changes
- Maintains an open and trust-based dialogue through regular meetings to ensure alignment to the overall JIA, regional and country strategy
- Promotes accountability, communication and feedback, fostering good performance reviews mechanisms
- Ensures appropriate individual and team development and capacity building
- Exercises and provides all necessary measures for Duty of Care
Networking & Fundraising
- Acts and serves as the primary fundraiser for the country programme
- Actively participates in in-country donor and civil society networks and offers his/her expertise
- Leads information-sharing about Johanniter’s programme portfolio and pro-active strategic engagement with donors in country and through the regional office in the region
- Coordinates private fundraising engagement at country level and identifies opportunities
Partnerships & Relationship Management
- Leads on-going and forms new partnerships with national & international partners, incl. consortia, at country level
Safety and Security
- Accountable for the Safety and Security of all staff, ensuring adherence to security procedures, monitoring of the safety situation, analysing and providing recommendations
- Oversees the development and implementation of Country Security Plans and ensures that valid guidelines are followed and adapted as required at all levels, that maximum preventive measures are taken to minimize risk and that the team is safe and well informed at all times
- Maintains regular contact with relevant networks and security stakeholders (UNDSS, INSO etc.)
Communication & Advocacy
- Engages in advocacy at country level, drawing on country office -specific evidence and in coordination with HQ
- Owns national advocacy and signs-off on sensitive or high-visibility communications for the country office as per signing matrix and defined process, contributing to the regional communication
- Leads external communication in country to enhance visibility and messaging
Safeguarding
- Champions a safe and respectful organisational culture by integrating safeguarding and PSEAH prevention into strategies, programmes, and operations, ensuring adequate resources for risk management and capacity building, and holding staff and partners accountable for upholding the organisation’s Code of Conduct and safeguarding standards
Gender
- Leads and resources the integration of Johanniter’s Gender Minimum Standards by setting measurable targets, approving gender-responsive budgets, monitoring implementation through regular reviews, and holding line reports accountable for effective delivery
Person Specification
Professional Qualification and Experience:
Essential:
- Academic degree (MA / MSC) in a relevant field e.g. Masters of Public Health etc
- At least 7 years of experience in a humanitarian and development context, minimum of 5 years in a leadership position
- Context related work experience in disaster response and humanitarian as well as development cooperation programmes, ideally also in working with partner organisations
- Experience in development and implementation of quality country programmes and development of impactful funding strategies
- Proven record of ability to obtain funds from diverse donor agencies
- Very good knowledge of current debates and trends in the sector, including those of relevant donors
- Extensive experience in external representation and networking at senior level and on the ground, in networks, clusters, towards donors and other governmental institutions
- Proven ability to drive continuous improvement and develop new ways of working
- Highly developed relationship building, influencing, negotiating and interpersonal skills
- Adaptable working style; effective when working in situations that may appear ambiguous
- Skilled in navigating high-pressure contexts with calm precision, ensuring effective decision-making and successful delivery even in challenging conditions
Skills:
- Extensive people management skills and multiple years’ experience in managing teams (including remote management and matrix management)
- Strong sense of delivering relevant, efficient and effective service to others
- Strategic and analytical thinking combined with a track record managing change
- Ability to deal with conflicts, manage resistance, being able to remain focused and cope with uncertainties and complexities
- Excellent communication skills both internally and externally
- Willingness to travel and work in low-security contexts
- Fluent in English, other language skills an asset
Johanniter Safeguarding statement and / or commitment
It is Johanniter’s responsibility to create an environment built on integrity, respect and accountability, in which all staff and volunteers are comfortable to work and feel safe. We have a zero tolerance policy when people cause harm to others. Those who misbehave or are complicit will be held accountable for harmful actions. It is the employee’s responsibility to promote appropriate behaviour and to report infringements that could potentially harm those in our organisation’s care and damage the reputation of Johanniter. Those who raise complaints or concerns will be appropriately protected and respected.
How to apply
How to apply
Johanniter is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. Suitable candidates with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Johanniter does not charge money at any point of recruitment.
*We require background checks (incl. criminal record and reference checks) to protect the vulnerable and prevent abuse*
Applications for this position MUST include the following:
- An up-to-date CV with start and end dates of employment (date/month/year).
- A cover letter (not more than 1 page).
- Reference contacts (phone numbers and email addresses) of three former line managers or the HR Responsible. Please state their working relationship to you at the time they were your line manager.
- Certificates of service for each former position – this is an essential component of the application.
- Certificate of Good Conduct from DCI (within the past 12 months). This will be requested if you are offered the position.
- Applications which do not include all of the above will not be considered.
Applications should be sent to [email protected] until 21st August 2026 by 5:00pm (EAT).
Please indicate Country Director Kenya in the subject line of your e-mail.
More Information
- Job City Kenya
