Chad Area Director/Country Representative

Job Posting Organization:
Relief International (RI) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to partnering with communities affected by conflict, climate change, and disasters. Established to save lives and promote long-term health and well-being, RI operates with a team of over 4,000 staff and local volunteers across 14 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The organization focuses on providing essential services in Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Education, and Livelihoods programming, which are crucial for building community resilience. RI is structured as an alliance of four organizations—Relief International, Inc., Relief International-France, Relief International-UK, and Relief International-Europe—working under a unified mission and leadership team to ensure effective and inclusive local programming that is evidence-based, conflict-sensitive, and climate-smart.

Job Overview:
The Chad Area Director/Country Representative is responsible for providing strategic, operational, and leadership oversight for Relief International’s operations in Chad. This role is pivotal in ensuring the effective delivery of multi-sector humanitarian programming that aligns with the Sudan/Chad Country Strategy. The position demands a focus on operational excellence, risk mitigation, and financial stewardship while representing RI externally. The Area Director will lead the team in navigating one of the most complex operating environments, ensuring that the organization’s mission is fulfilled through high-quality and compliant program delivery.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The key responsibilities of the Chad Area Director/Country Representative include:

• Strategic Leadership & Program Oversight: Lead the strategic direction for Chad operations, ensuring alignment with the country strategy and overseeing the delivery of multi-sector programs with a focus on quality and impact.
• Operational & Financial Management: Ensure that projects are executed within approved budgets and comply with donor regulations, monitoring financial performance and overseeing integrated support functions.
• Leadership & Team Management: Provide direct leadership to the Chad team, fostering a culture of performance management, collaboration, and professional growth while addressing any disciplinary issues in coordination with HR.
• Risk Management & security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security Oversight: Identify and mitigate operational, financial, reputational, and security risks, ensuring that security protocols are updated and adhered to.
• External Representation & Stakeholder Engagement: Represent RI in humanitarian coordination forums, maintain relationships with donors and local stakeholders, and advocate for RI’s mission while strengthening sector collaboration.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must demonstrate senior leadership experience and possess strong team management capabilities. They should have excellent strategic planning and program oversight skills, alongside strong stakeholder engagement and representation abilities. A solid understanding of institutional donor regulations (such as USAID, ECHO, FCDO, and UNs) is essential, as is knowledge of humanitarian coordination systems and cluster mechanisms. Candidates should also have experience operating in conflict and cross-border contexts, managing complex, multi-sector humanitarian operations, and leading large, multidisciplinary teams.

Educational Background:
A relevant educational background is required, typically including a degree in international development, humanitarian studies, public administration, or a related field. Advanced degrees may be preferred, particularly for candidates seeking to demonstrate a higher level of expertise in the field.

Experience:
Candidates should have significant experience in senior leadership roles within humanitarian organizations, particularly in complex and high-risk environments. Proven experience in managing large teams and overseeing multi-sector humanitarian operations is essential, as is the ability to navigate politically sensitive contexts effectively.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, and proficiency in French is highly desirable given the operational context in Chad. Knowledge of local languages may also be beneficial for effective communication with communities and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position involves a significant amount of travel, approximately 40% of the time, and is classified as requiring standard pre-employment checks and enhanced due diligence. The role is full-time and involves managing a budget responsibility of approximately 1.5 million. The successful candidate will be expected to uphold the highest standards of behavior and conduct, promoting the values outlined in RI’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies.