Job Description
Job Posting Organization:
CARE is a leading humanitarian organization dedicated to fighting global poverty and providing lifesaving assistance in emergencies. Established in 1945, CARE has a long history of delivering impactful programs across various sectors, including health, education, and economic development. With a presence in over 100 countries, CARE employs thousands of staff members who work tirelessly to improve the lives of vulnerable communities. The organization's mission is to empower individuals and communities to achieve lasting change, and it operates with a commitment to gender equality and social justice.
Job Overview:
The director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Senior Director – Programs at CARE Afghanistan is a pivotal role that involves providing strategic leadership for a complex portfolio of humanitarian and development programs. This position is designed for an experienced leader who is passionate about making a sustainable impact in challenging environments. The Senior Director will be responsible for shaping the strategic direction of CARE Afghanistan, leading a diverse range of programs, and ensuring that they are innovative, evidence-driven, and well-resourced. This role requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including donors, government entities, and local communities, to enhance CARE's reputation as a trusted partner. The Senior Director will also oversee the execution of the country program strategy, ensuring high-quality implementation and fostering a culture of excellence and continuous learning within the organization.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Director – Programs will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:
Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess significant senior leadership experience managing large-scale humanitarian and development programs in complex or fragile environments. They should demonstrate success in developing country strategies and leading multi-sector program portfolios. Strong business development credentials with a proven track record of securing funding from institutional donors are essential. Experience in leading proposal development, donor engagement, and strategic partnerships is also required. Exceptional people leadership skills, with a history of coaching and developing high-performing, multidisciplinary teams, are crucial. Candidates should have strong financial management and program oversight capabilities, including budgeting, compliance, and risk management. Experience engaging with government institutions, UN agencies, NGOs, and donor representatives at senior levels is necessary, along with outstanding communication, negotiation, and influencing skills. A collaborative leadership style that inspires others and navigates complexity with confidence is essential, as is a strong commitment to gender equality, safeguarding, accountability, and locally led development.
Educational Background:
A relevant advanced degree in international development, public administration, social sciences, or a related field is required for this position. Candidates with additional certifications or training in humanitarian response, program management, or related areas will be viewed favorably. Continuous professional development and a commitment to staying updated on best practices in the humanitarian and development sectors are also important.
Experience:
The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 10 years of experience in senior leadership roles within humanitarian and development organizations. This experience should include managing large, complex portfolios in challenging environments, demonstrating a deep understanding of the dynamics of humanitarian response and development programming. Proven experience in strategic planning, program implementation, and team leadership is essential, along with a strong background in fundraising and resource mobilization.
Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as it is the primary language of communication within the organization and with external stakeholders. Knowledge of local languages spoken in Afghanistan, such as Dari or Pashto, is highly desirable and will enhance the candidate's ability to engage effectively with local communities and partners.
Additional Notes:
This position is a full-time role based in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Senior Director – Programs will be expected to travel within the country as needed to oversee program implementation and engage with stakeholders. The role may require working in challenging and sometimes insecure environments, necessitating a strong commitment to safety and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security protocols. CARE offers a competitive compensation package, including benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development.
CARE is a leading humanitarian organization dedicated to fighting global poverty and providing lifesaving assistance in emergencies. Established in 1945, CARE has a long history of delivering impactful programs across various sectors, including health, education, and economic development. With a presence in over 100 countries, CARE employs thousands of staff members who work tirelessly to improve the lives of vulnerable communities. The organization's mission is to empower individuals and communities to achieve lasting change, and it operates with a commitment to gender equality and social justice.
Job Overview:
The director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Senior Director – Programs at CARE Afghanistan is a pivotal role that involves providing strategic leadership for a complex portfolio of humanitarian and development programs. This position is designed for an experienced leader who is passionate about making a sustainable impact in challenging environments. The Senior Director will be responsible for shaping the strategic direction of CARE Afghanistan, leading a diverse range of programs, and ensuring that they are innovative, evidence-driven, and well-resourced. This role requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including donors, government entities, and local communities, to enhance CARE's reputation as a trusted partner. The Senior Director will also oversee the execution of the country program strategy, ensuring high-quality implementation and fostering a culture of excellence and continuous learning within the organization.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Director – Programs will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:
- Providing strategic leadership by shaping and leading CARE Afghanistan's program strategy in alignment with both the Country Strategy and CARE's global priorities.
- Driving strategic thinking that balances immediate humanitarian responses with long-term development programming.
- Serving as a trusted advisor to the Country Director and being an influential member of the Country Leadership Team.
- Leading and developing a high-performing team of program leaders and technical specialists, fostering an environment of innovation, collaboration, and accountability.
- Ensuring the successful delivery of a complex multi-sector portfolio that is timely, compliant, impactful, and financially sound.
- Overseeing program performance, budgeting, donor compliance, and risk management.
- Strengthening coordination across programs, operations, finance, and support functions to maximize impact.
- Identifying implementation challenges early and driving practical solutions to improve delivery and performance.
- Leading CARE Afghanistan's fundraising and business development strategy, building and maintaining strategic relationships with institutional donors, government partners, UN agencies, foundations, and NGOs. 1
- Overseeing the development of competitive, high-quality proposals and concept notes that respond to emerging needs and donor priorities. 1
- Representing CARE at senior-level coordination forums, humanitarian clusters, donor meetings, and government engagements. 1
- Strengthening partnerships with national organizations, civil society, and international actors, using program evidence to inform advocacy priorities and influence policies that improve outcomes for vulnerable communities. 1
- Ensuring strong compliance with donor, legal, contractual, and organizational requirements while promoting a culture of integrity, accountability, safeguarding, and ethical leadership.
Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess significant senior leadership experience managing large-scale humanitarian and development programs in complex or fragile environments. They should demonstrate success in developing country strategies and leading multi-sector program portfolios. Strong business development credentials with a proven track record of securing funding from institutional donors are essential. Experience in leading proposal development, donor engagement, and strategic partnerships is also required. Exceptional people leadership skills, with a history of coaching and developing high-performing, multidisciplinary teams, are crucial. Candidates should have strong financial management and program oversight capabilities, including budgeting, compliance, and risk management. Experience engaging with government institutions, UN agencies, NGOs, and donor representatives at senior levels is necessary, along with outstanding communication, negotiation, and influencing skills. A collaborative leadership style that inspires others and navigates complexity with confidence is essential, as is a strong commitment to gender equality, safeguarding, accountability, and locally led development.
Educational Background:
A relevant advanced degree in international development, public administration, social sciences, or a related field is required for this position. Candidates with additional certifications or training in humanitarian response, program management, or related areas will be viewed favorably. Continuous professional development and a commitment to staying updated on best practices in the humanitarian and development sectors are also important.
Experience:
The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 10 years of experience in senior leadership roles within humanitarian and development organizations. This experience should include managing large, complex portfolios in challenging environments, demonstrating a deep understanding of the dynamics of humanitarian response and development programming. Proven experience in strategic planning, program implementation, and team leadership is essential, along with a strong background in fundraising and resource mobilization.
Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as it is the primary language of communication within the organization and with external stakeholders. Knowledge of local languages spoken in Afghanistan, such as Dari or Pashto, is highly desirable and will enhance the candidate's ability to engage effectively with local communities and partners.
Additional Notes:
This position is a full-time role based in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Senior Director – Programs will be expected to travel within the country as needed to oversee program implementation and engage with stakeholders. The role may require working in challenging and sometimes insecure environments, necessitating a strong commitment to safety and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security protocols. CARE offers a competitive compensation package, including benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development.
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We are not liable for any decisions or actions taken by applicants in response to this job listing. By applying, you agree that all application processes, interviews, and potential job offers are managed exclusively by the listed employer or organization.
Beware of fraudulent job offers. Do not provide sensitive personal information or make any payments to secure a job.