Country Director

War Child Alliance; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

War Child Alliance is seeking a Country Director to provide leadership and strategic direction for country operations, aligning local plans with the organisation’s global strategy while ensuring programme quality and locally led partnerships.

You will oversee annual planning, performance reviews, and reporting, and you will support a transition toward locally and partner‑led programming, while safeguarding staff wellbeing and applying rigorous people practices.

Qualifications

• Experience leading country programs in humanitarian contexts.
• Strong governance and fiduciary controls.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strategic partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Lead and update strategy and annual plans.
• Hold final accountability for programme delivery, learning, sustainability, and compliance.
• Manage annual planning, performance review, and reporting.
• Support transition toward locally and partner-led programming through shared decision-making.
• Lead Country Management Team and foster a safe, inclusive workplace.

Skills

Strategy & Leadership

Governance

Partnerships

Fundraising

Risk Management

People Leadership

Compliance

Financial Management

Job description

The client is entering a critical phase focused on strengthening shared governance, deepening equitable partner models, and clarifying roles between alliance-wide efforts and member entities. In a context where violence, displacement, constrained humanitarian access, and reduced aid funding have increased risks for children, The client delivers child protection, education, and mental health and psychosocial support through evidence-informed approaches and partnerships with local organisations.

The Country Director provides overall leadership and strategic direction for country operations, guiding the participatory development, delivery, and regular review of the country strategy and annual plans to ensure alignment with The client’s global strategy and the local context. The role is accountable for programme quality, sustainable and locally led partnerships, financial health, safety and security, people leadership, risk management, and compliance, while representing The client externally, building relationships needed to achieve strategic priorities, and ensuring programme, operational, and support functions meet organisational and donor standards.

Key responsibilities include leading and updating strategy and annual plans; holding final accountability for programme delivery, learning, sustainability, and compliance; managing annual planning, performance review, and reporting; and supporting a transition toward locally and partner-led programming through shared decision-making and capacity strengthening. The Country Director will lead and develop the Country Management Team, foster a safe and inclusive workplace that supports staff wellbeing and participation, and ensure consistent application of people practices in line with relevant policies and local law. The role also involves building and sustaining strategic partnerships with key stakeholders to realise the country strategy and drive fundraising efforts, while monitoring political, social, humanitarian, and operational developments to adapt plans when required.