Country Director for Mali/Sahel

As our new Country Director, you will lead the DCA country team and ensure good staff welfare and conducive working environment for approximately 30 national and 4 international staff as well as be working closely with DCA’s national partners. You will lead and inspire the strategic direction and organisational development of the programme with a focus on Mali and the Sahel, ensuring high quality, accountable and innovative programme implementation. You will be responsible for nurturing relations with national authorities, donors, and other stakeholders as well as for identifying fundraising opportunities. You will also ensure a strong focus on security management and duty.

The DCA Mali/Sahel Country Programme

DCA has implemented humanitarian response activities in Mali since 2013 and is working in the nexus of Conflict prevention and peace building, Risk Education on Mines and Explosive Remnants of War, Victims Assistance, livelihoods and cash grants to improve the people’s ability to cope with the effects of armed violence to enhance economic resilience. DCA supports and capacitates the local civil society, so these networks can effectively represent their members, identify and prevent safety concerns and protection issues, and engage with local authorities.

You will be leading the Mali/Sahel programme as it continues to build upon its strong reputation.

Your responsibility will be the overall leadership and management of the country programme including

• To articulate and promote DCA’s vision for the Mali/Sahel Programme;
• To set and implement DCA’s Mali/Sahel strategy;
• To resource the vision and strategy and ensure continued consolidation of the programme;
• To ensure relevance, effectiveness, accountability and compliance with SOPs;
• To maintain a strong focus on security management, conducting regular monitoring and analysis of the security environment;
• To manage donor, grant and stakeholder relationship and support in writing proposals and donor reports;
• To lead the team of dedicated international and national staff;
• To represent DCA towards local authorities, international and national humanitarian stakeholders and local communities.

You will be based in Bamako with regular travel to the DCA sub-offices as security allows.

You have the following qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years leadership experience at a similar level within the humanitarian assistance and/or the mine action sector;
• Strong programme implementation experience and all-round knowledge of financial, administrative, security, logistic and operational management;
• Experience of safety and security management in a volatile and insecure context;
• Experience with fundraising, networking, donor liaison and coordination;
• Proven ability to mentor, coach and develop staff, and create a conducive working atmosphere in a hardship environment;
• Good command and interest in grants and financial management and compliance
• Strong analytical skills and capacity;
• Cultural sensitivity, maturity, strong communication and diplomatic skills, with the ability to build relations both within and outside DCA;
• Fluency in written and spoken French and English;
• A relevant academic qualification
• Former experience in Mali or the near region is an added advantage

We offer

• A two-year renewable contract
• A competitive salary package, including hardship allowance, to be negotiated based on experience level
• A generous R&R package
• 6 weeks of paid leave
• Insurance as per industry standards
• An opportunity to make a difference and improve the lives of people living in conflict

Qualified and interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, abilities, or ethnic affiliation are encouraged to apply for the vacancy. Only applications written in English consisting as a minimum of a motivation letter and a CV in will be considered and only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Everyone applying for a job with DCA must be ready to comply with our Staff Policy on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment and our Child Safeguarding policy. DCA conducts an anti-terror check as part of the recruitment process. It is a prerequisite that you can pass this check and maintain this status throughout your employment with us.

Please note that only applications submitted through our recruitment system will be considered: https://www.danchurchaid.org/join-us/jobs/international-vacancies.

For further information please visit our website, http://www.danchurchaid.org or contact Roger Fasth on rofa@dca.dk.

Closing date for applications is 10 September 2023. Interviews are expected to be held on a rolling basis, as suitable candidates are identified. DCA reserves the right to select a candidate prior to the closing date.