BRAC International is Hiring! Join BRAC International (BI) to create opportunities for people to realise their potential.

Position: Country Director

Job Location: Accra, Ghana

About the Role:

Country Director (CD) will provide overall strategic leadership, establish and grow new BRAC International country operations in Ghana. This includes leading the programme start-up, designing and executing a country strategy, building systems and teams from the ground up, and ensuring sustainable and impactful programme delivery aligned with BRAC’s values, mission, and organisational performance standards.

The Country Director will have an overall responsibility for strategic management, program development, leadership on policy and advocacy, fundraising, financial management, security, and operations management of the Ghana Country Programme in compliance with relevant BRAC International Policies and Procedures. S/he will play a key role in influencing decisions of stakeholders outside his/her direct sphere of authority across the organisation. The CD role requires broad organizational experience in developing and managing a growing team and deep knowledge of Ghana, West Africa, and Africa-wide development opportunities & challenges.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic and quality country program development, planning, and management with adherence to the monitoring system

• Lead the start-up planning and operational presence in Ghana and ensure the development and implementation of a high-quality country strategic plan and Annual Strategic Plan relevant to the local context and organizational priorities.
• Lead and guide the program activities’ planning, quality implementation, monitoring, and evaluation through support supervision and conforming to the audit guidelines.
• Ensure proper and transparent resource management and establish reporting systems in accordance with the policy and procedures of BRAC, the government, and donors in Ghana.
• Lead the recruitment and programme launch initiatives.

Ensure financial viability, strategic partnerships, and resource mobilization of BRAC Ghana as well as compliance with the audit guidelines

• Lead and oversee proposal writing, grants acquisition, and management to ensure the long-term health of the portfolio and the achievement of annual targets.
• Strengthen financial sustainability through effective budget administration and resource development
• Ensure adequate systems are in place, followed and monitored, regarding program procurements, management, and maintenance of project assets and inventories

Financial, budget, and Operations Management

• Maintain the country office’s financial viability by securing adequate indirect cost recovery (ICR), ensuring compliance with donor regulations, national laws, and BRAC International’s financial procedures, and implementing a long-term sustainability plan.
• Oversee budget preparation, financial planning, and timely financial reporting with a target of 85% annual and near 100% life-of-project budget utilization, while ensuring prudent disbursement and expenditure control.
• To optimize resource utilisation and minimize risk, maintain an up-to-date risk register, implement timely mitigation actions, and uphold strong internal controls and financial management systems.

People Management

• Ensure recruitment of high-caliber, gender-balanced staff and strategically invest in learning, development, and local talent growth through coaching and mentoring.
• Strengthen SMT capacity for effective delegation and delivery, and implement strong performance management systems, including clear goal-setting, regular feedback, and performance appraisals.
• Foster an inclusive team environment by promoting open communication, consistent recognition of performance, and regular management team engagement.

Safeguarding

• Establish a safeguarding culture across all levels of the programme by implementing the safeguarding policy. Act as a key source of support, guidance and expertise on safeguarding for establishing a safe working environment.
• Responsible for ensuring team members are appropriately trained, supported and have access to resources regarding issues that are identified and actioned in accordance with the safeguarding policy and procedure.
• Follow the safeguarding reporting procedure in case any reportable incident takes place, encourage others to do so.

Required Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience:

• Master’s degree in development-related discipline, economics or public policy, or other social science fields.
• At least 12+ years of proven strategic program management and development experience in a developing country setting with a minimum of 5 years’ similar experience managing a country office in a national or international INGO in a diverse cultural and socio-economic context.
• Demonstrable experience in strategic planning, programme development, and management of complex, multi-stakeholder interventions.
• Experience setting up new programme operations and/or new country integration is an added advantage.
• Solid understanding of financial and budget management, and of best practice programming (expertise in the sector would be an asset).
• Demonstrable experience in establishing networks with governments, private and public sector entities, as well as development agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, a team player, highly organized, with an ability to handle concurrent strategic issues, and a reverence for deadlines and time obligations.
• Demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to gender and diversity.
• Experience leading an organization through organizational change. Has demonstrated expertise, patience , and the ability to work in diverse cultural contexts in a culturally appropriate manner.

Required Competencies:

• Strategic perspective: Demonstrate alignment of the Organization’s strategic priorities and goals.
• Change management: Uses effective strategies to facilitate organizational change initiatives and overcome resistance to change by involving others, listening, and building commitment.
• Decisiveness and Agility: Takes quick and appropriate actions in many management situations, able to adapt and respond to fast-changing and complex environments.
• Leading Teams: Attracts, motivates, and develops high-performing teams.
• Building Collaborative Relationships: Builds productive working relationships with co-workers and external parties, whilst valuing diversity (gender, race, culture).
• Communication: Expresses ideas clearly and concisely; proactively disseminates information about decisions and plans.
• Leading with Purpose and Credibility: Acts per stated values; has a strong commitment to develop, promote, and practice BI values.
• Innovation and Taking Initiative: Takes charge and proactively seeks new ideas, experiments with new processes/practices that capitalize on opportunities.

How to Apply:

About BRAC International:

BRAC International (BI), a leading non-profit organization, is on a mission to empower people and communities facing poverty, illiteracy, disease, and social injustice. Our vision is to create a world free from exploitation and discrimination, where everyone has the opportunity to realise their potential. We design proven, scalable solutions that equip people with the support and confidence they need to achieve their potential.

BRAC was founded in Bangladesh in 1972 and over the last five decades has grown to become one of the world’s largest non-governmental organisations (NGOs), reaching over 100 million people. We started our first international operation by venturing into Afghanistan in 2002, building on lessons from our work in Bangladesh to support a nation devastated by war. Currently operating in 16 countries across Asia and Africa. Born, proven and led in the Global South, BRAC International brings a unique Southern perspective and commitment to continuous learning, providing a depth of insight, experience and evidence to meet the needs of diverse communities with humility and courage across Asia and Africa. To learn more about BRAC International, please visit (www.bracinternational.org.com)

Our Core Values:

Integrity: We approach our work with honesty and integrity.

Innovation: We innovate and iterate to improve our impact.

Inclusiveness: We foster inclusion to reach those who need it most

Effectiveness: We strive for effectiveness to better serve people in poverty

If you feel you are the right match for the above-mentioned position, please follow the application process to grab your dream opportunity!

External candidates are recommended to email their Resume with a cover letter and any supporting documents to recruitment.bi@brac.net; mentioninga brief academic background, career summary, core competence, professional certifications (if any) etc. within 250 words.

Internal candidates are recommended to apply with their latest Resume including all job assignments in detail and a cover letter mentioning core competence and career aspiration with BRAC PIN and email to internal.bi@brac.net copying their immediate reporting manager.

Please mention the name of the position and AD# BI 32/25 in the subject bar.

Application deadline: 20 June 2025

BRAC is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share the same commitment. We believe every stakeholder and every member of the communities we work with has the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect, harassment, and exploitation – regardless of age, race, religion, and gender, status as an individual with a disability or ethnic origin. Therefore, our recruitment policy and procedure include extensive background checks and disclosure of criminal records in order to ensure safeguarding to the fullest extent.

“BRAC International is an equal opportunities employer”