About CIVIC

Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) is an international nonprofit with offices around the world working to improve protection for civilians caught in conflict zones. CIVIC envisions a world in which no civilian is harmed in conflict. Our mission is to support communities affected by conflict in their quest for protection and strengthen the resolve and capacity of armed actors to prevent and respond to civilian harm. We are advocates who believe that no civilian caught in conflict should be ignored, and advisors who provide practical solutions to preventing and responding to civilian harm. Learn more at civiliansinconflict.org.

About this Position

CIVIC is seeking a qualified Country Director (CD) for Sahel (Mali, Niger Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania), reporting to the Africa Director and working closely with headquarters staff. This role is crucial for our mission to protect civilians amidst the ongoing conflicts in the region, which has severely affected civilians. Since 2019, CIVIC has engaged local, national and regional authorities and armed actors to enhance civilian protection capacities and facilitate community dialogue on protection concerns in the region. CIVIC’s strategy in the Sahel aims to improve the lives of civilians through more robust protection tools and mechanisms at the local, national and regional levels, with a focusing on community inclusion in support of the peace process. Building on our efforts in engagement with all the actions since 2019, we plan to continue supporting conflict-affected communities, Governments, Security and Defense Forces, local, national and regional institutions with the analysis, training, and mentorship needed to improved protection of civilians outcomes.

Key Functions

The Country Director (CD) is responsible for supervising the implementation of the CIVIC-Sahel program and for managing the offices and staff to achieve CIVIC’s mission, strategic plan, and the objectives outlined in the grants. As CIVIC adapts its activities in the Sahel, it is reinforcing its unique combination of community-based protection efforts, capacity-building for government and armed forces, advocacy, and research on civilian protection. CIVIC is seeking a strong leader, manager, fundraiser and advocate who is committed to improving the situation for conflict-affected civilians in the Sahel.

Key Activity Areas
The Country Director (CD) is the main representative of CIVIC in the Sahel. He/She is responsible for strategic leadership, program expansion and implementation, support functions, security management, and staff development. The CD also provides critical contributions to resource mobilization.

Overall Management and Leadership

• Further design, define, and implement CIVIC’s strategy in the Sahel. Identify and analyze protection needs, trends, and political developments in the country and the region to anticipate potential new initiatives.
• Provide strategic vision and direction for overall program design and proposal development; program implementation and reporting; grant management; financial planning; human resource planning and management. Work closely with the country team to accomplish the strategic goals.
• Manage key project personnel including recruitment, onboarding, and supporting their ongoing professional
  development.
• Represent CIVIC in formal and informal meetings with government and security officials, international organizations, donors, international and local media contacts, and national civil society groups pertinent to CIVIC project activities.
• If/when required, generate funding opportunities from donors in collaboration with national staff and headquarters in alignment with the country/ region needs and the organization’s strategic plan.
• Keep the international and national partners and others informed about the progress of the projects, plans for the development of new programs/projects/activities, and donor involvement in the overall program.
• Manage financial resources and provide oversight for grants to ensure compliance with donor and CIVIC requirements (with assistance from the country operations team).

Programmatic

• Steer the development and implementation of CIVIC’s activities in the Sahel; more specifically, in collaboration with the program managers, pilot the development of new activities at local, national and regional levels, and provide strategic, programmatic, and technical guidance for the development of CIVIC’s community-based protection, military engagement, and research/advocacy activities.
• Provide technical input to the government, military and security forces, local and international civil society partners, and international donor agencies pertinent to CIVIC project activities.
• Oversee research design, dissemination of information gathered, and advocacy to advance programmatic and policy changes.
• Disseminate findings from CIVIC’s work that are of importance to decision-makers in a position to fund or implement projects in the Sahel.
• Oversee and coordinate the program portfolio to ensure the highest level of project quality, effectiveness, and accountability while fostering continuity through building local capacity.
• In collaboration with the Program Managers and MEL officer, ensure the implementation of high standards Monitoring Learning and Evaluation (MEL) frameworks.

Operations Management

• Manage the overall program and support functions related to reviews, management structures, security management, the development and maintenance of operational procedures for individual projects, and support functions in collaboration with the Operations Manager.
• Ensure that activities and support functions comply with the national and international laws and regulations.
• Ensure good communications within the CIVIC Sahel team, implementing and supporting the program plans.
• Ensure that the structures are in place to support the CIVIC Sahel team to comply with operational systems, and donor requirements while meeting the country program strategy.
• Supervise the budget management and expenditures, in collaboration with the Program Manager, Operations and Finance Officers, and the HQ Finance team, ensuring budgets are spent according to donor proposals and regulations.
• Ensure the management of spending within the program is in line with the approved budgets.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Minimum twelve years of experience, including eight years in managerial positions, in international security, human rights, humanitarian assistance, protection of civilians, advocacy, and/or other related programs including demonstrated experience in program development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Minimum master’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent oral and written French and English language skills, including the ability to quickly synthesize complex technical and programmatic issues into concise communications.
• Knowledge of the country and experience working in the Sahel.
• Passion for CIVIC’s subject matter and willingness to take on the responsibilities and duties as a senior member of our team.
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills that effectively motivate staff and support team building; demonstrated ability to manage a professional team in a multi-cultural environment.
• Demonstrated ability to undertake high-level representation and advocacy.
• Demonstrated capacity to mobilize program funding including donor cultivation and program development.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including an ability to effectively lead a team, communicate a vision, make timely and transparent decisions, and manage conflict.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and create budgets and monitor financial status.
• Knowledge and experience managing compliance with diverse donors (Netherlands, FCDO, Germany, EU, etc.).
• Well-established and practiced organizational and planning skills.
• Computer literacy, including the use of the internet, word processing, and spreadsheets.
• Experience with staff security and safety issues is desirable.
• Ability and willingness to travel within the Sahel region, and periodically internationally.

Additional details

Application Deadline: March 06, 2025

Location: Bamako (Mali)

Travel: Up to 35% required (domestic and international)

Starting date: ASAP

Initial contract details: Full time, 12 months with the possibility of extension subject to funding.

CIVIC seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool in the belief that employees from diverse backgrounds are critical to achieving our goals. We strongly encourage applications from persons with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

CIVIC is not able to sponsor employees at this point, therefore, please ensure that you can legally work in this location when applying.

Note to Recruiters and Placement Agencies: CIVIC does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. CIVIC does not pay placement fees for candidates submitted by any agency other than its approved partners.

How to Apply:

Please click here to apply through CIVIC’s Careers page.