Country Director South Africa

ForAfrika is an African-founded and led organisation with over 40 years of impact across the continent. We partner with communities through our integrated development continuum: saving lives and building resilience to reach self-sufficiency through our Humanitarian & Development work, and unlocking commercial viability through our Social Enterprise activities. We are Africans, delivering African-led solutions for Africa, and we stand by our promise: we’re committed to the long run, until the job is done and communities are enabled to thrive.Position SummaryThe Country Director will be responsible for providing leadership and management oversight to all aspects of ForAfrika’s operations, including revenue growth, programme delivery, emergency response, financial management, and monitoring and evaluation. This role will ensure that ForAfrika’s country office aligns with our mission, core values, and strategic goals while driving high-impact interventions that improve the lives of communities in the country. The Country Director will provide leadership, set clear performance expectations, and establish a culture of accountability, mentorship, and growth across teams. The successful candidate will play a crucial role expanding ForAfrika’s footprint, driving innovative funding strategies, establishing key partnerships, and ensuring operational excellence.The Country Director position at ForAfrika is ideal for an experienced, strategic leader with a passion for humanitarian work and a strong commitment to making a sustainable impact. The successful candidate will bring a combination of business development, operational management, financial acumen, and the ability to lead complex programmes that transform lives.Key Roles and Responsibilities: 1. Leadership, Accountability, and Growth Strategy-Establish and maintain a culture of accountability by setting clear expectations, performance standards, and cascading ForAfrika’s core values (Deep Love for Africa, Dependability, Compassion, Initiative, Discipline) through all levels of the country office. Provide leadership through the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) and other organisational platforms.-Develop and execute a multi-year strategic revenue plan aligned with organisational goals to support the country office’s growth, ensuring that key financial and operational targets are met.-Lead and manage direct reports through regular mentorship, ensuring team members’ roles and responsibilities, quarterly objectives (Rocks), and measurables are developed, understood, and agreed upon. Ensure continuous staff development through quarterly conversations, performance evaluations, and training and development plans.-Foster a collaborative and open communication environment across teams to enhance efficiency and alignment with the ForAfrika strategic plan. Ensure alignment and coordination with other divisions and offices, particularly on key proposals.-Serve as the primary country focal point for Revenue and Programme strategy, ensuring downstream management collaboration with relevant business units leading to growth and optimal program delivery.2**. Revenue Generation**-In collaboration with the Business Development team, develop significant external partnerships and facilitate revenue generation opportunities, identifying and cultivating relationships with government representatives, key institutional donors, local, and international partners.-Lead the exploration of new business opportunities, non-traditional funding models, and innovative growth strategies to expand ForAfrika’s influence.-Lead the development and implementation of the country’s strategic plan, ensuring alignment with ForAfrika’s core focus, vision, programming frameworks, and long-term growth targets.Support in-country business development capabilities through participation and increased visibility in conferences, meetings, and other industry related forums.3. Programme Delivery-Oversee programme management and implementation, establishing a Programme Management Team (PMT) and ensuring effective coordination of all programmes in line with the strategic plan and annual work plans.-Ensure the full range of programmes align with ForAfrika’s Theory of Change and meet donor and sector standards, while regularly reviewing programme progress through quarterly and annual sessions to assess achievements and future plans.-Enhance operational support systems, ensuring best practices in IT, Finance, HR, Operations, and Procurement are applied to promote transparency and accountability to both stakeholders and donors.-Identify and address humanitarian and development needs in-country, making strategic representations on behalf of ForAfrika and collaborating with partners to deepen impact.-Conduct field work and site visits to assess programme implementation, ensure alignment with strategic objectives, and engage directly with staff, beneficiaries, and partners to enhance programme effectiveness. 4. Financial Management and Accountability-Oversee the country’s financial management, ensuring cost-effective spending, budget accuracy, and timely reporting. Monitor financial performance against budgetary objectives, conducting variance analysis and reviews for transparent financial management.-Lead the development of annual country budgets, ensuring comprehensive coverage of programme costs and financial resources. Approve purchase orders and ensure compliance with organisational guidelines and best financial practices. 5. Emergency Response Leadership-Coordinate and lead the country’s response to emergencies, overseeing all aspects of relief efforts including WASH services and emergency shelter/NFIs, ensuring ForAfrika’s preparedness and ability to respond swiftly to humanitarian crises.-Collaborate with the Emergency Response Director to design and implement evidence-based emergency interventions, representing ForAfrika in national and international humanitarian coordination forums and maintaining strong visibility in the humanitarian sector.-Track ongoing emergencies and collaborate with technical leads to ensure proactive response across all relevant sectors. 6. Design, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (DMEAL)-Work closely with DMEAL teams to ensure rigorous monitoring, evaluation, and accountability of programme outputs and outcomes. Implement results-based tracking systems, standardised reporting, and clear documentation of all projects to measure impact against strategic objectives.-Ensure accountability mechanisms are embedded in all programmes, with feedback loops and complaint mechanisms established to enhance community engagement and responsiveness.-Lead field visits and reviews to ensure programme quality, verify data, and provide hands- on support for M&E activities, generating reports and documenting the success and challenges of programme activities.Knowledge Skills and Abilities:1. Proven senior leader with a minimum of 15 years of experience fundraising and leading the delivery of complex programs in humanitarian or development contexts.2. Strong in-country network of government contacts, industry, and sector partners.3. Proven track record of increasingly successful business development.4. Strong senior management and mentoring skills.5. Past experience working with a range of donors: institutional, private, and foundations.6. Innovative thinker and complex problem solver, with the ability to adapt strategies in fast- changing environments.7. Proven track record developing and executing long-term growth strategies that align with organisational goals while driving growth and impact.8. 15+ years’ experience identifying, pursuing, and securing new business opportunities and revenue streams from institutional, private, and government donors.9. In-depth knowledge of financial oversight, budgeting, reporting, and compliance with donor and organisational regulations.10. 15+ years of country management experience, including mentoring and team-building skills, with the ability to develop high-performing teams and provide regular feedback for continuous improvement.11. Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively engage with internal teams, donors, government agencies, and partners.12. Deep understanding of humanitarian response, development programming, and the key sectors in which ForAfrika operates, such as WASH, health, education, and livelihoods.13. Familiarity with the socio-political and cultural dynamics of the region, with a commitment to working inclusively and respectfully with diverse stakeholders.14. Ability to think creatively to solve complex challenges and seize opportunities for growth and impact.15. Knowledge of M&E frameworks and systems, ensuring rigorous tracking of programme progress and outcomes.16. Experience in coordinating emergency responses and working under pressure to deliver timely interventions.HOW TO APPLYInterested candidates should submit the following documents by 2nd March 2026.1.Cover Letter explaining motivation and suitability for the role2.Detailed CV including relevant experience and achievements3.Contact details for three professional referencesClick HERE to applyPlease note that correspondence will be limited to short-listed candidates only. If you do not hear from us within one month of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.