Country Director DR Congo (Re-advertisement)

About the role

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) seeks a highly qualified and experienced professional to serve as Country Director for its DR Congo Operation. DRC is a leading protection agency committed to protecting and promoting durable solutions for displaced populations in East Africa and the Great Lakes region.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide visionary and inclusive leadership across DRC DR Congo operations.
• Led the implementation and development of DRC’s country strategy in alignment with DRC’s global strategic priorities.
• Foster a collaborative organizational culture that promotes accountability, innovation, and principled humanitarian action.
• Ensure effective senior management teamwork and decision-making.

People Management

• Lead, coach, and support senior managers and promote staff wellbeing and professional development.
• Ensure performance management systems are effectively implemented.
• Promote safeguarding, diversity, inclusion, and adherence to DRC’s Code of Conduct.

Representation and External Engagement

• Represent DRC with national authorities, donors, UN agencies, NGOs, clusters, and coordination forums.
• Strengthen DRC’s positioning and visibility nationally and within the EAGL region.
• Maintain constructive relationships with key stakeholders, including communities, local authorities, humanitarian actors, and donors.
• Lead strategic advocacy efforts on displacement-related issues and humanitarian access.

Programme Oversight and Development

• Ensure quality, compliant, and impactful programme implementation.
• In collaboration with the Head of Programme, support programme development, proposal design, fundraising, and donor engagement.
• Promote evidence-based programming, accountability to affected populations, and impact measurement.
• Support diversified and sustainable funding strategies.

Safety and Security

• Maintain overall accountability for safety and security management.
• Ensure that operations are conducted in accordance with DRC security policies and procedures.
• Monitor contextual developments and support informed operational decision-making in volatile environments.

Operational and Financial Management

• Oversee financial management, budget monitoring, and compliance with donor and DRC requirements.
• Ensure efficient resource allocation and accountable operational systems.
• Strengthen organizational resilience and risk management practices across all functions.

About you

• To succeed in this role, you will be a strategic and experienced humanitarian leader with strong people management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• You will thrive in complex and high-pressure environments and bring a principled, solutions-oriented approach to leadership.
• Required: Minimum of 7 years of senior management experience in humanitarian and/or development settings, including experience as Country Director or equivalent senior leadership role.
• A Master’s degree in Political Science, International Development, Economics, Humanitarian Affairs, or another relevant field.
• Demonstrated experience leading operations in complex and insecure environments.
• Strong experience representing organizations with donors, authorities, and coordination mechanisms.
• Proven experience in donor engagement, fundraising, and managing multi-donor portfolios.
• Experience managing large and diverse teams in high-stress contexts.
• Experience working on displacement-related issues, including with IDPs and conflict-affected populations.
• Full professional proficiency in English and French.
• Previous experience in East Africa and/or the Horn of Africa is strongly preferred.

What we offer

• Contract length: 12 months (renewable based on performance and funding).
• Employment Band: D-Management.
• Work location: Goma, DR Congo.
• Start date: Preferably 1 September 2026.
• Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for national or international employees.

How to apply

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

About DRC

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) was founded in 1956 and is Denmark’s largest and a leading international NGO. We have continuously been ranked as one of the best NGOs in the world and are one of the few with a specific expertise in forced displacement. In around 30 countries, we protect, advocate, and build sustainable futures for refugees and other displacement-affected people and communities.