The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified and motivated individual to join our dynamic team as a Country Director.
About the job
Danish Refugee Council is a leading protection agency pursuing our mandate to protect and promote durable solutions to displacement-affected populations based on humanitarian principles. In East Africa and the Great Lakes, DRC has operational presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda.
In the DR Congo, DRC has been involved in humanitarian aid since 2009. Initially working in Province Orientale, DRC has gradually extended its reach to North Kivu and Ituri provinces. The sectors of intervention for DRC in the country are provision of Emergency Response, Protection (including GBV and child protection), Economic Recovery, Shelter and WASH. The country office is based in Goma, reporting to Executive Director EAGL Hub and Supervising Hop, HoSS, Area Managers, Head of Safety.
Overall purpose of the role:
The Country Director plays a strong leadership role in DRC’s comprehensive and solutions-based approach to displacement through a high level of strategic leadership, innovation and effective advocacy. The Country Director is ultimately accountable in country for all aspects of DRC’s work, leading the consolidation and at the same time development of the programme, continuing the process of developing solid impact measurement mechanisms, strengthening accountability initiatives and ensuring that the financial management and organizational setup is adapted to the operational context. The Country Director sets direction, leads, maintains team morale, safety and welfare, and manages resources. The Country Director delegates specific duties as necessary, while maintaining oversight and accountability.
Main Duties And Responsibilities:
Leadership
- Foster an inclusive and collaborative leadership culture that promotes decision-making, advocacy, and active participation across key coordination mechanisms.
Representation
- Represent the programme to authorities, donors, partners, and in various co-ordination fora.
- Strengthen DRC’s position nationally and with the EAGL Hub.
- Ensure that DRC maintains excellent and productive relations with all key stakeholders, especially beneficiaries, local authorities, the humanitarian community, and donors.
Direct managerial oversight and support
- Ensure that the senior management team members have clear and realistic performance-based management goals.
- Overall management of the operation and direct manager for senior staff members.
- Ensure that the senior management team is effective, mutually supporting and sufficiently involved in decision making.
Fundraising and Advocacy
- Ensure the country operation has an actionable and living fundraising strategy that leverages DRC’s strategy and strengths to play a meaningful role in DR Congo that is grounded in reality of the funding environment.
- Together with the Head of Programme, lead the team in writing concept notes, project proposals and budgets in line with the approved country strategy.
- Lead on advocacy for all DRC key messages.
Safety
- Accountable for ensuring that the programme is delivered in a safe and secure manner.
- Provide overall accountability for security, including development of and ensuring adherence to security procedures, monitoring of the security situation, analysing and provision of recommendations.
Support Services
- Together with the Head of Support Services, provide overall budget monitoring, financial management and expenses control including compliance with minimum DRC and donor requirements and ensuring that necessary systems are in place.
- Together with the Head of Support Services enhance financial accountability and performance, ensuring accurate forecasting, cost-efficiency, and effective resource allocation to maximize program impact.
- Manage the resources allocated effectively and transparently by respecting and meeting all legal requirements in country.
- Provide leadership support to staff and promote best practices in human resources management.
- Ensure coaching and counselling advice to staff when necessary and lead initiatives to develop staff capacity.
Risk Management
- Overall responsible for risk management. Establish a resilient operational environment by embedding proactive risk management strategies across all functions, ensuring the country office operates with minimized disruptions and high standards of compliance.
Programme development
- Together with the Head of Programme, lead the development and update of the programme strategy, within DRC’s overall global strategic frameworks.
- Secure diversified and sustainable funding streams to ensure financial stability and growth, enabling the expansion and continuity of mission-critical programs.
- Together with the Head of Programme, ensure high-quality, compliant, and impactful program delivery, meeting contractual obligations, and promoting safe operational environments.
Accountability and Quality
- Ensure that DRC standard regulations and operational procedures (Code of Conduct, DRC Management handbooks, CHS standards, etc.) are followed.
- Continuously monitor and develop relevant accountability initiatives in the field as well as strengthening the effort to document the impact of activities and our presence.
About you
To be successful in this role, we expect you to be an excellent communicator and team player who can work under minimal supervision. You are driven, proactive, and passionate about making a difference in humanitarian settings. Moreover, we also expect the following:
Required:
- Minimum seven years’ management experience in emergency/development contexts as country director/senior manager of a humanitarian or development organization or similar
- Master’s degree in political science, international development, economics or another relevant field
- Experience representing a large and leading organization to donors, external partners and authorities.
- Experience with networking, advocacy and coordination.
- Experience in managing staff in insecure/stressful locations.
- Experience with conflict related displacement issues and working with IDPs.
- Experience of managing budgets and multiple donor contracts.
- Experience in managing donor contacts, fundraising and networking.
- Experience working in the East Africa and/or Horn of Africa.
- Full professional proficiency in French and English is required
- Experience and proven leadership skills and competence in people management
In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:
- Striving for excellence: You focus on achieving results while maintaining efficient processes.
- Collaborating: You engage with relevant stakeholders and encourage constructive feedback.
- Taking the lead: You take ownership of tasks and are open to innovation.
- Communicating: You are clear, concise, and respectful in your communication.
- Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest ethical standards and DRC's Code of Conduct.
We offer
Contract length: 24 months (renewable based on performance and funding)
Employment Band: D-Management
Work location: Goma, DR Congo
Start date: Preferably 1 July 2026
Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment .
Application process
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.
Closing date for applications: 3rd May 2026.
For more information about the Danish Refugee Council, please visit our website drc.ngo.
Danish Refugee Council is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and positive work environment based on mutual respect for all employees. All applicants are considered for employment regardless of personal characteristics or attributes.