Country Director 384 views

Reports to: Muslim Hands Gambia Board of Trustees
Contract Length: One Year, extendable subject to performance

Role Purpose
As a key member of the Senior Management Team, the Country Director will hold comprehensive strategic and operational responsibility for Muslim Hands’ staff, programmes, and the execution of its strategic initiatives in The Gambia. This role includes overseeing administration, programme implementation, and the delivery of the organisation’s strategic plan.

The Country Director will be instrumental in developing strategic partnerships, spearheading resource mobilisation, and enhancing advocacy and communication efforts. In collaboration with Muslim Hands fundraising offices, the Country Director will aim to expand the donor landscape and achieve ambitious organisational goals.

The Country Director will implement Muslim Hands’ strategy within the country by:

• Leading a diverse and successful team, ensuring that the organisation remains aligned with its mission, vision, goals, and targets.
• Proactively identifying organisational needs, capacities, and resources while exploring opportunities to increase and expand organisational capacity.
• Promoting a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and data-driven decision-making to enhance programme outcomes.
• Delivering high-quality programmes, including advocacy initiatives, for beneficiaries.
• Serving the needs of the organisation and its donors effectively.
• Actively seeking institutional fundraising opportunities locally.

The role holder will have overall responsibility for managing the Muslim Hands country programme. The role holder will ensure that the country programme aligns with Muslim Hands’ policies and procedures and meets Core Humanitarian Standards. The role holder will lead the Country Management Team and represent the organisation to authorities, donors, and other international organisations.
In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be required to adapt and operate beyond the usual role profile, adjusting working hours as necessary to respond to the demands of the situation.

Safeguarding Responsibilities
The Country Director plays a vital role in embedding a safeguarding-first approach across all levels of the organisation, ensuring that all programmes and operations are designed and executed with the highest regard for the safety and well-being of vulnerable groups, including children, young people, and at-risk populations.

This position requires frequent interaction with these groups, including direct participation in country programmes, visits to project sites, and oversight of rigorous staff background checks and vetting processes. The Country Director must cultivate a culture of safeguarding within the organisation, ensuring that all staff adhere to protection policies and practices and promptly addressing any safeguarding concerns.

Key Areas of Accountability
As a member of the Regional Senior Leadership Team, the role holder will contribute to the strategic development and delivery of international programming in both humanitarian and development contexts, aligning with Muslim Hands’ organisational and country strategy.

Strategic Leadership

• Provide vision and direction for the country programme.
• Effectively manage and lead a high-performing team to deliver on strategy, modelling the behaviours and values expected of staff.
• Be accountable for the leadership and management of staff and programmes in the country.
• Develop the Annual Development Plan and incorporate feedback from stakeholders and beneficiaries into the strategic review process.
• Ensure the dissemination, implementation, and localisation of Muslim Hands’ global policies and guidelines.
• Serve as the primary liaison with Muslim Hands UK, other MH funding and developing partners, funding offices, local partners, INGOs, NGOs, CBOs, UN agencies, local authorities, government entities, and institutional donors.
• Stay informed about relevant issues, develop responsive strategies, pursue diversified funding, understand donor priorities, and maintain communication with key stakeholders.
• Lead humanitarian coordination efforts, represent the organisation externally, and cultivate strong relationships with government authorities.
• Maintain awareness of the current and potential future economic, political, and social landscape within the country and sector.
• Strengthen coordination and collaboration within and across teams, maintaining constructive communication and contributing to a positive working environment.
• Ensure that all programmes and areas of work are aligned with Muslim Hands’ strategy and that outcomes are recorded against Key Performance Indicators.

Human Resource Management

• Implement and promote a leadership development programme to identify and nurture future leaders and ensure a robust succession plan.
• Proactively develop and mentor staff to maximise their potential in pursuit of organisational objectives.
• Develop a healthy working environment by providing staff development opportunities, training, and fair and transparent recruitment.
• Implement HR policies and procedures at country level, ensuring alignment with organisational guidelines and local labour laws.
• Ensure consistent implementation of robust performance management systems across the country team.
• Implement one-to-one discussions and annual performance appraisals.
• Cultivate a collegial, supportive, and respectful culture within teams.

Programme Development and Management

• Lead the strategic development and implementation of programmes in line with Muslim Hands’ organisational strategic plan.
• Ensure programme development is guided by evidence-based practices, global best practices, and local contextual realities.
• Ensure programme interventions adhere to technical best practices, Muslim Hands’ common approaches, and evolving national policies.
• Implement effective monitoring and evaluation systems in accordance with the Muslim Hands Global MEAL Framework.
• Ensure all programmes are implemented and completed according to programme documents, including proposals, plans, and budgets.
• Oversee ongoing and one-off projects, including resource allocation and appropriate monitoring and controls.
• Collaborate with teams to define programme objectives and ensure shared understanding.
• Monitor and track programme performance to achieve objectives effectively.
• Optimise resource utilisation to ensure Value for Money across the organisation.
• Adapt and align programmes with the current context, objectives, and standards through regular planning and reviews.
• Prepare for and execute rapid and effective responses to major emergencies impacting the most vulnerable.

Financial and Administration Management

• Oversee and enhance financial accountability through robust budgeting, financial management systems, processes, and controls.
• Implement regular financial audits and risk assessments to identify and mitigate financial risks proactively.
• Ensure adherence to operational standards and local legal requirements.
• Implement effective procurement and asset management systems, processes, and controls compliant with Muslim Hands and donor regulations.
• Assess partner organisations for financial management and governance standards and provide support to address capacity gaps.
• Oversee comprehensive financial management, including budget preparation, revision, monitoring, and timely submission of budgets and reports to Head Office.
• Ensure adherence to Muslim Hands’ organisational financial guidelines and procedures.
• Oversee the development and execution of work and expenditure plans, ensuring country programmes operate within approved budgets.
• Ensure prompt submission of high-quality internal and donor financial reports within specified timelines.

Audit and Corporate Governance Compliance

• Ensure adherence to all host government regulations relating to registration, taxation, labour laws, auditing, fraud, and related requirements.
• Regularly update the Board of Trustees on all operations and significant issues to ensure they are fully informed.
• Follow up on recommendations from internal and external audits and take necessary action as required.
• Ensure reports are readily available for key stakeholders, including funding offices and institutional partners, as part of due diligence processes.

Resource Mobilisation

• Ensure complete adherence to Members’ and donors’ requirements concerning secured funds for any country programme.
• Actively engage in networking and lead management-level dialogue with Members, donors, and other INGOs on accessing and managing awards.
• Expand and sustain the funding base for the country programme by fostering relationships with bilateral and multilateral donor communities.
• Diversify the funding portfolio through innovative financing mechanisms, including public-private partnerships, to support long-term financial sustainability.
• Position existing and new programmes in line with needs identified and highlighted by UN agencies.
• Ensure team members participate regularly in local clusters and meetings with institutions, government bodies, corporates, and I/NGOs.

Policies and Procedures

• Establish and maintain robust support systems aligned with best practices to ensure transparency and accountability to programme participants, donors, government, and other stakeholders.
• Uphold and advocate for compliance with Muslim Hands’ Code of Conduct and associated policies, including implementation of the Core Humanitarian Standard.
• Oversee the establishment of local committees for different sectors of operations to ensure transparency and accountability.
• Oversee the establishment of policies and procedures aligned with Muslim Hands’ global policies and local requirements.
• Ensure all policies and procedures are well documented, periodically updated, recorded, and available to stakeholders upon request, including auditors.

Security Management

• Formulate, implement, and oversee security plans and procedures for country programmes.
• Regularly update security plans with local security experts to address emerging threats and ensure the safety of staff and programme participants.
• Continuously update, document, and disseminate analyses of evolving security conditions, particularly in highly volatile countries, regions, or localities.
• Enforce adherence to security guidelines among all staff members.

Representation, Communications, Networking and Advocacy

• Develop and maintain good relations with Members and their donors.
• Represent Muslim Hands’ interests with government institutions, UN agencies, donor delegations, and international and local NGOs.
• Ensure timely provision of internal and external communications materials as required.
• Act as the representative of Muslim Hands and maintain coordination and networking relationships with government, local authorities, donors, and humanitarian actors.
• Ensure adherence to Muslim Hands Gambia legal obligations regarding registration compliance, including timely submission of mandatory reports to authorities.
• Establish, maintain, and periodically update formal agreements and relationships with government as appropriate.
• Attend and represent Muslim Hands Gambia at coordination forums.
• Advocate for Muslim Hands’ humanitarian principles in external settings, clearly communicating the organisation’s neutrality, impartiality, and independence.

Other Duties

• Undertake any other duties as assigned by the Muslim Hands Gambia Board of Trustees.
• Report back to the Board and participate in annual performance reviews, where the postholder will be assessed against agreed KPIs.
• Ensure all feedback and reporting requirements from funding offices and institutions are fully managed and completed in a timely manner.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree, preferably in social science, development management, international relations/development, business management, or a related field.
• Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field.

Experience and Skills
Essential

• At least 10 years’ experience in management and coordination of humanitarian interventions and emergency response.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a senior management position in complex, high-profile, or multinational organisations.
• Experience collaborating with major donors such as USAID, EU, WFP, UNICEF, FCDO, and others to secure and manage substantial funding opportunities.
• Familiarity with current trends in international development and humanitarian efforts.
• Proven capability in recruiting, guiding, and developing senior specialist staff from diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated success in building high-performance teams and cultivating future leaders.
• Capacity to lead oneself and others in responding to significant and complex crises, adapting swiftly to changing priorities.
• Innovative approach to addressing diverse and complex challenges and securing support for solutions across organisational levels.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to manage change effectively.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Fluent in one of the three major local languages Mandinka, Wolof or Fula.
• Ability to work under pressure and to strict deadlines.
• Good coaching, motivational, facilitation, and capacity-building skills.
• Willingness to travel regularly to project sites.
• Dynamic, proactive, and able to complete assigned tasks independently.
• Knowledge and experience of the country context and regional stakeholders.
• Proficiency in spoken and written local languages and English.
• Commitment to Muslim Hands’ vision, principles, mission, and values.
• Prior experience in humanitarian programmes and ability to operate in unpredictable environments is highly desirable.

Desirable

• Previous employment within the country.
• Alignment with organisational values, mission, and vision, and dedication to humanitarian principles.
• Familiarity with UN coordination mechanisms.
• Experience overseeing significant donor grants, including ECHO, EU, BHA, UN agencies, international and national institutions, and government agencies.

Additional Job Responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities outlined above are comprehensive but not exhaustive. The role holder may be expected to undertake additional tasks as deemed appropriate, considering their skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities
Muslim Hands is committed to equal opportunities and encourages fair, transparent, and inclusive employment practices.

All Submission should done via email to: muslimhandsgambiarecruit@gmail.com
On or Before 31/07/2026.