REGIONAL DIRECTOR EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

Work Location:  Kenya – Nairobi

Organization: CARE International

Deadline:  Nov 18, 2025

Job Description

* Starting salaries are based on various factors, including candidate experience, education, knowledge, skills, and the cost of labor where the job is based. Salaries listed only apply to jobs based in the US.

 

Who We Are:

As a global leader, CARE is shaping the future of the humanitarian and development sector. Each year, we deliver support and services to millions of people globally. We do this by focusing on our mission and vision, and the values of equality and excellence that guide our organization. We seek dedicated individuals who align with our mission and are passionate about making it a reality by collaborating with others, embracing learning and innovation, and delivering results.

What We Are Looking For:
At CARE, we value diversely talented people who can bring different experiences and perspectives to our organization. We know that not all applicants will have every skill and qualification. We encourage everyone who meets the minimum required qualifications to apply. Having one or more of the preferred qualifications will strengthen an application. But, even if you are earlier in your career or followed a non-traditional educational or professional path, we hope you will consider a career at CARE.

 

Job Title: REGIONAL DIRECTOR EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

Job Location(s): Kenya – Nairobi

 

JOB SUMMARY:

The Regional Director (RD) for East and Southern Africa (ESA) region is responsible for providing leadership and oversight to all key areas of Regional and Country Office (CO) strategy and performance. This encompasses strategy development, leadership, relationships building and strengthening with partners and key stakeholders, transformation of CARE presence in the region, talent development, financial stewardship, resource acquisition, program quality, and timely and at-scale responses to humanitarian crises. They will also be charged with leading regional teams toward shared directions and priorities, while contributing to overall organizational priorities and strategies and ensuring those are applied across the region. The RD provides leadership and guidance to make sure CARE upholds humanitarian principles.

The RD will be accountable for ensuring CARE is increasing its impact in a rapidly-changing, complex region embroiled in protracted insecurity, conflict and increasing geo-political tensions, where the prevalence and magnitude of humanitarian emergencies continue to increase. They will be the forefront of CARE’s advocacy and influencing in the region including defining the advocacy agenda and strategy, that align with country, regional, and global teams.

In both development and humanitarian programming, the RD will maintain focus on how CARE can be most relevant and have the greatest impact by partnering with local actors (CSO, Women led/Women Rights Organizations, private sector, governments, etc.) to design, implement and measure the effectiveness of CARE’s work; spearhead the adaption of the operational presence models and engagement in countries to a more locally led platform for impact at scale.

The Regional Director will lead the efforts of the Country Directors within the region and serve on the International Programs and Operations (IPO) Senior Management Team, as well as the CARE US Global Leadership Team (GLT).

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy Development and Oversight

• Define Regional ambition and vision: Lead the development and articulation of a clear, compelling regional ambition aligned with the organization’s global strategy. Shape and communicate a shared vision that reflects the unique needs, opportunities, and aspirations of the region, while positioning the region to contribute meaningfully to global impact. Ensure this vision is informed by local realities, grounded in partnership with country teams and external stakeholders, and drives strategic alignment, resource mobilization, and innovation across the region.
• Lead the design and implementation of regional roadmaps and COs strategies to ensure alignment and coherence between regional, country program, and CARE-wide vision, mission, strategies and goals, while keeping abreast of constantly-shifting regional dynamics, trends, and international politics that influence the operational realities and opportunities on the ground.
• Guide and support the evolution of CARE’s role, presence, and changes to operating models within each country, including change to the most appropriate ‘footprint for CARE in East and Southern Africa COs (and regionally) and adapt as/where needed, to strengthen its legitimacy, local ownership, relevance, impact, and efficiency, prioritizing and strengthening local partnerships with civil society organizations, women led/rights organizations, private sector, donors, governments, etc.
• Provide guidance to COs and stay engaged with key regional stakeholders to ensure that CARE has consistent and safe humanitarian access, and has timely and relevant information and capacity to manage security, bureaucratic, administrative impediments in the region.

 

Management Excellence and Accountability

• Support Country Directors and coordinate with other parts of CARE US and CARE Member Partners (CMPs) to ensure COs are ready and have capacity to (i) design and implement quality and impactful development programs, and also (ii) respond to emergencies, and provide effective leadership to the country offices’ response during emergencies.
• Support COs humanitarian response in the region and ensure Program Strategy and Innovation technical teams engagement with COs.
• Provide high-level financial oversight to support proper stewardship of CARE’s resources within the region
• Work closely with CARE USA functional teams (Programs, People & Culture, Finance and Operations, Legal, Digital and Internal Audit) to ensure program quality and impact, and compliance with internal and donor policies, and that risks are managed, financial management is effective, and appropriate training and support services are provided to COs and the region
• Monitor country and regional programmatic and financial performance on key performance indicators and hold Country Directors and other direct reports accountable for performance against key operational and enterprise level performance indicators.

 

Representation, Stakeholder Engagement and Resource Acquisition

• Represent CARE at regional and global levels, through external stakeholder engagement (with government officials, donors, private sector, partners, community leaders, and other organizations, etc.), advocacy, media and public relations, strategic communication to convey the organization’s mission, values, and impact to East and Southern Africa’s stakeholders
• Lead on, and contribute to the development and implementation of a comprehensive regional advocacy agenda, with a particular focus on humanitarian advocacy, to drive policy changes and influence decision-making that address urgent humanitarian needs and challenges within the region
• Lead the design and execution of regional resource mobilization strategy to fund development and humanitarian programs and organizational priorities, in collaboration with Resource and Development, and Program Technical Teams.
• Promote and identify new and creative resource streams, particularly focused around increasing funding from private sector partners and for regional/ multi-country opportunities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local partner networks at regional level, peers, government agencies, donors, private sector partners and other stakeholders, advocating for shared objectives and collaborative solutions
• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy for engaging private sector partners, fostering mutually beneficial relationships that contribute to the organization’s goals and impact
• Identify opportunities for innovative partnerships that leverage the expertise, resources, and networks of major stakeholders to address pressing development and humanitarian issues and challenges in the region.

 

People & Culture, Talent Development and Succession Management

• Directly supervise, guide and support Country Directors, and senior program, operations and Humanitarian Directors through planning, communication, and feedback
• Hold Country Directors and other direct reports accountable for performance against key operational and enterprise level performance indicators
• Ensure that appropriate succession and development plans are implemented for senior management and other key talent in COs and the region
• Ensure staff with relevant skills and competencies are readily available to uphold high quality standards of operations across the region.

 

Required Qualifications:

– Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., International Development, Business Administration, Social Sciences)
– Over 7 years with proven results in senior management and leadership experience working in development and complex humanitarian operations, including in East and Southern Africa
– Proven ability to navigate a highly complex and matrixed global organization
– Proven experience overseeing operational risk and staff safety in fragile, conflict contexts
– Proven experience in high level engagement, including with private sector, and advocacy
– Proven ability to navigate a highly complex and matrixed global organization
– Extensive experience developing and securing funds for programs and services, from regional and global institutional donors such as USG, EU, private sector and foundations, philanthropists.
– Strong gender experience/ expertise. Experience in working with women movements.
– Good network of and experience in engaging with and influencing leaders in Southern Africa (donors, government authorities, leaders from private sector and international organizations, etc.).
– Effectively develop, lead and provide strategic direction to a diverse and inclusive team of leaders across a vast/diverse region. Consistently demonstrate your commitment to gender equality, diversity, equity and inclusion.
– Soft skills. Adaptive management skills to deal with different styles of leadership..
– Understanding of the basics of financial oversight and institutional donors compliance.
– English required.

Preferred Qualifications:

– Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., International Development, Business Administration, Social Sciences)
– Knowledge about and extensive work experience in East and Southern Africa is highly desired, including established regional relationships and a networking-base in the region (with donors, peers, government authorities, leaders from private sector, local organizations, etc)

 

There are individuals who may use CARE’s name and trademark in emails and on websites in an attempt to solicit fees from interested job-seekers. Some examples of these fees are placement fees or immigration processing fees. CARE does not use recruiting or placement agencies that charge candidates an up-front fee of any kind. Occasionally, CARE does employ recruiting or placement agencies to help us identify candidates for specific employment within CARE. If you’re contacted by a legitimate recruiting or placement agency, there should be no charge to you. If you suspect that you have been a victim of fraud from someone purporting to be CARE, please contact us at legal@care.org. Please do not email legal@care.org to apply for this position. Instead, click “apply now” below in order to submit your interest.

CARE is an Equal Opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

 

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