Country Director,

Job Description

Job Type: Full Time (Sierra Leone National only)  

Location: Freetown 

Start Date: April 2026  

Duration: 12 Months 

Reports to: Multi Country Director 

Guided by the remarkable legacy of its co-founder, Helen Keller, Helen Keller Intl partners with  communities that are striving to overcome longstanding cycles of poverty. By delivering the essential  building blocks of good health, sound nutrition, and clear vision, we help millions of people create  lasting change in their own lives. Working in 20 countries –across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United  States – and together with a global community of supporters, we ensure every person has the  opportunity – as Helen did – to reach their truepotential. 

We are currently seeking a Country Director (CD) in Sierra Leone to represent Helen Keller, develop  new programs, expand our programming and scale, and lead the country office and its programs in a  manner that reflects our mission and values and ensures technical excellence in the delivery of all  activities. 

The CD provides strategic leadership and develops action plans that further Helen Keller’s mission  and are locally appropriate in the Sierra Leone context. They have overall responsibility for ensuring  technical and operational excellence in the delivery of all activities in the country office portfolio to  achieve the objectives established in grants and strategic plans and actively working to expand funding  for activities in line with Helen Keller’s mission and local needs. 

This is a local recruitment for Sierra Leone nationals only. The position is based in Freetown and  requires regular travel to project sites. 

Country Program Overview 

Helen Keller’s Sierra Leone country program has a strong health and nutrition focus, with programs  aimed at combating neglected tropical diseases, expanding access to quality eye care – including  cataract surgery to prevent avoidable blindness – improving the health of mothers and young children,  and promoting improved nutrition through nutrition-sensitive agriculture. We take a food systems  approach to nutrition, addressing the broader ecosystem that shapes diets and nutrition outcomes.  Through these efforts, we seek to improve access to diverse and nutritious foods while strengthening  communityresilience. 

We advocate for gender-transformative approaches and aim to make health services more responsive  to their clients, particularly women, young children, and adolescents. To improve long-term resilience  and sustainability, we focus on strengthening local capacity, reinforcing preventive and curative care  services, and motivating positive behavior changes at household and community levels. Through these  integrated efforts, we aim to sustainably improve nutrition outcomes, eye health, and overall well 

being.

Functional Relationships 

The CD reports directly to the Multi Country Director (Guinea and Sierra Leone) and leads theCountry  Management Team (CMT). They directly supervise a team of professional level staff, work closely with  colleagues at all levels of Helen Keller’s global management structure and may be called upon to  participate in global working groups or steering committees. 

Within the management structure, the CD holds primary accountability for country-level strategy,  operations, partnerships, and performance. The role directly supervises a team of professional-level  staff across key functions including program delivery, finance, operations, people and culture, and  monitoring, evaluation, and learning—ensuring that the Minimum Viable Structure is in place and high 

functioning in each country. 

The Country Director collaborates closely with Helen Keller’s Global Centers and Functions, which  provide global policy guidance, technical assistance, and operational support in areas such as program  impact, employee experience, finance, legal and risk, strategic partnerships, branding and  communications, and data systems. The CD is responsible for integrating relevant tools, policies, and  support from these centers to enhance the quality, efficiency, and compliance of country programs,  while advocating for country needs and contributing to global learning loops. 

As a key representative of Helen Keller Intl, the CD builds and maintains strong relationships with  government authorities, local and international NGOs, universities, civil society actors, private sector  partners, multilateral agencies, and donors. The CD represents the organization in external forums,  promoting visibility, partnership, and influence in national and regional development dialogues. 

The Country Director may also be called upon to contribute to organization-wide initiatives, global  working groups, or steering committees, bringing a country-level perspective to shape institutional  strategy, policy, and innovation. 

Key Responsibilities 

Strategic Leadership and Representation 

Provide strategic vision and direction for overall program design, implementation, and proposal  development; work closely with the country team to accomplish the strategic goals. • Lead and oversee all aspects of the implementation of country programs and the management  of the country office. 

• Represent Helen Keller in formal and informal meetings with government officials, international  donor agencies, and national technical advisory groups pertinent to Helen Keller project  activities. 
• Advocate for enabling policy environments and systemic change in support of Helen Keller’s mission. 
• Identify and drive opportunities for growth, innovation, and impact within the countryportfolio

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• Identify opportunities and generate funding from international and bilateral agencies, and  donor agencies. 
• Lead proposal development and strategic positioning efforts in collaboration with theCenter  for Strategic Partnerships and regional leadership. 
• Serve as a thought leader and organizational ambassador, contributing to globalpolicy,  strategy, and innovation initiatives. 
• Represent the country perspective in Helen Keller’s global working groups, steering committees, and communities of practice. 
• Contribute to cross-country collaboration and peer learning to drive excellence across the  organization. 

Programmatic Development and Management 

Oversee and coordinate the program portfolio to ensure the highest level of project quality and  accountability, while fostering continuity through building local capacity. 

• Provide technical input to the government, international donors, and technical advisory groups  pertinent to Helen Keller project activities. 
• Promote adaptive management through robust Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)  systems, in collaboration with the Center for Program Impact and the Center for Data,  Technology, and Systems. 
• Ensure safeguarding measures are integrated into program design and implementationat  all levels. 
• Foster a culture of innovation, evidence generation, and continuous improvement withinand  across country team 
• Champion integration of safeguarding measures are integrated into program design and  implementation at all levels. 
• Supervise research activities, ensure dissemination of findings, and supportpolicy  development based on evidence. 
• Ensure that projects align with the needs of communities and national health policies. • Build and foster program continuity and strengthen systems for long-term impact. • Maintain regular communication with national partners, donors, and stakeholders toshare  progress, challenges, and future plans. 

Operations and Finance Management 

• Oversee financial management, including strategic budgeting, forecasting, and compliance  with donor and organizational policies, in coordination with the Center for Finance. • Ensure robust operations and administrative systems, including procurement, logistics, and  asset management. 
• Implement effective risk management frameworks and internal controls in line with guidance  from the Center for Legal, Risk Management, and Compliance. 
• Monitor and manage organizational performance through clear balanced score card indicator,  dashboards, and integrated performance systems. 

Human Resources and Team Leadership 

• Lead, mentor, and support the Country Management Teams (CMTs) in country to build  inclusive, high-performing teams.

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• Ensure implementation of fair recruitment, performance management, and staffdevelopment  practices in collaboration with the Center for EmployeeExperience. 
• Promote a strong organizational culture rooted in Helen Keller’s core values: integrity, rigor,  courage, and compassion. 
• Foster leadership pathways for staff and promote succession planning. 

Security, Risk, and Compliance Management 

• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the security, political, and operational contextin  both countries. 
• Ensure proactive risk assessment and contingency planning, including crisis preparedness  and staff safety protocols. 
• Ensure full compliance with organizational policies, donor regulations, and relevant national  laws. 
• Embed robust feedback loops and accountability mechanisms to promote  transparency and responsive decision-making. 

Other Duties 

This job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or  responsibilities for the position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or  without notice. All positions are required to perform any additional tasks assigned by thesupervisor. 

Required Qualifications and Competencies 

• Minimum ten years of field experience in public health and/or nutrition programs, including  demonstrated experience in program management (including design, implementation, and  evaluation), plus a minimum master’s degree in public health, nutrition, development or related  field, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Technical knowledge in an area related to Helen Keller’s mission and programs. • Experience managing all aspects of program and operations management with demonstrated  experience and ability to: 

o lead program development and management, and strategic planning; 

o supervise key administrative, procurement, and logistics functions; 

o supervise financial management, develop and create budgets monitorfinancial  status, and hold budget owners accountable; 

o manage compliance with diverse donor requirements; 

o integrate safeguarding measures; 

o supervise safety and security in a challenging operating environment; and o lead and manage people. 

• Proven track record in developing and executing strategic plans, securing donor funding, and  expanding programmatic impact. 
• Demonstrated ability to: 

o undertake high-level representation and advocacy; and 

o mobilize program funding including donor cultivation and write proposals. 

• Experience working in Sierra Leone, with Ministries, international and local NGOs,and  donors based locally, is a substantial asset.

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▪ Familiarity with and experience promoting health systems strengthening andensuring  the sustainability of program activities in developing contexts is stronglydesired. ▪ Experience in designing and implementing workshops, seminars, surveys,monitoring  systems, and evaluations. 

▪ Experience in research design, data analysis, and interpretation. 

▪ Proven ability to lead change in complex organizations and manage multiple priorities  across different geographies. 

▪ Experience with decentralized management structures and collaborative, matrixed  models involving technical centers or global support units. 

▪ Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including an ability to effectively lead  a team, communicate a vision, make timely and transparent decisions, and manage  conflict. 

▪ Very good oral and written English language skills, including the ability to quickly  synthesize complex technical and programmatic issues into concisecommunications. ▪ Well-established and practiced organizational and planning skills; 

▪ Computer literate in the use of word-processing, spreadsheet, and statisticalsoftware. ▪ Collaborative, flexible, and solution-oriented. An ability to maintain balance when under  stress. 

▪ Ability and willingness to: 

o flex work hours to accommodate multiple time zones, as needed. 

o travel within Sierra Leone and, periodically, internationally. 

The initial employment period is for two years with the possibility of renewal. 

Fairness, Belonging and Zero Tolerance to Abuse 

As a member of the Helen Keller Family, each employee is expected to: 

• Help to develop and maintain an environment that welcomes and develops a multi cultural workforce with varied lived experiences and identities. 
• Foster a work environment where everyone feels valued and included. 
• Support employees’ evaluation and promotion processes based on skills and performance. 
• Promote a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all members of HelenKeller  family, stakeholders in general, and particularly for the communities we serve. • Follow Helen Keller Code of Conduct helping to prevent any type of abuseincluding  workplace harassment, sexual abuse and exploitation, and trafficking inpersons. • Adhere to the Organizational Core Values, which include rigor, compassion, integrity  and courage. 

To Apply 

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to hki.recruitment@hki.org Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. 

In the spirit of the extraordinary ability and vision of our founder, Helen Keller Intl fosters an  environment of fairness and belonging for our workforce.

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Helen Keller Intl is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to the principles of  equal employment opportunity for all employees and

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