Country Representative

Job Description

Helen Keller 

Job Announcement – External/ Internal 

Country Representative (Sierra Leone 

National only) 

Job Type: Full-time  

Location: Freetown 

Start Date: February 2026 

Duration: 12 Months with possible extension based on availability of fund  

Reports to: Zonal 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 true potential. 

Helen Keller has been operating in Sierra Leone for over 20 years in support of the reproductive  health, nutrition and Neglected Tropical Disease (NTDs) components of the National Health  Development Plan of the Ministry of Health, as well as food security component of the Ministry of Agriculture. The organization is committed to generating evidence, carrying out robust research  and a high input into research publications. 

Helen Keller is recruiting for a Country Representative (CR) for the program in Sierra Leone. The  Country Representative will work closely with Government counterparts, donors, partners, and  internal stakeholders to strengthen Helen Keller’s positioning, influence, and impact in the 

country. As head of the Country Office, the CR ensures strong safeguarding, safety and security,  risk management, and accountability systems. The role requires participation in global working  groups, collaboration across the matrixed organization, field visits within Sierra Leone, and  occasional international travel. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

Overall Management and Leadership 

• Drive the execution of Helen Keller’s strategy in Sierra Leone and serve as a member of 

the Central and West Africa Leadership Team to provide strategic directions to the region.

• Lead the development and execution of the country office Annual Plan, ensuring alignment with Helen Keller’s strategy. 
• Lead business development initiatives to strengthen and expand Helen Keller’s impact in Sierra Leone. 
• Ensure full compliance with host-country legal, regulatory, and labor requirements,  maintain positive relationships with government authorities and ensure organizational  registration and reporting obligations are met. 
• Cultivate and maintain high-level relationships with donors, government stakeholders, local and international partners to strengthen Helen Keller’s reputation and positioning in the country. 
• 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. 
• Monitor and manage organizational performance through clear balanced score card  indicator, dashboards, and integrated performance systems. 

Team and Performance Management 

• Hire, mentor, supervise and evaluate staff for assigned project portfolio and establish an  atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development. 
• Coordinate and develop terms of reference and supervise consultants and other technical  support resources needed for program-related activities. 
• Cultivate an atmosphere conducive to sharing of lessons learned and to mutual learning  among Helen Keller staff and among partners. 
• Consult with and guide staff to achieve goals and ensure accountability to beneficiaries,  partners, colleagues and donors by providing ongoing feedback in a context of mutual  respect. 
• Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion across the team, ensuring a respectful and safe  workplace free from harassment or exploitation. 

Safeguarding, Security, Risk and Compliance 

• Ensure strict compliance with Helen Keller’s safeguarding policies, including Protection  from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), child safeguarding, and anti-fraud/anti corruption standards. 
• Promote a culture of integrity, accountability, and ethical conduct at all levels. • Foster staff well-being and implement succession planning to ensure organizational  resilience. 
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the security, political, and operational  context in country. 
• 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.

External Representation / Coordination with partners 

• Work with country office team to ensure partners are knowledgeable of Helen Keller’s technical and financial policies and procedures, and donor compliance requirements.
•  Actively support efforts to ensure that program staff have the skills and tools necessary to  build partner capacity. 
• Collaborate with respective line ministries and other organizations’ technical staff working in the sectors of interest to Helen Keller to build partnerships. 
• Actively support efforts to ensure that Helen Keller programs are recognized/promoted  and implemented in accordance with national agendas. 
• Participate in meetings and seminars within Helen Keller, nationally, and internationally  as requested by Zone Director. 
• Lead advocacy and policy engagement efforts to position Helen Keller as a thought  leader in relevant sectors. 
• Ensure regular and strategic visibility of Helen Keller’s work through media, social media, events, and publications, highlighting impact and innovation. 

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 the supervisor. 

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 programming and operations management with  demonstrated experience and ability to: 

 lead program development and management, and strategic planning. 

 supervise key administrative, procurement, and logistics functions. 

 supervise financial management, develop and create budgets, monitor financial status,  and hold budget owners accountable. 

 manage compliance with diverse donor requirements. 

 integrate safeguarding measures. 

 supervise safety and security in a challenging operating environment; and

 lead and manage people. 

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

▪ Demonstrated ability to: 

 undertake high-level representation and advocacy; and 

 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.

▪ Familiarity with and experience promoting health systems strengthening and ensuring the  sustainability of program activities in developing contexts is strongly desired.

▪ 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 concise communications.

▪ Well-established and practiced organizational and planning skills. 

▪ Computer literate in the use of word-processing, spreadsheet, and statistical software.

▪ Collaborative, flexible, and solution oriented. An ability to maintain balance when under  stress. 

▪ Ability and willingness to: 

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

 travel within Sierra Leone and, periodically, internationally. 

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 Helen Keller  family, stakeholders in general, and particularly for the communities we serve.
•  Follow Helen Keller Code of Conduct helping to prevent any type of abuse including  workplace harassment, sexual abuse and exploitation, and trafficking in persons.
• Adhere to the Organizational Core Values of courage, integrity, rigor and compassion. 

To Apply 

Interested and 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. 

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