Country Director

Job description

Position Summary

The Country Director will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the organisation’s portfolio in Zambia. This role requires a dynamic leader capable of managing a complex, integrated programming model that combines Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)—delivered through both fixed centres and mobile/outreach units—with holistic support systems including Life Skills, Entrepreneurship, Work Readiness, ISAL (Internal Savings and Lending), and SRHR/Wellness services.

The Country Director serves as the organisation’s primary representative to the Young Africa federation, the government of Zambia, donors, and partners. S/he is responsible for ensuring programme quality, driving financial sustainability through fundraising, fostering a culture of accountability and high-performance, and ensuring compliance with local laws and organisational policies. We expect the Country Director to be an inspiring role model for staff and students in compassion and integrity, and embody the DNA of Young Africa.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Programme Oversight

●      Integrated Model Execution: Oversee the high-quality implementation of the organisation’s unique integrated skills training model, ensuring synergy between vocational training and soft skills components (SRHR, ISAL, entrepreneurship, Wellness, digital skills).

●      Mobile and Centre Strategy: Balance resources and strategic focus between high-investment Centre-Based training and agile Mobile/Outreach units to maximise reach in rural and peri-urban areas. Aligning Mobile Training to local contexts while remaining true to model design principles.

●      Curriculum Relevance: Champion market-relevant vocational education curricula by establishing feedback loops with local industries to ensure graduates possess the technical and work-readiness skills currently in demand. Collaborate with accreditation authorities to ensure recognition of qualifications.

●      Impact Measurement: drive a culture of evidence-based decision-making, ensuring M&E systems effectively capture the multi-dimensional impact of the programme (economic empowerment outcomes, health outcomes, and financial inclusion). Aligning and harmonising M&E systems with Federation systems.

2. Fundraising, Resource Mobilisation & Partnerships

●      Donor Cultivation: Identify,    secure, and retain funding from institutional donors (e.g. USAID, EU, UN agencies, Embassies), corporate foundations, and private philanthropists with an interest in Youth Employment, TVET, and Public Health. Also build local resourcing networks within the not-for-profit sector.

●      Proposal Development: Collaborate with the Fundraising Team of YA International to develop high-quality funding proposals and concept notes that articulate the value of the integrated “TVET + Wellness + Entrepreneurship” approach.

●      Strategic Partnerships: Build coalitions with private sector partners to facilitate internships, apprenticeships, and job placements for graduates.

3. Government Relations & Advocacy

●      Representation: Serve as the primary spokesperson for the organisation in national forums, TVET working groups, and civil society platforms.

●      Compliance & Liaison: Maintain strong relationships with relevant ministries (e.g., Ministry of Youth, Ministry responsible for vocational education, Ministry of Health) to ensure alignment with national development plans and secure necessary accreditations for training certifications.

●      Policy Advocacy: Advocate for policies that support youth employment, financial inclusion for marginalised groups, and the recognition of non-formal vocational training.

4. People Management & Organisational Culture

●      Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse Senior Management Team (SMT), fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and psychological safety.

●      Capacity Building: Identify staff training needs, particularly in cross-cutting areas (e.g., technical trainers’ understanding of SRHR principles), to ensure a holistic delivery mindset.

●      Performance Management: Oversee performance management systems, ensuring clear KPIs are linked to the organisation’s strategic goals.

5. Financial Management & Operational Compliance

●      Budget Management: Hold overall accountability for the country budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and strict adherence to donor compliance requirements.

●      Risk Management: Identify and mitigate operational, financial, and reputational risks, particularly those associated with mobile outreach operations in remote areas.

●      Governance: Ensure all operations comply with local labor laws, tax regulations, and NGO board directives.

6. Security

●      Manage security and safety of the entire country team and Young Africa assets according to best practices, YA operating standards and field realities. 

●      Ensure the safety and security of staff members through regular review and adaptation of security protocols and procedures, including the country security plan. Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies

Qualifications & Requirements

Education

●      Master’s degree in International Development, Adult Education, Public Health, Applied Entrepreneurship, Business Administration (MBA), or a related field.

Experience

●      Senior Management: Minimum of 10+ years of progressive management experience in the (I)NGO/Development sector, with at least 5 years in a Senior Leadership role (Country Director, Deputy Country Director, or Program Director).

●      Sector Expertise: Proven experience managing TVET/Youth Employment/youth entrepreneurship programmes. Familiarity with SRHR, Financial Inclusion (VSLA/ISAL), or Entrepreneurship support is highly desirable.

●      Fundraising: Demonstrated track record of securing significant funding ($1M+) from bilateral/multilateral donors and corporations.

●      Operational Agility: Experience managing decentralised or mobile operations (outreach teams) in resource-constrained environments.

Key Competencies

●      Strategic Vision: Ability to see the “big picture” of how health, wealth, and skills intersect to alleviate poverty.

●      Stakeholder Management: Exceptional diplomacy and negotiation skills for navigating complex government and donor landscapes.

●      Business Acumen: Ability to view the NGO through a sustainability lens, understanding social enterprise models and cost-recovery mechanisms.

●      Adaptability: Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and managing crises.

Key Success Indicators (First 12 Months)

Funding: Secure at least 2 grants to support scaling the work in Zambia. Secure funding from Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to support vulnerable youth’s participation in the organisation’s training.
Placement Rate: Achieve a 70%% rate of graduates transitioning into employment or self-employment within 6 months of training.
Partnership: Formalize 10 new MOUs with government bodies or private sector industry partners.
Integration: Successfully implement a unified M&E framework that tracks both economic (income) and social (health/savings) outcomes for beneficiaries.
Human resources: Establish a strong, coherent, productive and motivated team for the country operation.
Compliance: Clean internal and external audits, timely donor reports, achievement of all approved project targets.
Collaboration: An attitude of collaboration and co-creation with members of the YA federation.

All interested applicants must submit a motivation letter as a separate attachment (not more than 1 page) and a CV to dvetya@youngafrica.org by close of business on 21 January 2026.