Country Representative, Burkina Faso

Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for a Country Representative to join our Burkina Faso Country Office.

• Job Title: Country Representative
• Reports To: Regional Director, WCA
• Work Pattern: On-site
• Location: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
• Contract: 2 year fixed-term, National contract
• Grade: Executive
• Right to Work: The successful candidate must possess the unrestricted right to work in Burkina Faso for the duration of employment
• Essential Language Requirements: English, French
• People Management Responsibility: 5 direct reports
• Remit: National

Team and Job Purpose

As a member of the West & Central Africa Senior Leadership Team, you will have shared accountability for Save the Children’s international development and emergency programming in the region of approximately USD 225 million through an organisation of 2,532 people. To achieve our ambitious goals and breakthroughs for children, the leadership team will, in collaboration with Save the Children Members and in conjunction with the other regional organisations, aim to drive growth of the donor landscape to $2.7 billion this year.

The Country Representative will lead the transformation of the country office to a new operating model, whilst also delivering Save the Children’s strategy within the country through:

• Delivering quality programmes, including advocacy, for children;
• Developing the Country portfolio; and
• Working with Members and their donors.

Principal Accountabilities

As a member of the Regional Senior Leadership Team, the Country Representative will contribute to strategic development, support the implementation and coordination of Save the Children’s programmes operations at country level, ensuring alignment with organisational strategies, policies and priorities. The role represents Save the Children in national forums and supports effective programme delivery, partnerships and operational management.

Representation and Networking

• Ensure effective representation with the government, donors, international community and national forums to maintain, develop and maintain the high profile and reputation of Save the Children.
• Build strong networks with other NGOs, CSOs, UN agencies and Government line agencies working on children’s issues to promote coordination and resource sharing.
• Ensure that registration of Save the Children International in Burkina Faso is up-to-date at all times.

Strategic Leadership

• With the support of the Regional Director, provide strategic direction for the Burkina Faso country programme
• Work closely with the Regional Director and Senior Management team to ensure that programme implementation reflects organisational objectives and priorities.
• Lead the implementation of the country programme strategy in alignment with regional and global priorities.
• Support coordination across programme teams to ensure alignment with country strategy and operational plans.
• Contribute to organisational learning by sharing programme experiences and lessons learned with regional and global teams.
• Ensuring that the focus of the organisation remains on the rights and needs of children
• Contribute to organisational learning by sharing programme learning experiences and lessons learned with regional and global teams.

Human Resource Management

• Ensure that the Burkina Faso Country office attracts and retains high calibre staff
• Support the implementation of HR policies and procedures at country level in accordance with organisational policies and local labour law.
• Support managers in maintaining effective performance management and staff development practices.
• Encourage staff development and contribute to building the capacity of national staff.
• Foster a collegial, supportive and respectful culture within the Burkina Faso Team

Programme Development and Management

• Ensure programme interventions are in line with technical best practice, SC common approaches, and emerging national policies as well as with country and strategic objectives, strategies, policies and approaches.
• Ensure that effective monitoring and evaluation systems are implemented in line with policies, systems and guidelines.
• Support the preparation and coordination of responses to emergencies affecting children, including building relationships with key humanitarian and development decision-makers and partners in-country
• Ensure programmes are delivered in line with the country strategy, operational plans, budgets and Member requirements that result in significant impact for children.

Programme Funding

• Maintain and grow the funding base for the country programme and liaise with the bilateral and multilateral donor community in Burkina Faso.
• Support compliance with donor and Member requirements for awards secured within the country programme.
• Maintain working relationships with donors and partners and other INGOs as required.

Financial and Admin Management

• Ensure effective financial budgeting and management systems, processes and controls are in place and are fully compliant with operating standards and local legal requirements
• Ensure that procurement and asset management controls and procedures are followed in line with organisational policies and donor compliance.
• Support oversight of partner organisations to ensure compliance with financial management and governance standards.

Audit and Corporate Governance compliance

• Support compliance with host government requirements relating to registration, taxation, labour law and auditing.
• Ensure follow-up and implementation of audit recommendations and internal control improvements

Security Management

• Ensure that the Burkina Faso programme security plans and procedures are maintained in line with organisation policies and implemented.
• Maintain, document and communicate up to date analyses of the changing security context in particular in Central Sahel.
• Ensure all staff adherence to organisational security guidelines.

Representation, Communications and Advocacy:

• Develop and maintain good relations with Members and their donors
• Represent Save the Children’s interests in Burkina Faso including Government Institutions, UN agencies, donor delegations, international & local NGOs
• Ensure the timely provision of internal and external communications material as required.

Any other duties as assigned by the Regional Director

Experience and Skills

• Proven leadership experience, with extensive senior management and program development responsibility within corporate or NGO environments, including oversight of child‑focused programs.
• Demonstrated success in securing and managing, complex donor portfolios, including USAID, EU, FCDO/DFID, and other institutional donors, with strong capabilities in navigating competitive funding landscapes.
• Robust expertise in new program design and business development, with a strong track record of building and maintaining strategic relationships with donors, government stakeholders, and partners.
• Experienced people leader, skilled in building, mentoring, and managing diverse, multidisciplinary teams to deliver high‑quality program outcomes.
• Advanced competency in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems development, implementation, and utilization for program performance and strategic decision‑making.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and planning skills, able to apply innovative approaches to problem‑solving and the development of country‑level priorities.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to drive collaboration across departments and sectors to achieve organizational objectives.
• Deep understanding of global trends and best practices in international development and humanitarian response, with the ability to translate insights into programmatic strategy.
• Capacity to operate autonomously and make sound decisions, while ensuring rigorous compliance with internal controls, reporting requirements, and donor standards.
• Fluency in both French and English, with excellent written and verbal communication skills in both languages.

Education and Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field

Values in Practice

Accountability:

• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• Future-oriented, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity and gender, sees it as a source of competitive strength

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

Working at Save the Children International

Save the Children is the world's leading organisation for children, employing ~25,000 staff. We save children's lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Through our work in 116 countries, we put the most deprived and marginalised children first.

We know that great people make a great organisation, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

The work here is challenging but is also immensely rewarding. At Save the Children, you will be in good company, working with talented, like-minded individuals who are determined to ensure that all children survive, learn, and are protected. Your contribution will help ensure children's voices are heard at the highest levels, and that we achieve our global strategy, Ambition for Children 2030, and reach every last child.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

DEI is core to our vision, values and global strategy. Save the Children is committed to creating a truly diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation, and one which will support us in our vision to ensure every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation.

We are committed to equal employment opportunities, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, disability, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, caring or parental responsibilities, age, or beliefs and religion. We are committed to diversifying our staff to better represent the communities we serve and actively welcome underrepresented groups to apply.

Reasonable adjustments will be made should any candidate invited to interview require this.

Application Information

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application. A full copy of the role profile can be found here via the job listing. It is recommended that you save a copy of the role profile as it will no longer be available after the advert closes.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the job advert may be closed earlier than advertised subject to the volume of suitable applicants. Please submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
Due to the high volume of applications we receive, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Candidates who are successfully shortlisted should expect to hear from us within 2 weeks of the advert deadline.

Our recruitment process:

• Application review by our recruiting team based on your CV and cover letter
• Two-stage competency-based interviews with the hiring team
• Some recruitment may include an additional assessment or case study stage, or a third-stage interview
• If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment, followed by your contract subject to passing background checks

We need to keep children and adults safe so our selection process includes rigorous background checks and reflects our commitment to the protection of children and adults from abuse. All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our Code of Conduct and all policies and procedures relating to Anti-harassment, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, and DEI and Equal Opportunities.

Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.