Country Director – Cameroon

Organisation Background

Founded in 2011, the International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) is an international non-governmental organisation that supports humanitarian aid workers by establishing safety coordination platforms in insecure contexts. INSO provides registered NGOs with a range of free services, including real-time incident tracking, analytical reports, safety-related data and mapping, crisis management support, staff orientations and training.

INSO provides daily support to more than 1200 NGOs operating in 16 of the world’s most insecure countries.

INSO is registered in the Netherlands with its headquarters based in The Hague, the international city of peace and justice.

INSO Cameroon

 INSO began operations in Cameroon in 2017 as one of the INSO offices for the Lake Chad Basin and was launched as an autonomous Mission in late 2021. Today, the program has field offices in Maroua and Buea. The national office is located in Yaoundé, the capital. Conflicts between armed groups, intercommunal violence, climate-related disasters and weak socio-economic infrastructure have led to significant humanitarian needs. As part of INSO in Cameroon, you will support local and international NGOs to provide vital aid more safely.

Job Summary

As Country Director you will lead, manage and direct program implementation. You will use your solid program and human resources management skills and be a natural and confident leader, communicator, consensus-builder and networker. You will combine keen intellect and analytical skills with pragmatism, patience and a good sense of humour. You enjoy the challenge of translating strategic concepts into workable practices in difficult environments. Ideally, you will come from an NGO/humanitarian background (senior management and programs).  The Country Director is based in Yaoundé and reports to the Regional Director- Central Africa

Major Responsibilities

Program Leadership and Management

• Provide engaged, effective leadership across the program, ensuring that it performs across all functions – program delivery, finance, operations, human resources, etc.
• Develop and deliver annual program planning, aligning program development strategy with realistic assumptions of future funding.
• Manage donor relations and produce high-quality, compelling proposals and progress reports that underscore our impact.
• Line-manage the leads of programs, finance, and operations teams.
• Promote and exemplify a culture of openness and collaboration.

Service Delivery

• Develop and maintain a nuanced personal understanding of the context and the prevailing challenges to humanitarian safety and access.
• Supervise all INSO Cameroon service delivery, ensuring that program targets are met, quality is maintained and that services remain relevant and responsive.
• Deliver strategic analysis to senior humanitarian leadership, including through monthly directors’ briefings, quarterly analytical reports and as needed on request.
• Lead crisis management support to NGO partners during critical incidents.

Requirements

Essential

• Fluency in English, strong working knowledge of French.
• Previous experience as an NGO country director or senior program manager, preferably in the region.
• Solid understanding of principles and practices in broad humanitarian action.
• Master’s Degree-level of education or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum 5 years in an NGO senior management role.
• Proven analytical skills and experience producing and editing analytical products.
• Experience with grant management, donor proposals and reporting.
• Excellent networking, diplomatic and representative communication skills.

Nice to have

• Recent experience in Cameroon.
• Experience in conflict affected contexts.
• Previous INSO experience (as a team member, member of INSO’s country advisory board or beneficiary).
• Direct experience and involvement in a crisis management role.
• Existing local information networks and contacts.
• Experience and interest in data management, analytics, and research.

Key Personal Competencies

• A people manager
• Calm under stress
• A good listener
• An effective communicator
• Team player
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent analytical skills

Terms & Conditions

12-month contract, €6,500 per month salary, 4 calendar days annual leave per month and 3 days of R&R every 3 months with a €1,250 allowance per R&R cycle, global medical coverage (excluding USA) and AD&D coverage.

INSO’s Safeguarding Policy

INSO is fully committed to safe recruitment, selection and vetting of all potential new staff, trustees and volunteers and we will ensure rigorous compliance with our Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policy throughout the recruitment process.

How to apply

Please submit completed applications to jobs@hq.ngosafety.org and reference ‘CD Cameroon’ in the subject line.  Applications should be in English (or French) and include:

• An updated CV.
• A one-page cover letter detailing why you are interested in working for INSO and how your qualifications align specifically with the competencies required for the role.

• One relevant and substantive writing sample, which demonstrates your analytical and reporting abilities in English (10 pages max).

Please do not send any additional information.  Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.