Country Director, Uganda job at LM International

LM International is seeking an experienced Country Director (CD) to provide overall strategic direction, leadership, and oversight of the Uganda Country Programme. The CD will ensure high-quality programme delivery, strong partnerships, sound financial and organisational management, and the continued growth and impact of LM International’s work in Uganda. This senior leadership role combines strategy, external representation, programme excellence, resource mobilisation, and team leadership, all grounded in LM International’s Christian values, vision, and code of conduct. The role requires deep expertise in Aid & Trade, development–humanitarian integration, and innovative programme design, particularly as LM Uganda’s largest programme is anchored in Aid & Trade and operates within a complex, multi-stakeholder environment. The portfolio is strategically positioned within a nexus framework, integrating both development and humanitarian objectives to maximise impact.

LM International (Läkarmissionen) is a Swedish global foundation dedicated to saving lives and empowering people. Established in 1958, LM International is grounded in Christian values and guided by the vision: “Dignified Life – Sustainable World.”

We conduct international development cooperation and humanitarian aid in around 20 countries, primarily in Africa and Latin America, as well as Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Our operations include a Global Office in Stockholm, mobilisation offices in Stockholm, New York, and Oslo, regional hubs in Panama City, Dubai, and Nairobi, and multiple country offices across sub-Saharan Africa and Ukraine.

Responsibilities or duties

1. Strategic Leadership and Programme Oversight

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the Uganda Country Programme in line with LM International’s vision, mission, core values, and global strategy
• Ensure high quality programme design, implementation, monitoring, learning, and adaptation
• Drive innovation, learning, and documentation across programmes to strengthen impact and sustainability
• Support programmes aligned to the Aid & Trade model and nexus approach, integrating development and humanitarian objectives.

2. Representation, Coordination, and External Relations

• Act as the official representative and spokesperson of LM International in Uganda
• Lead national coordination and stakeholder dialogue, including participation in government, UN, donor, NGO, and civil society coordination fora
• Build and maintain strong relationships with government authorities, national and international partners, faithbased actors, private sector actors, innovators, and communities
• Promote the visibility, credibility, and values of LM International at national and international levels

3. Growth, Resource Mobilisation, and Partnerships

• Lead the identification and development of new strategic and innovative programme opportunities
• Secure funding through the preparation, review, and submission of high-quality funding proposals and concept notes to institutional and private donors
• Strengthen and diversify the donor and partnership base, both locally and internationally

4. Financial Management and Compliance

• Ensure sound financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and financial control across all projects and operations
• Ensure compliance with donor, government, and organisational financial and audit requirements
• Oversee timely and accurate financial, narrative, and compliance reporting

5. Organisational Leadership and People Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse and high performing Senior Management Team
• Oversee recruitment, performance management, capacity development, and staff wellbeing
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and safe organisational culture aligned with LM International’s values
• Ensure staff health, safety, security, and risk management systems are in place and functional

6. Reporting and Accountability

• Ensure regular reporting to the Regional Director, including strategic updates, quarterly reports, and risk assessments
• Uphold accountability to communities, partners, donors, and LM International standards and policies

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Essential Requirements

• Advanced degree in Development Studies, International Relations, Human Rights, Public Administration, or a relevant technical field linked to LM International’s thematic priorities.
• 10 years’ experience working in international NGOs, with senior leadership or country level management experience
• Proven experience in strategic planning, programme development, implementation, and oversight
• Extensive experience with institutional donors, such as Sida, DANIDA, EU, FCDO, BMZ/GIZ, ECHO, or similar
• Strong experience in resource mobilisation, proposal writing, donor reporting, and partnership development
• Solid understanding and practical experience in:
  • Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS)
  • Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA)
  • Localization and the Grand Bargain
  • Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)
• Strong financial management skills, including budgeting, financial oversight, and donor compliance
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and manage diverse, multidisciplinary teams
• Experience acting as official spokesperson and engaging with national and social media
• High proficiency in Office 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams) and digital working tools
• Fluency in written and spoken English (knowledge of local languages in Uganda is an asset)

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), education, FSL and health programming
• Experience working with faith-based organisations grounded in Christian values
• Experience using Lime CRM or similar donor/partner management systems

Personal Attributes

• Strong alignment with LM International’s Christian values and code of conduct
• Strategic, solution oriented, and resilient leadership style
• High integrity, cultural sensitivity, and diplomacy
• Strong communication, negotiation, and representation skills

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

Why Join LM International?

• Be part of a global non-profit faith-based foundation committed to sustainable development, humanitarian aid and global impact in the most fragile environments.
• Work in a collaborative and dynamic international environment with passionate professionals.
• Work in a meaningful and impactful role with the opportunity to shape and lead a key function within LM’s global operations.

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the Uganda Country Programme in line with LM International’s vision, mission, core values, and global strategy
• Ensure highquality programme design, implementation, monitoring, learning, and adaptation
• Drive innovation, learning, and documentation across programmes to strengthen impact and sustainability
• Support programmes aligned to the Aid & Trade model and nexus approach, integrating development and humanitarian objectives.
• Act as the official representative and spokesperson of LM International in Uganda
• Lead national coordination and stakeholder dialogue, including participation in government, UN, donor, NGO, and civil society coordination fora
• Build and maintain strong relationships with government authorities, national and international partners, faithbased actors, private sector actors, innovators, and communities
• Promote the visibility, credibility, and values of LM International at national and international levels
• Lead the identification and development of new strategic and innovative programme opportunities
• Secure funding through the preparation, review, and submission of high-quality funding proposals and concept notes to institutional and private donors
• Strengthen and diversify the donor and partnership base, both locally and internationally
• Ensure sound financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and financial control across all projects and operations
• Ensure compliance with donor, government, and organisational financial and audit requirements
• Oversee timely and accurate financial, narrative, and compliance reporting
• Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse and high performing Senior Management Team
• Oversee recruitment, performance management, capacity development, and staff wellbeing
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and safe organisational culture aligned with LM International’s values
• Ensure staff health, safety, security, and risk management systems are in place and functional
• Ensure regular reporting to the Regional Director, including strategic updates, quarterly reports, and risk assessments
• Uphold accountability to communities, partners, donors, and LM International standards and policies

• Strategic planning
• Programme development
• Programme implementation
• Programme oversight
• Resource mobilisation
• Proposal writing
• Donor reporting
• Partnership development
• Financial management
• Budgeting
• Financial oversight
• Donor compliance
• Team leadership
• Mentoring
• Managing diverse teams
• Communication
• Negotiation
• Representation
• Proficiency in Office 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams)
• Digital working tools
• English fluency (written and spoken)

• Advanced degree in Development Studies, International Relations, Human Rights, Public Administration, or a relevant technical field linked to LM International’s thematic priorities.
• 10 years’ experience working in international NGOs, with senior leadership or country level management experience
• Proven experience in strategic planning, programme development, implementation, and oversight
• Extensive experience with institutional donors, such as Sida, DANIDA, EU, FCDO, BMZ/GIZ, ECHO, or similar
• Strong experience in resource mobilisation, proposal writing, donor reporting, and partnership development
• Solid understanding and practical experience in: Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS), Human RightsBased Approach (HRBA), Localization and the Grand Bargain, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)
• Strong financial management skills, including budgeting, financial oversight, and donor compliance
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and manage diverse, multidisciplinary teams
• Experience acting as official spokesperson and engaging with national and social media
• High proficiency in Office 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams) and digital working tools
• Fluency in written and spoken English (knowledge of local languages in Uganda is an asset)
• Experience in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), education, FSL and health programming (Desirable)
• Experience working with faith-based organisations grounded in Christian values (Desirable)
• Experience using Lime CRM or similar donor/partner management systems (Desirable)
• Strong alignment with LM International’s Christian values and code of conduct (Personal Attribute)
• Strategic, solution oriented, and resilient leadership style (Personal Attribute)
• High integrity, cultural sensitivity, and diplomacy (Personal Attribute)
• Strong communication, negotiation, and representation skills (Personal Attribute)