Regional Director, East and Southern Africa job at A Private Company

The Regional Director, East and Southern Africa provides strategic, spiritual, and operational leadership for World Renew’s work across the East and Southern Africa region. Based in one of World Renew’s countries of operation (Zambia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, or Uganda), this senior leadership role is responsible for shaping and advancing the regional vision and strategy in alignment with World Renew’s global strategic plan.

Reporting to the Chief Program and Impact Officer, this position is a member of World Renew’s Senior Leadership. The Regional Director works closely with Country Directors, regional staff, and global functional teams, including humanitarian response, community development, justice and peace, fundraising, communications, and operations, to ensure coherent, high-quality, and impactful partner and community led programming.

Rooted in World Renew’s Christian faith and Theology of Development, this role supports communities, churches, and partners in advancing food security, sustainable livelihoods, and improved maternal and child health. The Regional Director leads collaborative regional and country teams under a unified vision of community transformation, strengthening World Renew’s presence, partnerships, and impact throughout East and Southern Africa.

World Renew does not discriminate based on disability, culture, ethnicity, or gender, and welcome and encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Responsibilities or duties

Regional Strategy and Program Leadership

The Regional Director provides leadership for regional strategy development, implementation, and continuous adaptation. The incumbent will:

• Lead Country Directors and regional staff in implementing and refining the regional strategy, including guiding organizational change processes and assessing the most appropriate operational footprint for World Renew in the region.
• Using World Renew’s Global Strategy as a foundation, guide the creation, execution, and ongoing refinement of the East and Southern Africa regional strategy, adapting to shifts in country contexts, humanitarian needs, geopolitical dynamics, and development trends.
• Ensure that all programs are shaped by Christian faith, a Biblical worldview, and World Renew’s Theology of Development, integrating these principles across humanitarian response, development, justice, and peacebuilding initiatives.
• Ensure strategic alignment and coherence across regional, country, and program initiatives, strengthening World Renew’s legitimacy, localization, accountability, relevance, efficiency, and impact.
• Support Country Offices and partners through transitions in strategy, program design, and implementation, strengthening both long-term development outcomes and preparedness for humanitarian crises.
• Champion partner and community-led development by promoting, facilitating, and strengthening participatory methodologies in the region, including Participatory Rural Appraisal, Asset Based Community Development, and Participatory Learning and Action, across staff, partners, and programs in the region.

Representation, Partnerships, and External Engagement

To strengthen World Renew’s presence, influence, and partnerships in East and Southern Africa, the Regional Director will:

• Represent World Renew with donors, churches, civil society organizations, government bodies, alliance networks, and regional decision-making forums.
• Clearly communicate World Renew’s regional and global strategies to stakeholders, articulating the organization’s unique role as a convener, intermediary, and advocate for communities.
• Cultivate and strengthen strategic partnerships within World Renew and with external organizations, including churches, research institutions, private sector actors, and regional and international NGOs.
• Strengthen and expand World Renew’s engagement and program implementation with churches, community-based organizations, and other local partners, reinforcing the church’s role as an agent of holistic community transformation across the region.
• Act as a catalyst and bridge for multi-sector regional initiatives, elevating program impact and learning for partners and donors.
• Diversify and strengthen funding partnerships, identifying and cultivating opportunities with institutional donors, foundations, and other funding sources.

People, Culture, and Leadership Development

The Regional Director fosters a Christ-centered, inclusive, and high-performing regional team culture. The incumbent will:

• Provide supervision, coaching, and leadership to Country Directors and regional staff, promoting teamwork, accountability, and spiritual formation.
• Monitor staff morale and performance, offering regular feedback and support related to strategy, representation, and resource mobilization.
• Conduct regular visits to country offices and program sites to support leadership development and program quality.
• Convene and lead regional team meetings and facilitate periodic spiritual retreats to strengthen shared vision and faith integration.
• Set annual performance objectives for direct reports, conduct semi-annual performance reviews, and support staff development through documented development plans.
• Support onboarding and role clarity for new staff using World Renew’s Onboarding to Mastery process, in collaboration with the Staff Developer.
• Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across regional teams and partner relationships.

Operations, Risk Management, and Resource Stewardship

In collaboration with global, regional, and country support teams, the Regional Director ensures effective operations, financial oversight, and risk management. The incumbent will:

• Ensure Country Offices and partners receive appropriate programmatic, operational, and technical support to achieve high-quality outcomes.
• Promote adherence to humanitarian best practices and program quality standards, including implementation of the Core Humanitarian Standard and World Renew’s safeguarding commitments.
• Strengthen collaboration with the Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs team to integrate disaster response with community development, peacebuilding, and justice initiatives.
• Participate in organization-wide teams, committees, and communities of practice, contributing regional perspectives and leadership.
• Oversee people safety, security, and asset management, ensuring risks are identified, assessed, and mitigated, and holding senior managers accountable.
• Develop and implement regional resource acquisition strategies, including regional support plans that address funding gaps and ensure financial sustainability.
• Oversee financial management and stewardship of resources, reviewing budgets, financial reports, and authorizations in collaboration with the Chief Program and Impact Officer and Chief Finance and Investments Officer.

Additional Responsibilities

Perform other duties as assigned.

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

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• An actively practicing Christian with participation in a local Christian community and a strong commitment to Christ and Integral Mission.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within teams and communities served.
• Proven experience working with churches, community-based organizations, and partners in holistic community transformation, with a strong commitment to the church’s role as an agent of transformation in the region.
• Extensive experience supporting partner and community-led development processes, including using, facilitating, and training staff and partners in participatory methodologies such as Participatory Rural Appraisal, Asset Based Community Development, and Participatory Learning and Action.
• Demonstrated leadership of diverse, multi-country teams with a commitment to gender equality, equity, and justice.
• Strong servant leadership approach with demonstrated mentoring and coaching skills.
• Experience navigating complex, matrixed global organizations and leading integrated development and humanitarian programs.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a lean and agile team without reliance on extensive organizational and operational support systems at regional and country level.
• Technical experience in humanitarian assistance and emergency response.
• Demonstrated success in developing and securing funding from institutional, bilateral, multilateral, and private donors.
• Proven financial oversight experience, including management or supervision of budgets exceeding $5 million.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree or equivalent advanced degree in international development, economics, social sciences, project planning, or a related field.
• Extensive experience in food security, health, livelihoods, peace, and justice programming in East and Southern Africa.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in humanitarian and development sectors, including regional or multi-country oversight.
• Prior Country Director experience preferred; regional leadership experience is a strong asset.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Fluency in English with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of East or Southern African languages is an asset.

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

Expected to operate on an in-office schedule of at least 2 - 3 days within the primary country office location in East and Southern Africa (either in Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia)*

*Please be advised that while this role is advertised in multiple countries, it represents a single position. Only one (1) candidate will be selected for hire, with the final work location to be determined based on the successful candidate’s residence and organizational requirements.

• Lead Country Directors and regional staff in implementing and refining the regional strategy, including guiding organizational change processes and assessing the most appropriate operational footprint for World Renew in the region.
• Using World Renew’s Global Strategy as a foundation, guide the creation, execution, and ongoing refinement of the East and Southern Africa regional strategy, adapting to shifts in country contexts, humanitarian needs, geopolitical dynamics, and development trends.
• Ensure that all programs are shaped by Christian faith, a Biblical worldview, and World Renew’s Theology of Development, integrating these principles across humanitarian response, development, justice, and peacebuilding initiatives.
• Ensure strategic alignment and coherence across regional, country, and program initiatives, strengthening World Renew’s legitimacy, localization, accountability, relevance, efficiency, and impact.
• Support Country Offices and partners through transitions in strategy, program design, and implementation, strengthening both long-term development outcomes and preparedness for humanitarian crises.
• Champion partner and community-led development by promoting, facilitating, and strengthening participatory methodologies in the region, including Participatory Rural Appraisal, Asset Based Community Development, and Participatory Learning and Action, across staff, partners, and programs in the region.
• Represent World Renew with donors, churches, civil society organizations, government bodies, alliance networks, and regional decision-making forums.
• Clearly communicate World Renew’s regional and global strategies to stakeholders, articulating the organization’s unique role as a convener, intermediary, and advocate for communities.
• Cultivate and strengthen strategic partnerships within World Renew and with external organizations, including churches, research institutions, private sector actors, and regional and international NGOs.
• Strengthen and expand World Renew’s engagement and program implementation with churches, community-based organizations, and other local partners, reinforcing the church’s role as an agent of holistic community transformation across the region.
• Act as a catalyst and bridge for multi-sector regional initiatives, elevating program impact and learning for partners and donors.
• Diversify and strengthen funding partnerships, identifying and cultivating opportunities with institutional donors, foundations, and other funding sources.
• Provide supervision, coaching, and leadership to Country Directors and regional staff, promoting teamwork, accountability, and spiritual formation.
• Monitor staff morale and performance, offering regular feedback and support related to strategy, representation, and resource mobilization.
• Conduct regular visits to country offices and program sites to support leadership development and program quality.
• Convene and lead regional team meetings and facilitate periodic spiritual retreats to strengthen shared vision and faith integration.
• Set annual performance objectives for direct reports, conduct semi-annual performance reviews, and support staff development through documented development plans.
• Support onboarding and role clarity for new staff using World Renew’s Onboarding to Mastery process, in collaboration with the Staff Developer.
• Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across regional teams and partner relationships.
• Ensure Country Offices and partners receive appropriate programmatic, operational, and technical support to achieve high-quality outcomes.
• Promote adherence to humanitarian best practices and program quality standards, including implementation of the Core Humanitarian Standard and World Renew’s safeguarding commitments.
• Strengthen collaboration with the Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs team to integrate disaster response with community development, peacebuilding, and justice initiatives.
• Participate in organization-wide teams, committees, and communities of practice, contributing regional perspectives and leadership.
• Oversee people safety, security, and asset management, ensuring risks are identified, assessed, and mitigated, and holding senior managers accountable.
• Develop and implement regional resource acquisition strategies, including regional support plans that address funding gaps and ensure financial sustainability.
• Oversee financial management and stewardship of resources, reviewing budgets, financial reports, and authorizations in collaboration with the Chief Program and Impact Officer and Chief Finance and Investments Officer.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• An actively practicing Christian with participation in a local Christian community and a strong commitment to Christ and Integral Mission.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within teams and communities served.
• Proven experience working with churches, community-based organizations, and partners in holistic community transformation, with a strong commitment to the church’s role as an agent of transformation in the region.
• Extensive experience supporting partner and community-led development processes, including using, facilitating, and training staff and partners in participatory methodologies such as Participatory Rural Appraisal, Asset Based Community Development, and Participatory Learning and Action.
• Demonstrated leadership of diverse, multi-country teams with a commitment to gender equality, equity, and justice.
• Strong servant leadership approach with demonstrated mentoring and coaching skills.
• Experience navigating complex, matrixed global organizations and leading integrated development and humanitarian programs.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a lean and agile team without reliance on extensive organizational and operational support systems at regional and country level.
• Technical experience in humanitarian assistance and emergency response.
• Demonstrated success in developing and securing funding from institutional, bilateral, multilateral, and private donors.
• Proven financial oversight experience, including management or supervision of budgets exceeding $5 million.
• Fluency in English with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of East or Southern African languages is an asset.

• Master’s degree or equivalent advanced degree in international development, economics, social sciences, project planning, or a related field.
• Extensive experience in food security, health, livelihoods, peace, and justice programming in East and Southern Africa.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in humanitarian and development sectors, including regional or multi-country oversight.
• Prior Country Director experience preferred; regional leadership experience is a strong asset.