Country Director – Mali

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 1,200 NGOs operating in 16 of the world’s most insecure countries.

INSO is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands- the international city of peace and justice.

INSO in Mali

INSO launched in Mali during 2013 and has since provided services supporting the delivery of humanitarian aid and preserving the safety of staff. More than 200 national and international NGOs benefit from INSO services in country through its coordination office in Bamako and field presence in Gao, Kidal, Ménaka, Mopti-Sévaré, Ségou, Sikasso and Timbuktu.

Job Summary

As the Country Director, you will provide direct leadership, coordination, representation, supervision, and management to all staff and services and set the strategic framework for the Mali platform. You will have solid program and people management skills and be a confident leader, communicator, consensus-builder and networker. You will also combine a keen intellect and analytical skills. Working for INSO in Mali means joining a dynamic and talented team where you will directly support humanitarian efforts through advice and analysis that helps keep our partners safe.

This position is based in Bamako and reports to the Regional Director – West Africa.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Program strategy and management

• Manage the Country Office team, including direct supervision of senior management and oversight of the program, operations, and finance teams.
• Provide dedicated, effective leadership across and ensure cohesion across all functions.
• Develop overall strategy and annual planning.
• Steward INSO resources effectively in compliance with internal and donor policies.
• Liaise with Regional Director and HQ technical referents.
• Responsible for safety and security of the staff, program and assets.

Representation

• Maintain and build the reputation of INSO.
• Effectively represent and protect INSO’s principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality; promote INSO as an integral member of the humanitarian community.
• Maintain donor engagement and track country-specific funding opportunities.
• Produce high-quality, compelling donor proposals and reports that underscore INSO’s impact.
• Engage with third parties, including authorities, UN agencies, diplomatic missions and security forces.
• Participate in external coordination activities related to safety, security, coordination and access.

Program support and monitoring

• Oversee delivery of INSO services, ensuring program objectives are met and quality maintained.
• Deliver strategic analysis to senior humanitarian leadership.
• Lead crisis management support to NGO partners or the NGO community during critical incidents.

Mandatory Requirements

Essential:

• Master’s Degree-level of education or equivalent work experience.
• French fluency and strong working knowledge of English.
• 3 years relevant work experience as an NGO Country Director or equivalent senior management experience in conflict/post-conflict contexts.
• Experience with project development and management, donor liaison, reporting and compliance.
• Proven analytical skills.
• Solid understanding of principles and practices in broad humanitarian action, NGO safety and risk management, humanitarian access and civil-military coordination.
• Excellent networking, diplomatic, and representative communication skills.

Nice to Have:

• Recent experience in Sahel region.
• Direct experience/involvement in a crisis management role.
• Experience in an interagency role.
• Previous INSO experience (as a team member, member of INSO’s country advisory board or beneficiary).

Personal Attributes

• Ability to identify issues and find a resolution.
• Excellent communication, organizational and managerial skills.
• Strong work ethic and capacity to take responsibility for your actions.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Confidentiality, integrity and an ability to sense conflicts-of-interest.

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.

Terms & Conditions:

Twelve-month contract, monthly salary of €6500, 4 calendar days annual leave per month and 7 days of R&R every 3 months with €1250 R&R allowance each cycle, global medical coverage (excluding USA), and USD $200,000 AD&D coverage.

How to apply:

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 1,200 NGOs operating in 16 of the world’s most insecure countries.

INSO is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands- the international city of peace and justice.

INSO in Mali

INSO launched in Mali during 2013 and has since provided services supporting the delivery of humanitarian aid and preserving the safety of staff. More than 200 national and international NGOs benefit from INSO services in country through its coordination office in Bamako and field presence in Gao, Kidal, Ménaka, Mopti-Sévaré, Ségou, Sikasso and Timbuktu.

Job Summary

As the Country Director, you will provide direct leadership, coordination, representation, supervision, and management to all staff and services and set the strategic framework for the Mali platform. You will have solid program and people management skills and be a confident leader, communicator, consensus-builder and networker. You will also combine a keen intellect and analytical skills. Working for INSO in Mali means joining a dynamic and talented team where you will directly support humanitarian efforts through advice and analysis that helps keep our partners safe.

This position is based in Bamako and reports to the Regional Director – West Africa.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Program strategy and management

• Manage the Country Office team, including direct supervision of senior management and oversight of the program, operations, and finance teams.
• Provide dedicated, effective leadership across and ensure cohesion across all functions.
• Develop overall strategy and annual planning.
• Steward INSO resources effectively in compliance with internal and donor policies.
• Liaise with Regional Director and HQ technical referents.
• Responsible for safety and security of the staff, program and assets.

Representation

• Maintain and build the reputation of INSO.
• Effectively represent and protect INSO’s principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality; promote INSO as an integral member of the humanitarian community.
• Maintain donor engagement and track country-specific funding opportunities.
• Produce high-quality, compelling donor proposals and reports that underscore INSO’s impact.
• Engage with third parties, including authorities, UN agencies, diplomatic missions and security forces.
• Participate in external coordination activities related to safety, security, coordination and access.

Program support and monitoring

• Oversee delivery of INSO services, ensuring program objectives are met and quality maintained.
• Deliver strategic analysis to senior humanitarian leadership.
• Lead crisis management support to NGO partners or the NGO community during critical incidents.

Mandatory Requirements

Essential:

• Master’s Degree-level of education or equivalent work experience.
• French fluency and strong working knowledge of English.
• 3 years relevant work experience as an NGO Country Director or equivalent senior management experience in conflict/post-conflict contexts.
• Experience with project development and management, donor liaison, reporting and compliance.
• Proven analytical skills.
• Solid understanding of principles and practices in broad humanitarian action, NGO safety and risk management, humanitarian access and civil-military coordination.
• Excellent networking, diplomatic, and representative communication skills.

Nice to Have:

• Recent experience in Sahel region.
• Direct experience/involvement in a crisis management role.
• Experience in an interagency role.
• Previous INSO experience (as a team member, member of INSO’s country advisory board or beneficiary).

Personal Attributes

• Ability to identify issues and find a resolution.
• Excellent communication, organizational and managerial skills.
• Strong work ethic and capacity to take responsibility for your actions.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Confidentiality, integrity and an ability to sense conflicts-of-interest.

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.

Terms & Conditions:

Twelve-month contract, monthly salary of €6500, 4 calendar days annual leave per month and 7 days of R&R every 3 months with €1250 R&R allowance each cycle, global medical coverage (excluding USA), and USD $200,000 AD&D coverage.