Operations Director
Job Title: Operations Director - Malawi
Reports to: Country Director
Terms: This is a 24-month replacement role with accompanied terms based in Lilongwe with a salary of GBF7 (EUR50,107 - EUR55,674).
Location: Lilongwe, Malawi
Travel requirement: 40% travel to Concern field operations areas.
About Concern: Concern is a non-profit humanitarian organisation dedicated to reducing suffering and eliminating extreme poverty. This role sits on the Country Management Team and leads operations support across HR, Logistics, IT, Administration, security, and systems delivery.
Role purpose: The Operations Director reports to the Country Director and manages staff across HR, Logistics, IT, and Administration while collaborating with programme and finance teams, partners, and head office. The role ensures efficient operations support in both development and emergency contexts, leads security management, drives strategic operations development, and represents Concern with government, donors, NGOs, and other stakeholders as required.
Key responsibilities include:
- Provide strategic leadership as part of the Country Management Team and contribute to planning, decision-making, and implementation of Concern Malawi strategic frameworks.
- Lead logistics and supply chain systems, including procurement, transport, warehousing, tenders, fleet planning, imports, and asset management.
- Oversee HR strategy, policy alignment, recruitment planning, staff retention and development, performance management, and welfare systems.
- Manage administration, premises, legal and compliance matters, travel systems, permits, and country support procedures.
- Supervise IT and communications systems, data protection controls, backups, and electronic archiving.
- Act as national Security Focal Point, maintain the Security Management Plan, monitor incidents and trends, and support crisis management preparedness.
- Support budgeting, proposal development, and operational cost management with programme and finance leadership.
- Lead and coach operations staff while strengthening partner due diligence, support, and capacity building.
Essential requirements include:
- Graduate qualification in Business Administration, HR, Supply Chain, Humanitarian Logistics, or a related discipline.
- At least 6 years overseas experience with an international NGO in operations, including 2-3 years at senior management level.
- Strong experience managing diverse operational teams in complex contexts.
- Background in supply chain and logistics plus expertise in at least one other area such as HR, security, administration, or IT.
- Familiarity with donor regulations including Irish Aid, FCDO, and EU requirements.
- Excellent leadership, communication, planning, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Advanced IT literacy and willingness to travel frequently to rural locations.
Desirable: Experience in Malawi or Southern Africa, knowledge of Concern or similar INGO policies, and experience across both development and emergency contexts.
Apply with your CV and cover letter. Concern may make an offer before the closing date.
Reports to: Country Director
Terms: This is a 24-month replacement role with accompanied terms based in Lilongwe with a salary of GBF7 (EUR50,107 - EUR55,674).
Location: Lilongwe, Malawi
Travel requirement: 40% travel to Concern field operations areas.
About Concern: Concern is a non-profit humanitarian organisation dedicated to reducing suffering and eliminating extreme poverty. This role sits on the Country Management Team and leads operations support across HR, Logistics, IT, Administration, security, and systems delivery.
Role purpose: The Operations Director reports to the Country Director and manages staff across HR, Logistics, IT, and Administration while collaborating with programme and finance teams, partners, and head office. The role ensures efficient operations support in both development and emergency contexts, leads security management, drives strategic operations development, and represents Concern with government, donors, NGOs, and other stakeholders as required.
Key responsibilities include:
- Provide strategic leadership as part of the Country Management Team and contribute to planning, decision-making, and implementation of Concern Malawi strategic frameworks.
- Lead logistics and supply chain systems, including procurement, transport, warehousing, tenders, fleet planning, imports, and asset management.
- Oversee HR strategy, policy alignment, recruitment planning, staff retention and development, performance management, and welfare systems.
- Manage administration, premises, legal and compliance matters, travel systems, permits, and country support procedures.
- Supervise IT and communications systems, data protection controls, backups, and electronic archiving.
- Act as national Security Focal Point, maintain the Security Management Plan, monitor incidents and trends, and support crisis management preparedness.
- Support budgeting, proposal development, and operational cost management with programme and finance leadership.
- Lead and coach operations staff while strengthening partner due diligence, support, and capacity building.
Essential requirements include:
- Graduate qualification in Business Administration, HR, Supply Chain, Humanitarian Logistics, or a related discipline.
- At least 6 years overseas experience with an international NGO in operations, including 2-3 years at senior management level.
- Strong experience managing diverse operational teams in complex contexts.
- Background in supply chain and logistics plus expertise in at least one other area such as HR, security, administration, or IT.
- Familiarity with donor regulations including Irish Aid, FCDO, and EU requirements.
- Excellent leadership, communication, planning, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Advanced IT literacy and willingness to travel frequently to rural locations.
Desirable: Experience in Malawi or Southern Africa, knowledge of Concern or similar INGO policies, and experience across both development and emergency contexts.
Apply with your CV and cover letter. Concern may make an offer before the closing date.