COUNTRY DIRECTOR - RWANDA

JOB SUMMARY CARE Rwanda is seeking a Country Director (CD) to provide overall leadership and strategic direction for all operations within the country office, ensuring alignment with CARE’s global mission to save lives, combat poverty, and promote social justice. CARE seeks a visionary leader whose approach, experience, and behaviors reflect the following attributes : Leads with Purpose and Clarity Adapts to Complex Contexts Demonstrates an Entrepreneurial Mindset Models Integrity and Accountability Builds and Empowers Diverse Teams Engages and Influences Externally Drives Operational Discipline and Risk Awareness The Country Director is accountable for program quality, operational excellence, and risk management in complex and fragile contexts, ensuring that resources are effectively managed and compliance standards are met. As CARE’s primary representative, the CD cultivates and maintains high-level relationships with government authorities, donors, civil society, and the private sector. The role requires proactive resource mobilization, including developing innovative funding streams beyond traditional bilateral and institutional donors, and positioning the organization as a trusted and influential partner. In this role, the CD champions innovation in programming, advancing community-led and locally owned solutions that meet the needs of vulnerable populations, especially women and girls. By fostering inclusive partnerships, the CD strengthens organizational resilience and sustainability, adapting to shifting political, economic, and security dynamics. The CD also leads, mentors, and inspires a diverse team, driving a culture of accountability, learning, safety, and inclusion. With entrepreneurial thinking and visionary leadership, the person in this role ensures high performance, sustainable impact, and transformative change for communities. RESPONSIBILITIES Strategy and Execution Lead the development and execution of the Country Office’s multi-year strategy, ensuring alignment with CARE’s global and regional priorities while responding to the national development agenda. Drive organizational transformation and entrepreneurial innovation in roles, systems, and approaches, ensuring the CO remains agile, relevant, and competitive in a fast-changing environment. Exercise adaptive and opportunity-driven leadership, tailoring strategies to shifting political, social, and economic contexts while leveraging emerging opportunities. Build organizational capacity for strategic foresight and scenario planning, enabling evidence-based decision-making and resilience to shocks. People Leadership and Development Provide visionary leadership to a diverse team, cultivating a culture of innovation, inclusion, collaboration, accountability, and alignment with CARE’s values. Champion a results-oriented environment by setting clear expectations, monitoring performance, and driving continuous improvement. Identify and develop exceptional talent, ensuring robust succession planning, leadership pathways, and entrepreneurial thinking across all levels. Strengthen resilience and organizational continuity through innovative knowledge transfer and capacity-building processes. Resource Mobilization & Representation Design and implement comprehensive resource mobilization strategies to secure diversified funding from institutional, multilateral, philanthropic, and private sector partners. Cultivate and expand relationships with traditional and emerging donors, government institutions, civil society, and private sector actors. Apply business-minded leadership to explore innovative financing models, including impact investments, CSR partnerships, social enterprises, and local resource generation, to strengthen sustainability. Represent CARE externally, positioning the CO as a credible and influential partner, enhancing its visibility, and shaping donor and policy agendas. Operational Excellence & Risk Management Oversee operational systems to ensure efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and compliance with CARE global standards. Lead risk management and safeguarding efforts to protect staff, partners, and program participants, ensuring strong security, fraud mitigation, and regulatory compliance. Ensure financial sustainability through effective budgeting, cost recovery, and prudent allocation of resources. Monitor and adjust management structures to remain fit-for-purpose and proportionate to income. Program Quality and Impact Ensure that programs are evidence-based, community-centered, and innovative, leveraging technology, entrepreneurial models, and digital solutions to deliver scalable and transformative impact. Ensure compliance with program quality standards, M&E systems, and timely delivery of high-quality projects. Foster local ownership by strengthening civil society capacity, co-creating solutions, and advancing CARE’s localization agenda. Leverage partnerships with government, private sector, and communities to scale innovation and deepen program impact. #LI-AM2