MYANMAR - Country Director (M/F) - YANGON
Solidarités International
Director and Top Executive Full-time Desired start date: 13/04/2026
Duration of the mission: 18 months
Location: Yangon
SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) is an international humanitarian aid association which, since more than 40 years, has been providing assistance to populations affected by armed conflicts and natural disasters by meeting their basic needs for food, water and shelter. Particularly committed to the fight against diseases linked to unsafe water, the leading cause of death in the world, SI's interventions provide expertise in the field of access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, but also in the essential area of food security and livelihoods. Present in 26 countries, the SI teams – 3200 people in total, made up of expatriates, national staff, permanent staff at HQ, and a few volunteers - intervene with professionalism and commitment while respecting cultural norms.
Large volume of grants (8, regular ones) and impacts of fundraising dedicated to the Earthquake response (top-ups and 4 new grants), covering Rakhine, Kachin and the central part of the country. Participation to number of consortia of various international and national NGOs across bases.
Projects funded by ECHO, UNOPS, UNICEF, MHF, FCDO, CDCS, CIAA-AAP, French Agence de l'Eau.
210 staff in total in the mission (13 expatriates) including 30 persons in coordination
General objective:
The Country Director is Solidarités International’s official representative in a country, towards authorities and external stakeholders. S/He oversees the smooth running of the mission. S/He proposes mission strategy, according to the geopolitical and humanitarian context, and ensures its implementation once it has been validated. S/He ensures projects are progressing in accordance with the Solidarités International charter and complying with internal and contractual procedures. S/He mobilizes the material and financial resources necessary for the programs to run effectively and supervises the administration of these resources. S/He coordinates the teams in place and ensures their security on the mission. S/He is the direct liaison for Solidarités International’s HQ.
The main challenges:
- High volatility of the context, heterogeinity of dynamics of the various areas in the country.
- Strong contraction of humanitarian space, and numerous ethical dilemnas regarding engagement with all stakeholders (strengthened by the post-Elections settings by the end of Q1 2026).
- Foreseen harsh descrease of funding for the Myanmar Response (forgotten or disregarded crisis).
- Required work and focus on organizational transformation of the mission (operational model, balance between direct and indirect interventions, re-establishment and consolidation of SMT in country).
- Re-establishment of work on humanitarian access.
- Country Director position requiring strong capacities for external representation and discreet advocacy in a complex humanitarian environment
- High localized humanitarian, resilience building and development responses.
Priorities for the 2/3 first months:
- Complete the transition of operational model for the Rakhine response.
- Finalize positioning on key structuring grants.
- Monitor and adapt to developments, challenges and opportunities following the General Elections.
- Consolidate revised ways of working of the SMT, following regrouping in country
Responsibilities and main activities:
- Yangon remains classified as a relatively calm duty station (security level 2). Security context in urban areas (Yangon, Mandalay) might negatively evolve following the Elections cycle and appointment of a new Government.
- Operational areas of SI (historical ones, current ones, monitored ones - Central Rakhine; Kachin; Central Dry Zone) are unstable (Security level 3) with open conflict activity at immediate vicinity.
Areas under indirect programming are directly affected by ongoing conflict activity (importance of the framework related to risk sharing and security frameworks analysis and strengthening)
- Remote management and adapted/mixed modalities require a strong application of digital/online security framework.
Education / academic background:
| University level degree, preferably a Master degree in Political Science, International Relations, Humanitarian Aid |
Specific skills and experience:
| 1. Excellent Management skills and Internal communication and coordination |
| 2. External representation and donors' engagement |
| 3. Strategy development, revision and action planning |
| 1. Experience in complex and large consortia |
| 2. Experience in supporting humanitarian access development |
| 3. Humanitarian analysis and the advocacy on humanitarian principles |
Language:
| 1. English (fluent) |
| 2. French (an asset, portfolio is partly French donors funded) |
| 3. Burmese (desirable) |
A salaried position:
According to experience, starting from EUR 3740 gross per month (3400 EUR base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly Per Diem of USD 600.
SI also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate's country of origin and the place of assignment.
Breaks: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of 7 working days every three months (with a USD 850 break allowance, allocated by Sl). To these breaks periods, SI grants one (1) additional rest day per month worked.
Insurance package: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which refunds all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.
LIVING CONDITIONS:
The post will be based in Yangon. Living conditions remain good, with access to all necessary services and a good rang of both sportive and social activities. Administrative management (visa, residency) is a constraint, especially at the onset of the position, with limited possibilities to exit the country.
Do you recognize yourself in this description? If yes, please send us your CV and cover letter!
Please note that CV-only applications will not be considered, and that the vacancy may close before the deadline.
Thank you for your understanding.
To learn more about Sl: www.solidarites.org
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Solidarités International (SI) est déterminé à prévenir et à combattre tout type d’abus – tout acte d’exploitation, d’abus et/ou de harcèlement sexuels (SEAH) à l’encontre des membres des communautés bénéficiaires ou de ses collaborateurs et collaboratrices, atteinte aux personnes et/ou aux biens, fraude, corruption, conflit d’intérêt non déclaré, financement d’activités portant atteinte aux droits de l’homme - qui pourrait être perpétré dans le cadre de ses interventions. SI applique une tolérance zéro à l’égard de tout type d’abus, particulièrement des actes de SEAH.
Solidarités International est un employeur équitable qui combat toute forme de discrimination. SI ne demandera jamais une rétribution quelconque en vue de participer à un processus de recrutement.
Solidarités International (SI) is determined to prevent and fight all type of abuse – all act of exploitation, abuse and/or sexual harassment (SEAH) against members of beneficiary communities or collaborators, fraud, corruption, violation of persons and/or property, funding of activities harmful to human rights – that could be perpetrated in the frame of its interventions. SI implements a zero-tolerance policy regarding acts of abuse, notably acts of SEAH.
Solidarités International is an equitable employer committed to find all forms of discrimination. SI will ever ask for any remuneration to take part in a recruitment process.
