The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is seeking a highly qualified, experienced, and motivated professional to serve as Country Director for its South Sudan operation.

About the job

DRC is a leading international protection agency working to protect, advocate for, and promote durable solutions for displacement-affected populations. In East Africa and the Great Lakes (EAGL), DRC operates in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda.

DRC has been present in South Sudan since 2005, delivering humanitarian assistance and protection services across the country. DRC currently implements both mobile and static operations, with established presence in Upper Nile, Eastern Equatoria, and Abyei Administrative Area. Programmes range from emergency response and anticipatory action to durable solutions, with a strong focus on Protection, WASH, Shelter, Economic Recovery, Humanitarian Disarmament, and Peacebuilding.

The Country Office is based in Juba.

Overall purpose of the role:

The South Sudan context requires strong, adaptive, and principled leadership capable of navigating a complex humanitarian and operational environment. Reporting to the Executive Director of the EAGL Hub, the Country Director (CD) will provide strategic leadership and overall management of DRC’s country operations in South Sudan.

The CD is accountable for the overall direction, quality, safety, and integrity of DRC’s programme and operations in-country. This includes ensuring impactful programming, strong external representation, effective advocacy, sound financial oversight, operational risk management, and staff safety and wellbeing.

The Country Director directly supervises the Head of Programme, Head of Support Services, Area Managers, and Head of Safety.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Provide visionary and inclusive leadership across DRC South Sudan operations.
• Lead the implementation and development of DRC’s country strategy in alignment with DRC’s global strategic priorities.
• Foster a collaborative organizational culture that promotes accountability, innovation, and principled humanitarian action.
• Ensure effective senior management teamwork and decision-making.

Representation and External Engagement

• Represent DRC with national authorities, donors, UN agencies, NGOs, clusters, and coordination forums.
• Strengthen DRC’s positioning and visibility nationally and within the EAGL region.
• Maintain constructive relationships with key stakeholders, including communities, local authorities, humanitarian actors, and donors.
• Lead strategic advocacy efforts on displacement-related issues and humanitarian access.

Programme Oversight and Development

• Ensure quality, compliant, and impactful programme implementation.
• In collaboration with the Head of Programme, support programme development, proposal design, fundraising, and donor engagement.
• Promote evidence-based programming, accountability to affected populations, and impact measurement.
• Support diversified and sustainable funding strategies.

Safety and Security

• Maintain overall accountability for safety and security management.
• Ensure that operations are conducted in accordance with DRC security policies and procedures.
• Monitor contextual developments and support informed operational decision-making in volatile environments.

Operational and Financial Management

• Oversee financial management, budget monitoring, and compliance with donor and DRC requirements.
• Ensure efficient resource allocation and accountable operational systems.
• Strengthen organizational resilience and risk management practices across all functions.

People Management

• Lead, coach, and support senior managers and promote staff wellbeing and professional development.
• Ensure performance management systems are effectively implemented.
• Promote safeguarding, diversity, inclusion, and adherence to DRC’s Code of Conduct.

About you

To succeed in this role, you will be a strategic and experienced humanitarian leader with strong people management and stakeholder engagement skills. You will thrive in complex and high-pressure environments and bring a principled, solutions-oriented approach to leadership.

Required:

• Minimum of 7 years of senior management experience in humanitarian and/or development settings, including experience as Country Director or equivalent senior leadership role.
• Master’s degree in Political Science, International Development, Economics, Humanitarian Affairs, or another relevant field.
• Demonstrated experience leading operations in complex and insecure environments.
• Strong experience representing organizations with donors, authorities, and coordination mechanisms.
• Proven experience in donor engagement, fundraising, and managing multi-donor portfolios.
• Experience managing large and diverse teams in high-stress contexts.
• Experience working on displacement-related issues, including with IDPs and conflict-affected populations.
• Previous experience in East Africa and/or the Horn of Africa is strongly preferred.
• Full professional proficiency in English.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on achieving results while maintaining efficient processes.

Collaborating: You engage with relevant stakeholders and encourage constructive feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership of tasks and are open to innovation.

Communicating: You are clear, concise, and respectful in your communication.

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest ethical standards and DRC's Code of Conduct.

We offer

• An opportunity to lead one of DRC’s key operations in a highly dynamic humanitarian context.
• A challenging and rewarding leadership role within a globally recognized humanitarian organization.
• A supportive and collaborative international working environment.
• Salary and conditions in accordance with DRC Terms of Employment for International or National employees

Contract length: 24 months (renewable based on performance and funding)

Employment Band: D-Management

Work location: Juba, South Sudan

Start date: 1 August 2026 or soon thereafter

Application process

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply online through DRC’s recruitment platform, by uploading a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Please note that candidates who previously applied for this position do not need to submit a new application. Existing applications will remain under active consideration throughout the renewed recruitment process.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Closing date for applications: 1 July 2026.

For more information about the Danish Refugee Council, please visit our website drc.ngo.

Danish Refugee Council is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and positive work environment based on mutual respect for all employees. All applicants are considered for employment regardless of personal characteristics or attributes.