Country Director Handicap International

Base: Sana a, Yemen.

Under the responsibility of the Geographic Director Middle East, the Yemen Country Director is responsible for implementing the Operational Strategy (2026-27 strategy currently being designed), in line with the HI Global Strategy. He/she ensures optimal quality and impact of the activities in the Program, through a delegation system with appropriate control mechanisms. He/she shares with all HI managers the responsibility of sound management and successful functioning of the global organization, through paradigm changes.

YOUR MISSION:

The Country Director is the legal representative in the country of the overall HI organization internally and externally and promotes a high reputation and positive image of HI.

He/she deploys HI s full mandate and 2026-27 Strategy in his/her geographical area, with operational partners, institutions and/or donors, and steers organizational transformation in line with HI global standards. In case of emergency, he/she takes responsibilities in accordance with the response framework defined.

He/she ensures compliance with his/her budget framework (including unrestricted funds) and HI policies and frameworks (safeguarding, commitment thresholds, security, human resources, risk management, etc.)

He/she actively monitors and analyses context developments in his/her geographical area, in order to identify risks and opportunities.

Responsibility 1: Management

• Set up team spirit and a functioning team, guaranteeing synergies and exchanges of good practices between the different actors in the Program and with head office colleagues.
• Based on the Human resources strategy of the Program (in the StratOp), size and plan annually human resources needs of the Program.
• Recruit and contribute to the professional development, autonomy and well-being at work of his/her direct managers: in link with the corresponding professional channels, set formalized individual objectives, ensure coherence between HI s needs and competencies and motivation of his/her teams, develop and monitor competence development plan, evaluate individual performance, contribute to career evolution.
• Acknowledge individual and collective efforts and performance.
• Embody and transmit HI values, ensure compliance with code of conduct and institutional policies, ensure the expected mind set and individual and collective behaviors, and disciplinary measures when necessary.
• Conduct a Program Steering Committee with his/her direct managers: Operations Manager, Area Managers, Technical Unit Manager & Shared (support) Services managers.
• Steer organization transformation, in particular through managerial and work practice change and continuous improvement of working processes.

Responsibility 2: Deployment of HI Strategy and HI frameworks and regulations in the program

• Conduct the development of the Program s Operational Strategy (StratOp), and its implementation and annual monitoring, taking into account context and external constraints, HI s mandate and global strategy, the Technical Strategies and the Development plans of Emergency, Atlas and Impact-Innovation-Information Divisions.
• The Operational Strategy includes a fundraising strategy aligned with HI s ethical principles and the Institutional Funding Development Plan.
• Develop regular contact with donors at field level and liaise regularly with Institutional Funding Division.
• Ensure the best allocation of resources to match Program s ambitions, and plan accordingly (including support missions).
• Ensure the deployment of and compliance with HI global frameworks, institutional policies and standards.
• Ensure financial control and monitoring of operations are effective in the Program
• Ensure technical quality standards are applied in the projects of the Program, and monitor the implementation of evaluations and donor audit recommendations.
• Facilitate internal audits (operational, financial and organizational) and ensure the implementation of their recommendations.
• Be responsible for security management: in link with the Security advisor, develop a culture of safety & security at Program level; ensure that security documents are up-to-date and that all necessary measures are put in place; ensure incident management and reporting according to HI frameworks.
• With both potential opportunities and risks in mind, ensure continuous monitoring and analysis of current developments in his/her geographical context

Responsibility 3: Legal representative

• Employer s representative responsibilities and compliance with local working regulations.
• Communications on behalf of HI.
• Representation of HI vis- -vis local, national, traditional, political, military and diplomatic authorities and bodies.
• Representation of HI vis- -vis international organizations and coordination mechanisms & system.
• Negotiation and signature of operational partnerships, and monitoring of operational partnerships signed in affiliated countries.

Responsibility 4: Influence and leadership

• Take on the messages of HI global advocacy to all relevant external parties.
• Develop a specific local advocacy activity in accordance with the Operational Strategy of the Program.
• Develop communication and information activities, in accordance with the Operational Strategy
• Contribute to the conception, promotion and evolution of HI strategy and policies.