Desk Director
Level inferred from job title
Job description
The Desk Director provides strategic oversight and leadership for a portfolio of up to seven country programmes with a combined annual value of approximately $60 million, directly managing Country Directors and leading a Desk Team. The role sits at the intersection of strategy, operations and humanitarian leadership within Relief International's Programs team.
At a glance
- Work mode
- Remote · UTC+1 to UTC+4 time zones
- Languages
- English – fluent, French, Arabic
What you'll do
- Provide strategic leadership and oversight for a multi-country portfolio, ensuring alignment with Relief International's global strategy, country priorities and donor expectations.
- Directly line manage Country Directors and the Desk Manager, providing leadership, coaching, accountability and support to drive high performance across the portfolio.
- Oversee programme quality, operational performance, financial management, compliance and security across all countries within the Desk portfolio.
- Ensure country programmes are delivering high-quality, timely and compliant services while effectively managing risk and maintaining strong donor confidence.
- Lead cross-functional coordination with Finance, HR, Security, Supply Chain & Operations, Awards Management and Technical teams to resolve challenges and improve programme performance.
- Support and guide donor engagement efforts, strategic positioning and business development initiatives to strengthen programme sustainability and portfolio growth.
- Provide oversight of proposal development processes, ensuring donor submissions are strategic, competitive, compliant and aligned with organizational priorities.
- Drive risk management across the portfolio, ensuring proactive identification and mitigation of operational, programmatic, security and reputational risks.
- Foster collaboration, innovation and knowledge sharing across countries and departments to strengthen learning and programme impact.
- Contribute as a senior leader within the Program Implementation Department, helping shape organizational strategy, priorities and continuous improvement initiatives.
What we're looking for
- Master's degree in International Development, Political Science, Social Sciences or a related field.
- Significant senior leadership experience within humanitarian and development organizations, including multi-country, regional or global management responsibilities.
- Demonstrated success managing large and complex donor-funded portfolios across fragile, conflict-affected and rapidly changing environments.
- Strong experience working with major institutional donors including BHA, PRM, ECHO, UN agencies and other international funding bodies.
- Excellent understanding of programme cycle management, programme quality standards, compliance frameworks and risk management systems.
- Exceptional leadership and people management skills, with experience coaching senior leaders and building high-performing teams across multiple locations.
- Proven ability to influence, negotiate and collaborate effectively with donors, partners, boards, senior executives and cross-functional teams.
- Strong strategic thinking and decision-making skills, with the ability to balance operational realities, humanitarian imperatives and organizational objectives.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
Nice to have
- French and/or Arabic language skills are highly desirable.
- Experience in localization, partnership strengthening, climate resilience or nexus programming would be an advantage.
Your team
Programs team
The role reports to the Director of Program Implementation and is a senior member of Relief International's Programs team, leading a Desk Team.
Benefits
- Competitive salaries and benefit packages for all staff that are applied fairly and transparently.
Apply
About Relief International
Relief International is an international non-profit organization that partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience and promote long-term health and wellbeing. Our teams work across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, delivering Health and Nutrition, WASH, Protection, Education and Livelihoods programming that creates the foundation for resilient communities. Operating under a one-team model, Relief International brings together global expertise and local knowledge to deliver effective humanitarian and development programming in some of the world's most challenging environments.
Mission
Partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience and promote long-term health and wellbeing.
Key facts
- Humanitarian and development non-profit
- Works across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East
- Delivers Health and Nutrition, WASH, Protection, Education and Livelihoods programming
- Operates under a one-team model
- Global recruiter hiring people from around the world
What they value
- Inclusive and authentic workplace
- Representative workplace