Country Director - Burundi

Care

CARE originally established an office in Burundi in 1994 to help people affected by civil unrest. Our initial program focused on the distribution of emergency supplies to internally displaced people and returning refugees in the northern part of the country.
Website: https://www.care-international.org/

COUNTRY DIRECTOR - BURUNDI

Department        BURUNDI

 

Work Location    Burundi - Bujumbura

 

Who We Are:

As a global leader, CARE is shaping the future of the humanitarian and development sector. Each year, we deliver support and services to millions of people globally. We do this by focusing on our mission and vision, and the values of equality and excellence that guide our organization. We seek dedicated individuals who align with our mission and are passionate about making it a reality by collaborating with others, embracing learning and innovation, and delivering results.

What We Are Looking For:
At CARE, we value diversely talented people who can bring different experiences and perspectives to our organization. We know that not all applicants will have every skill and qualification. We encourage everyone who meets the minimum required qualifications to apply. Having one or more of the preferred qualifications will strengthen an application. But, even if you are earlier in your career or followed a non-traditional educational or professional path, we hope you will consider a career at CARE.

 

Job Title: COUNTRY DIRECTOR - BURUNDI

Job Location(s): Burundi - Bujumbura

Lead Transformational Change. Deliver Lasting Impact.

CARE is seeking an exceptional and visionary Country Director to lead its operations in Burundi. This is a high-impact leadership role for a dynamic individual who can navigate complexity, inspire teams, and drive innovative solutions that improve the lives of vulnerable communities—especially women and girls.

As Country Director, you will shape the strategic direction of CARE’s country program, ensuring operational excellence, sustainable growth, and meaningful, scalable impact in a challenging and evolving context.

CARE strongly encourages applications from qualified Burudian Nationals and will prioritize hiring on a local contract for this role. International candidates will only be considered if a suitable local candidate cannot be identified. 

The Opportunity

You are more than a leader—you are:

An Innovator: Driving change and embracing new approaches, including digital transformation

A Network Builder: Cultivating strong partnerships across government, civil society, and the private sector

A Leader of Complexity: Guiding high-performing teams with emotional intelligence and clarity

Impact-Driven: Delivering cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable results

Agile & Adaptive: Thriving in fast-changing environments and leading transformation

 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Execution

Lead the development and delivery of CARE Burundi’s multi-year strategy aligned to global and national priorities

Drive organizational transformation, innovation, and adaptive programming

Strengthen strategic foresight and resilience through data-driven decision-making

People Leadership & Culture

Inspire and lead a diverse team, fostering a culture of inclusion, accountability, and high performance

Build leadership pipelines, support talent development, and embed continuous learning

Resource Mobilization & External Representation

Secure and diversify funding through institutional, private sector, and innovative financing streams

Position CARE as a trusted partner with donors, government, and key stakeholders

Represent CARE at the highest levels, influencing policy and development agendas

Operational Excellence & Risk Management

Ensure efficient, compliant, and cost-effective operations

Oversee financial sustainability, risk management, and safeguarding

Maintain strong systems that deliver quality programs on time and within budget

Program Quality & Impact

Champion innovative, evidence-based, and community-led programming

Strengthen localization and partnerships to scale impact

Ensure delivery of high-quality programs with measurable outcomes

Why Join CARE?

At CARE, you will lead with purpose—driving innovative, locally led solutions that create lasting change. You’ll be part of a global organization committed to equity, inclusion, and tackling the root causes of poverty and social injustice. 

#LI-CM1

Required Qualifications:

1. Minimum of 6–8 years of senior leadership experience in the international development or humanitarian sector, with accountability for strategy, operations, people, and financial performance.
2. Proven experience leading organizational strategy, complex operations, and high-performing teams in multicultural and dynamic environments.
3. Strong leadership and people management skills, with demonstrated ability to coach, develop, and inspire diverse teams to deliver results.
4. Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets, ensuring donor compliance, financial stewardship, and audit readiness.
5. Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities, with the ability to lead effectively in complex and evolving contexts.
6. Proven ability to build partnerships and foster a culture of learning, accountability, and continuous improvement.
7. Fluent communication in both English and French

Preferred Qualifications:

- Master's Degree in related field

There are individuals who may use CARE’s name and trademark in emails and on websites in an attempt to solicit fees from interested job-seekers. Some examples of these fees are placement fees or immigration processing fees. CARE does not use recruiting or placement agencies that charge candidates an up-front fee of any kind. Occasionally, CARE does employ recruiting or placement agencies to help us identify candidates for specific employment within CARE. If you’re contacted by a legitimate recruiting or placement agency, there should be no charge to you. If you suspect that you have been a victim of fraud from someone purporting to be CARE, please contact us at legal@care.org. Please do not email legal@care.org to apply for this position. Instead, click "apply now" below in order to submit your interest.

CARE is an Equal Opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

Starting salaries are based on internal equity, candidate experience, and the cost of labor where the job is based. Salaries listed only apply to jobs based in the US.