SNV is a global development partner, working on the core themes of gender equality and social inclusion, climate adaptation and mitigation, and strong institutions and effective governance, with a focus on the Agri-Food, Energy, and Water sectors. 

The role of Country Director is critical for the success of SNV and reports directly to the Director Country Programmes. The Country Director Benin will spearhead SNV’s impact, business development, operational excellence and partner engagement in the country. Our aim is to ensure the presence and programs in Benin and to expand our donor portfolio.  

SNV seeks an entrepreneurial, results-oriented, people leader who will build the Benin country team to the next level enabling and delivering high quality impact programs.  SNV has a solid track record in Benin of more than 50 years.
SNV offers the successful candidate a challenging position, in further developing the country program portfolio in a growing development context in Benin and neighbouring countries. The Benin programs were previously supported through the Mali Country Director. With its current EUR 6 million, Benin operations is well established to further grow its position under independent country leadership.

The Country Director is responsible for leading and enabling the country programs with and through their team and local implementation partners. This is a great opportunity for an entrepreneurial leader with a focus on upscaling and strengthening country operations through high-quality program delivery, as well as further developing the SNV position and opportunities with investors and partners alike.

The Country Director needs to be well informed about national and international development priorities and steer the sectors and themes in response to these priorities. The Country Director is expected to forge partnerships and alliances between SNV and important national and international actors and stimulate collaboration for impact. They will be the face of SNV in the country and ensure its positive image and visibility.

The Country Director leads, coaches and supports their team and inspires a total team of 50 team members working from offices in Cotonou, Parakou, Natitingou and Kandi. Building capabilities to deliver our 2030 ambition is a key deliverable for the country team. The Country Director is a key member of SNV’s global senior leadership team, making meaningful contributions across the West and central Africa region and the wider organisation to further shape and enable the future of SNV.

Duties and Responsibilities
The selected candidate will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Strategic leadership of the country and its current and future programs within the overall parameters of SNV’s global strategy;
• Strong and supportive people leadership enabling the country team: creating and nurturing an environment that supports high performance, continuous learning and teamwork at all levels;
• Representation and profiling: building partnerships and maintaining excellent relationships with the national and local governments, donors, partners,  businesses, policy makers and other relevant stakeholders;
• Oversight and quality assurance of project implementation (including project director roles) ensuring the delivery of impact to the satisfaction of key stakeholders and compliance with SNV’s and the donor’s financial standards and monitoring protocols;
• Business development to grow the country position and its programs, ensure financial sustainability of SNV Kenya and Burundi and ensure a high-quality project design;
• Collaboration with other SNV countries to effectively exploit opportunities for synergy, deliver at scale (including multi-country projects), exchange knowledge and strengthen SNV’s position;
•  Foster innovation of SNV products and services: facilitates learning, documentation and evidence-based knowledge development in collaboration with SNV’s global team and partners; and ensures collaboration with renowned knowledge institutes and networks.

To be considered for this role, the following education and experience is required:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline;
• At least 5 years of relevant leadership experience in an international development environment at a senior level and taking part of management team;
• Knowledge and understanding of the international development context in West Africa and the Sahel region, including familiarity with key financiers and actors in SNV’s three sectors;
• Strong business acumen accompanied by an innate people-centric focus;
• Ability to coach, lead, stimulate, and inspire professionals in a development context;
• Self-starting professional, with entrepreneurial skills and data-driven approach to business leadership
• Good track record in mobilising resources from the public and private sector, including strong networking and positioning skills at multiple levels;
• Proven ability of establishing partnerships, consortia and fostering relationships with government at multiple levels;
• Proven track record in project management including familiarity with donor-funded project procedures and processes;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, culturally aware, inclusive and open-minded;
• Proficiency in both written and spoken English and French is required.
• Availability to travel to North Benin where most of the activities take place

• Contract Type: fulltime position
• Contract Duration: 3 years initial assignment, with the possibility to extend
• Desired Start Date: July 2024  
• Duty Station: Cotonou, Benin

Working at SNV
SNV offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. We offer a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from, and contribute to, an internal global network of experts. For more information, please visit our website: www.snv.org/careers.

SNV strives to be an inclusive employer, thriving on the diversity of its people and does not discriminate on the basis of disability status, religion, ethnic origin, gender and sexual orientation, etc.

How to apply
If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by uploading your CV and letter of motivation by 22nd of March 2024.

Reference check and vetting
We will require that you provide us with the full details of three people who are willing to act as a reference. We will not contact these references without your explicit permission.

SNV carries out rigorous background and reference checks concerning possible safeguarding incidents for all candidates applying for International determined positions. As SNV participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a request to past employers to fill in a questionnaire regarding Misconduct (sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment), the “Statement of Conduct". This Statement of Conduct adopts the definitions used in the Scheme.