Country Manager Yemen

Are you an engaging leader, who has a passion for supporting localisation, build effective partnerships and manage a country team, then come work with us in one of our most exciting partnerships in the Middle East region?  

The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement is the world's largest humanitarian organization, and we are looking for a Country Manager in Yemen. 

The 10-year conflict in Yemen continues to be one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world today. The conflict has exacerbated pre-existing food insecurities, caused widespread human suffering, and led to significant damage to the economy, physical infrastructure, service provision, health, and education systems, as well as the social fabric. UNOCHA estimates it has led to 18.6 million out of the 32 million people in Yemen needing humanitarian assistance and internally displaced 4.5 million.

Danish Red Cross (DRC) has been working in Yemen bilaterally with Yemen Red Crescent Society (YRCS) for the last 20 years. During the early years of the partnership, DRC’s support to YRCS was mainly focused on branch development, as well as health and protection. Following the start of the Yemen conflict in 2015, DRC scaled up its support to YRCS in delivering lifesaving humanitarian assistance focusing on Primary Health Care Services, Epidemic Preparedness and Response, WaSH, Community based Psychosocial Support (CBPSS), and National Society Development. Furthermore, and in line with the commitments of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and the Grand Bargain, DRC together with other partners seek to strengthen the YRCS capacity through more aligned programming.

DRC’s budget for Yemen is approximately DKK 21 million, with key donors being DANIDA, DG-ECHO, and British Red Cross. The DRC team presently consists of a Country Manager, a Programme Delegate (remote), a Finance Delegate, a national Projects Coordinator and a Country Finance Officer.

Your tasks

The Country Manager reports to the DRC Head of Region based at the MENA Office in Beirut.

The Country Manager is overall responsible to represent DRC in-country, in the Movement’s effort to support the Yemeni Red Crescent, in line with DRC agenda on localization and to contribute to the Movement’s Way of Working. Additional responsibility is to ensure that the DRC supported Country Programme and partnership is implemented in line with the DRC International as well as the Country Strategy, Danish Red Cross Standard Operational Procedures, donor requirements and guidelines. 

The Yemen Country Manager is based in Sanaa at the Headquarters of the YRCS, and is responsible for:

• Representing Danish Red Cross and strengthening the Partnership with YRCS in line with DRC localization agenda 
• Operationalizing organizational priorities in-country (incl. supporting the RCRC Movement’s efforts to promote a more harmonized programme approach aligned with New Ways of Working Initiative)
• Ensuring proper coordination with ICRC, IFRC, Partner National Societies (PNSs) and other partners and stakeholders (Danish MFA, ECHO, EU; private sector; national organisations etc.)
• Building and shaping a technically effective, cohesive, and motivated Danish Red Cross Team (delegates and national staff)
• Setting the strategic direction of DRC engagement in-country
• Providing strategic leadership and Movement coordination in the engagement with ECHO as DRC is the dialogue lead in-country
• Overall management and development of DRC supported portfolio in the country, including monitoring implementation and removing impediments and supporting capacity development efforts towards YRCS
• Overall country budget responsibility 
• Drive DRC communication efforts and take the lead in fundraising efforts

DRC seeks a candidate with strong leadership and coordination skills, a substantial experience in the localization agenda, a deep understanding of how local partnership are best strengthened as well as operational skills to oversee and guide the strategic direction of the country programme, in coordination with the DRC MENA Head of Region, and technical DRC Headquarter advisors. The Country Manager will receive remote technical support, along with recurrent visits from DRC logistics, MHPSS and Health professionals.

DRC offers the Country Manager an opportunity to take charge in a diversified programme portfolio, with exciting opportunities for expansion and elements of innovation, and for sustaining a strong and transparent partnership with YRCS leadership and Red Cross partners in-country. It is therefore a strong advantage to have prior Red Cross Red Crescent experience to effectively support and contribute to ongoing efforts of RCRC harmonisation in-country. 

Strong HR management capacity is also a strong advantage as the position offers a chance to develop and grow a dedicated team, in alignment with a shared vision. 

Experience and qualifications

Required:

• Excellent English speaking and writing capability
• Batchelor's degree in relevant academic field and Master's degree or equivalent work experience
• 8 years of experience in development and/or humanitarian project management, with at least 5 years of relevant field experience in the implementation of emergency programmes
• 5 years of experience with team leadership and staff management 
• 5 years of experience overseeing multi-sectoral and multi-partner programme portfolio with solid project cycle and financial management experience 
• Previous experience managing large scale multi-partner consortium
• Proven experience with various donors like ECHO, EU, and ministries of foreign affairs, particularly experience with their grant application modalities, proposal writing and reporting procedures
• Experience working with the localization agenda
• Valid international driving licence

Preferred:

• Arabic speaking and writing capability
• Prior experience with the Red Cross Red Crescent
• Experience with fundraising and donor-consultation 
• Ability to motivate and engage others using participatory methods 
• Excellent communication, coordination as well as networking and facilitation skills. 
• Experience from working in a humanitarian setting in the MENA region
• Interest in the Middle East, and Yemen in particular, along with an ability to work in a challenging multicultural environment. 

You will become part of the World's largest humanitarian organization

For more than a century, Danish Red Cross has played a prominent role in promoting humanitarian principles and actions to alleviate human suffering. As a national society, we are a member of a global network of more than 190 national societies joined in the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and a key partner to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Through this global network of staff and volunteers, we assist and support people in need, irrespective of their political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, gender, or legal status, and promote the wellbeing and aspirations of people experiencing vulnerability and marginalisation throughout the world.

International Department in the Danish Red Cross are in close cooperation with Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies present in more than 20 countries and have an annual turnover of more than 750 million Danish kroner. Read more about who we are Our Work | Røde Kors.

Application, conditions, and further information

This is a 24-months position, with a 3-month probationary period and possibility for an extension. The ideal starting date is 1st of October.

The duty station is Sanaa, Yemen. Currently, this is a non-family duty station with a paid 7-day Rest & Recuperation break permitted after every 6 weeks in-country. The classification of duty stations is revised yearly and is subject for change. Travelling to programme areas within Yemen is possible to the extent that the security situation permits (in accordance with ICRC security regulations). Frequent travel nationally and internationally is to be expected.

We look forward to receiving your application and CV no later than 3rd of September 2025, 21:59 CEST. Application and CV in English are accepted only through our online recruitment system at www.rodekors.dk/job. Applications sent by email will not be accepted. 

The contract will be administered in accordance with the Danish Red Cross Terms & Conditions for Delegates, please refer to it for information about annual leave, benefits, pension and insurances. In case you have any questions or might need more information please see further Job Description or contact the DRC Head of Region for MENA, Duc-Bang Nguyen dungu@rodekors.dk. 

We look forward to hearing from you!