Country Director - Mozambique

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children's rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children's rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won't stop until we are all equal.

Plan International is seeking an exceptional Country Director to lead our work in Mozambique at a pivotal moment for girls' rights and gender equality.

Based in Maputo, the Country Director will provide strategic, operational and representational leadership to drive Plan International Mozambique's ambition of transforming power relations in favour of girls and addressing the root causes of inequality and vulnerability. This role will lead delivery of the current Country Strategy (2022-2026) and play a central role in shaping the new strategy from 2026 onwards.

About the role

As Country Director, you will lead a diverse portfolio of development and humanitarian programmes, currently valued at approximately €9 million per year, with significant growth ambitions. Working with around 75 staff, multiple field offices and a strong partner network, you will ensure that Plan International's work in Mozambique is impactful, well-funded, compliant and recognised nationally and internationally.

You will:

• Set strategic direction and provide inspiring leadership to a high-performing senior management team

• Drive business development, diversification of funding and strong donor relationships

• Represent Plan International at the highest levels with government, donors, civil society, media and partners

• Ensure strong financial management, governance, risk management and operational excellence in a complex operating environment

• Champion gender equality, safeguarding and inclusion, embedding them into every aspect of programming, influencing and organisational culture

About you

You are a senior leader with a strong background in business development, programme leadership and influencing, with experience working in complex international or fragile contexts. You are deeply committed to gender equality and girls' rights, comfortable leading transformational change and adept at navigating political, security and organisational complexity.

You bring:

• Proven experience leading large, diverse teams and organisations

• Strong strategic, financial and risk management capability

• Credibility and confidence acting as an external representative and advocate

• Experience working through partnerships with governments, NGOs and international actors

• Excellent English communication skills and reasonable communications skills of Portuguese language is necessary.

Why join Plan International?

This is a rare opportunity to lead an impactful country programme, influence national policy, and contribute to regional leadership across the Middle East, East and Southern Africa (MEESA) region. You will play a critical role in advancing Plan International's global ambition for gender‑transformative programming and lasting change for girls.

Please respond to the requirements of the role in your cover letter.

Only CVs and cover letters in English will be accepted.

Location: Maputo, Mozambique. This is a global recruitment and support with relocation is available if required.

Type of Role: Three year fixed term contract.

Reports to: Director of Sub Region, East and Southern Africa

Closing Date: Sunday 10th May 2026

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls' rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.