Country Director, Somalia

About Trócaire

Trócaire is an International NGO. We work with local partners in the world’s most at-risk communities and with people in Ireland to tackle the underlying causes of poverty and injustice and respond to the crises they create. Together we bring about positive and lasting change for a just world. Trócaire works in up to 20 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. We work towards five goals:

• Promote Access to Justice;

• Achieve Climate & Environmental Justice;

• Ensure Women & Girls’ Protection, Voice & Influence;

• Save Lives and Protect Human Dignity and

• Mobilise the Public on the island of Ireland to achieve Global Justice.

 Our work is rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and in our values of Solidarity, Courage, Participation, Perseverance and Accountability.

About Trócaire Somalia

Trócaire has worked in Somalia since the early 1990s, with a strong presence in Gedo and operations across five districts, as well as in Kismayo. The programme combines direct implementation with local partnerships to save lives, reduce suffering, and protect human dignity in times of crisis. Using a humanitarian–development–peace nexus approach, the programme integrates Health, Nutrition, Protection, WASH, Resilience, and Education in Emergencies. These sectors work together to deliver multi donor funded coordinated, life-saving services while strengthening recovery and long-term stability for vulnerable communities.

About Trócaire Somalia Country Director Role

The Trócaire Somalia Country Director will assume a pivotal strategic leadership position, driving the organisation's mission and achieving its goals. This dynamic role calls for an experienced, innovative, and visionary individual to lead a team of high-performing humanitarian/development specialists and local partners in addressing complex challenges. The Country Director will provide exceptional strategic guidance to the Somalia country programme, ensuring alignment with Trócaire's mission and values while fostering impact and innovation. Responsibilities encompass overseeing programme implementation and ensuring effectiveness, efficiency, and impactful outcomes. The Country Director will spearhead Trócaire’s advocacy and policy efforts in Somalia, actively engaging decision-makers at local, national, and international levels while empowering local partners to do the same. As a key leader within Trócaire’s International Division, the role will help shape the organisation’s overarching strategy and direction. This role necessitates a robust international humanitarian/development and management background, coupled with an unwavering commitment to social justice and human rights.

The role will report to Head of Portfolio Fragile & Conflict Affected States and will manage a team of 58 highly talented professionals. The role is based in Mogadishu, Somalia and Nairobi, Kenya.

Key responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

·         Provide strategic vision and direction for the country programme.

·         Create and maintain a shared vision among staff of Trócaire’s country and organisational objectives and their role in achieving these.

·         Develop Trócaire’s Somalia Country Strategic Plan and review it annually against key country and organisational level objectives, indicators and targets with annual reports on programme, non-programme and financial management to the organisation, donors and other stakeholders.

·         Model the behaviours and values expected of Trócaire staff and expressed in our Strategic Framework.

·         Input into organisational strategy through strategic planning and planning for the new FCAS portfolio.

·         Lead on localisation discussions in consultation with partners and other stakeholders.

·         Lead on in-country networking and representation with government, donors, NGOs, INGOs, networks and Caritas.

·         Provide leadership and foster collaboration with other actors (NGOs, INGOs, networks, host governments etc.) in order increase networking & opportunities for collaboration.

·         Lead on advocacy at a country level and on defining advocacy messages for use internationally.

Programme Development & Management (in collaboration with the Head of Programmes)

·         Provide leadership and direction in the strategic development and implementation of programmes at country level, in line with Trócaire’s country and strategic objectives, strategies and policies.

·         Ensure programme interventions are in line with technical best practice and emerging national policies on health, nutrition and education for Somalia.

·         Ensure that organisational approaches to partnership, gender equality, vulnerability and targeting, accountability and protection are effectively incorporated across humanitarian programmes.

·         Ensure that effective results-based monitoring and evaluation systems are implemented in line with Trócaire policies, systems and guidelines.

·         Lead on ensuring that Trócaire Somalia regularly reviews, adapts and rolls out an Emergency Preparedness Plan and that we are in a position to respond to humanitarian crisis in Gedo as they occur.

·         Ensure that programme learning is captured and feeds into programme development and sharing across programmes and the FCAS portfolio.  

·         Ensure that internal and external reporting is carried out in a timely manner, to a high standard and in line with agreed objectives and targets (including annual Programme Reviews and Results Monitoring Frameworks).

·         Ensure the Somalia team fully engages with and complies with Trócaire’s cloud-based Salesforce/Box software as the organisational platform for partner, project and grant management.

 Business Development & Institutional Funding (in cooperation with the Business and Development Manager)

·         Lead and oversee the business development process and the adaptation of the Somalia Institutional Funding Strategy to ensure the programme grows, is innovative and sufficiently funded.

·         Lead on ensuring Trócaire visibility, representation and networking and engagement with donors.

·         Ensure optimal cost recovery, based on sound systems for budgeting, monitoring and compliance reporting.

·         Network actively and play a lead role in management level dialogue with donors and other INGOs on accessing and managing institutional funding.

·         Ensure all donor grants are effectively managed and reported on to a high quality and in a timely manner.

Human Resource Management (in collaboration with the People and Culture Business Partner)

·         Ensure that Trócaire attracts and retains high calibre staff by providing: a sense of clear purpose to all staff, development opportunities and competitive packages, in line with Trócaire policy and in coordination with Trócaire’s Peole and Culture (P&C) Business Partner.

·         Ensure effective adherence to and implementation of HR policies and procedures at the Somalia Office, in line with Trócaire’s P&C Policies, Procedures and Guidelines in coordination with P&C and with all local labour laws.

·         Ensure consistent implementation of strong performance management systems throughout the country team, in line with organisational policy.

·         Line manage key staff including the Finance and Adminstration Manager, Head of Programmes, and other staff as necessary.

·         Ensure that there are regular staff forums and meetings for discussion and coordination of strategic, operational and administrative initiatives.

·         Through inspiring and accountable leadership, create a working environment which is positive and inclusive, and continuously look for ways to maintain or improve this.

Safeguarding Programme Participants & Complaints Management (in collaboration with the Global Safeguarding Advisor)

·         Ensure that Trócaire’s commitment to Safeguarding Programme Participants is delivered through policies and practices that support the prevention of abuse and exploitation and create opportunities to raise and respond to concerns as outlined in Trócaire policies.

·         Oversee the application of Trócaire’s Country Office and Programme Complaints Mechanisms and directly manage sensitive complaints (e.g. those relating to potential abuse or exploitation).

·         Support Focal persons in communicating Trócaire’s commitment (on Safeguarding and Complaints Mechanisms) to Partner Organisations as included in Trócaire’s Grant agreement, supporting capacity building of Partner Organisation on minimum standards.

Financial and Admin Management (in collaboration with the Finance/Admin Manager)

·         Take responsibility for overall financial management of the Somalia programme and ensure that there is optimal use of financial resources, managed in a transparent and accountable manner in line with Trócaire’s systems and procedures.

·         Support the FAM to ensure that budgets are prepared, reviewed and monitored regularly and that resources are strategically allocated as appropriate on the basis of need or programme quality.

·         Ensure effective financial management systems, processes and controls are in place and are fully compliant with Trócaire’s operating standards and the relevant legal requirements in-country.

·         Ensure supply chain and stock management processes are appropriate and are well managed

·         Take responsibility for ensuring all staff are familiar with and comply with institutional processes and systems, e.g. Management of Information Systems, use of IT systems etc.

Audit and Corporate Governance Compliance (in collaboration with the Global/Regional Internal Auditor)

·         Ensure that all Somalia and Kenya government requirements in relation to registration, taxation, labour law, auditing, fraud etc., are complied with.

·         Ensure that internal and external audits are fulfilled in a timely and efficient manner, in line with Trócaire policy and back donor and host government requirements.

·         Ensure follow-up on recommendations arising out of audits of Trócaire’s operations and take appropriate actions where necessary.

·         Ensure full compliance with Trócaire’s fraud policy and related back donor or host government requirements;

·         Maintain direct links with the HQ and Africa based Internal Auditor, in coordination with the Finance and Admin Manager.

Security Management (in collaboration with the Global Security Advisor)

·         Develop, manage and review the Somalia Country programme security plans, procedures and contingency plans and ensure that the Somalia country team adhere to all Trócaire security policies.

·         Take responsibility for the management of security at ar country level for the Somalia programme staff.

Representation, Communications and Advocacy

·         Represent Trócaire with the government, national NGO and INGO networks, UN, donors, the Catholic Church and its agencies, and other key strategic stakeholders in the region.

·         Increase awareness of Trócaire’s work with Trócaire’s supporters and key stakeholders in Ireland, through the provision of communications material, facilitating internal and external visitors and carrying out media interviews upon request by the Communications Unit in HQ.

·         Lead the team in contributing to the development and implementation of core communications, fundraising, development education and advocacy initiatives at global level.

·         Any other duties as assigned by the Head of Portfolio.

Essential Requirements

Skills

o   Excellent leadership skills;

o   Ability to motivate staff to align behind a shared vision and objectives;

o   Demonstrated ability to think strategically and to develop and implement a clear country level strategy in the context of organisational strategy;

o   Demonstrated ability to operate under pressure and in a volatile environment

o   Demonstrated ability to manage security in challenging environments

o   Ability to coach and help others develop in their professional lives;

o   Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills and demonstrated ability in using these with internal stakeholders (Trócaire staff in different locations) and external stakeholders (partners, Church, donors, host government etc.);

o   Demonstrated ability to meet corporate governance and accountability requirements of host governments, the organisation and donors;

Experience

o   Knowledge of Somalia working environment.

o   Significant representational experience at national government level.

o   A minimum of 5-8 years’ experience in the management of humanitarian programmes of substantial scale;

o   A minimum of 5 years’ experience in running a country office (admin, finance, HR management, security management etc.);

o   Sound and up to date knowledge of development concepts, methodologies and techniques, including results-based management, rights based approach and participatory methodologies;

o   Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and financial systems on a significant scale, in humanitarian contexts.

o   Demonstrated ability to manage security in challenging environments.

o   Demonstrable experience of promoting gender equity through programming and within an international organisation;

o   Demonstrable experience of working to attract institutional donor funding and of managing large and complex donor grants.

o   Solid experience of managing teams in a multi-cultural and conflict environment and playing a leadership role in ensuring cohesiveness, inclusion and development of staff at all levels.

Qualifications

o   Third level qualification in Development, Humanitarian or related field of study.

o   Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area, or significant experience beyond that outlined.

o   Fluency in English in writing and communication. Local language skills desirable.

Qualities

o   A strong commitment to the work of justice and an empathy with the ethos and work of Trócaire.

o   Understanding of and an empathy with the role of the Catholic Church in development/humanitarian.

Others

o   Ability and willingness to travel within Somalia and regionally/internationally including travel to HQ in Ireland.

Closing date for applications is Thursday 25th September 2025

Safeguarding Programme Participants-Children & Adults

Trócaire is committed to safeguarding people within our programmes from exploitation and abuse and has specific policies on this commitment (including a Global Code of Conduct) which outlines the expected behaviour and the responsibility of all staff, consultants and other organisational representatives. More information on Trócaire’s Safeguarding policies available here.

Diversity and Inclusion

We welcome diverse applicants to join our inclusive workforce.

Trócaire is an equal opportunities employer. We are an organisation that embraces diversity and inclusion. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds to bring their experiences and perspectives to Trócaire.

Diversity and Inclusion Statement available here.