National Director-Malawi

Position title: National Director-Malawi

Working location: Lilongwe, Malawi

Direct Line Manager: Chairperson of National Board of Directors/CVI Representative.

Direct Reports: All Functional Heads.

Region: Eastern and Southern Africa (ESAF)

Type of employment contract: Three years - Full time fixed term contract

Introduction

SOS Children’s Villages Malawi (SOS CV Malawi), a member of SOS Children’s Villages International is a non-governmental child protection and development organization established in Malawi in 1991. Our vision is that every child belongs to a family and grows up with love, respect and security. Our mission is to build families for children in need, we help them shape their own futures, and we share in the development of their communities. In pursuit of the vision and mission, we work in collaboration with the Government of Malawi and other partners to implement various projects focusing on child protection and development; entrepreneurship and vocational skills training for young people; livelihood improvement for vulnerable households, child and youth education, as well as advocacy in the areas of child rights and protection. Malawi programme coverage is country-wide, operating from Chikwawa, Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzimba and Mzuzu.

Position Summary:

The National Director (ND) ensures the effective overall direction, operations and performance of the SOS CV Malawi, by developing and executing a core programme and financial strategies that lead to the sustainability of the organization. The ND leads and develops the MA with the support from leadership (Board and Management), to ensure effective delivery of programmes and services to children, families and communities within the frame of the organisation’s vision, mission and values.

Purpose of the position:

• Lead the development and execution of SOS Children’s Villages Malawi national strategy, ensuring alignment with the federation’s organizational standards, policies and childcare quality principles (SOS Children's Village model, local regulations).
• Oversee all programmes for operational effectiveness, resource mobilization and guarantee high-quality childcare based on defined standards and legal frameworks.
• Foster strong local engagement and partnerships by promoting the organization within Malawi.
• Develop and manage the organization's image internally and externally, by building a strong brand.
• Ensure long-term growth and stability through resource mobilization / asset optimization, effective resource management including safeguarding (asset, child and youth), capacity building, and strategic guidance for marketing, branding, advocacy and communication initiatives.

Key performance areas and main responsibilities:

Strategic Direction and Governance

• Establish, guide, direct and oversee the strategic plans, under direction of the Board, to advance the mission, objectives, values and promote sustainability and growth of the MA, in line with global strategic plans.
• Communicate SOS-KDI policy across SOS Children’s Villages in Malawi.
• Drive operational excellence by ensuring appropriate best practices, processes and technologies are in place.
• Drive adherence to corporate governance principles and statutes to always ensure compliance and ensure remedial action is taken where necessary.
• Ensure implementation of strategies and formulation of policies by delegating appropriate authority levels to key managers, and ensure effective monitoring and reporting of progress, aligned to strategic plans.
• Advise and support the establishment of effective national management systems and structures, governance systems and statutory requirements.
• Review strategy regularly and put forward recommendations to the Board for adjustments thereto by proactively assessing future needs and performing sustainability forecasts of SOS CV Malawi’s development.

Sustainability, Fund Development and Resource Mobilisation.

• Oversee organization’s annual planning and budgeting processes.
• Creating and executing resource mobilization strategies aligned with the organization's strategic overall objectives. This includes identifying funding opportunities, developing local and international fundraising plans, asset optimization and creating proposals for donors.
• Oversee the development and implementation of realistic and effective fund development plans and strategies. Evaluate financial trends and ratios and manage the organization’s expenditure to ensure effective cost control.

Marketing and Brand Awareness

• Provide strategic and tactical guidance to the organization’s marketing, branding and communication strategies and initiatives, together with the Fund Development and Communications department.
• Drive proactive and continuous communication amongst all stakeholders and partners to ensure active and informed involvement in organization-wide marketing and branding initiatives.

Innovation, Transformation and Process Optimization

• Evaluate the need for change and transformation initiatives in anticipation of the sector, National and International priorities.
• Initiate, lead, authorize and drive initiatives aimed at optimising programmes and operations, improving service delivery and reducing costs within the MA.
• Propose and present new innovative ideas to the Board and identify opportunities to leverage from partners and other networks.

Strategic Relationship Management

• Establish and manage relevant strategic partnerships and relationships with both internal and external stakeholders, focused on the rights of children without parental care or at risk of losing their parental care, to ensure enduring business associations to assist in achieving strategic objectives.
• Develop and maintain a positive corporate image with both internal and external stakeholders (including media) to ensure positive response to, perception and trust of the organisation.
• Drive and guide the pursuit of advocacy objectives with NGO Child rights forums and in partnership with other NGOs in conjunction with the Children’s Rights and Advocacy Officer.
• Establish sound relationships with relevant government authorities and seek government recognition and support for SOS CV Malawi programmes.

People Management and Development

• Set medium to long term goals and objectives for subordinates and actively monitor progress of the achievement of objectives.
• Ensure the professional recruitment, orientation, performance management and on-going development of national office management staff.
• Develop and maintain a high-performance team and regularly evaluate the performance of subordinates to ensure functional objectives are met or exceeded according to established policies and objectives.
• Assure stable employee relations by managing conflict and creating a positive working environment.
• Oversee workforce planning to ensure team is suitably staffed to meet objectives considering various internal and external factors.
• Leading organization safety and security operations by being responsible for the overall safety and security of an organization's personnel, assets, and operations. Implementing safety and security policies, incidents reporting, emergency response, conducting risk assessments, fostering safety and security culture and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.

International Federation – GSC coordination

• Ensure a smooth flow of communication between organisation and the Regional Office, including adherence to reporting requirements and maintain effective communication structures and channels.
• Ensure organisation’s compliance with
• Reporting on developments as per the MA’s Strategic and Annual Plans.
• Reporting on programmes development.
• Financial reporting, budgeting and accounting requirements.

Child Safeguarding (CS) and PSHEA

• Responsible for implementation and management of SOS Child Protection Policy and for reporting to the national Board and IOR.
• Ensures that co-workers and programmed do not cause harm to children and young people and that they are not exposed to the risk of harm and abuse
• Responsible for reporting any concerns the organization has about children’s safety in its programmes and within the communities to the appropriate authorities 
• Ensures that co-workers act within national law, Child Protection Policy, Code of Conduct, PSHEA regulations and other safeguarding related requirements.

The suitable candidate should have the following minimum qualifications and attributes: -

• Master’s degree in development studies, project management, social sciences, Business Administration, Finance or any related field
• Minimum of 10 years’ work experience of which at least 5 years are at senior management level.
• Experience of working in non-profit sector, preferably in the field of childcare or similar.
• Extensive experience in Business Development, programme management, resource mobilisation and budgeting.
• Good understanding of child rights, development programmes, and advocacy strategies. (combines knowledge of policies, programmes, education, and advocacy).
• Fluent in English, with intercultural sensitivity to build bridges and thrive in diverse environments.
• Skilled in grant writing, donor stewardship, and public sector funding, demonstrating strong financial acumen (combines fundraising, resources mobilisation, budgeting, and financial principles).
• Excellent leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills to represent the organization and build strong teams.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills.
• Must be a National or have an existing work permit to work in Malawi.

How to apply

Interested persons should submit their applications and detailed Curriculum Vitae with three traceable referees via this link on organisation recruitment portal: National Director-Malawi in Lilongwe | Careers at Malawi - Lilongwe National Office 

Please ensure that you include your full contact details including telephone numbers. Closing date for receiving applications is on 30^th September 2025. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

“SOS Children´s Villages Malawi has zero-tolerance neither on sexual exploitation, harassment, and abuse nor fraud and corruption, amongst other safeguarding aspects. SOS Children’s Villages Malawi also provide equal employment opportunities to all employees & qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or class. The successful candidate will be required to complete safer recruitment checks including police and reference checks to help verify their suitability to work for SOS Children’s Villages Malawi.

SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES MALAWI IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER; ALL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.