The Country Director will provide strategic, operational and leadership oversight of The Sparkle Foundation's operations in Malawi, ensuring the successful delivery of the Malawi strategy in alignment with Sparkle's wider global vision and objectives.

The role will focus on operational excellence, governance, compliance, programme delivery, people management, fundraising, financial stewardship and stakeholder engagement. Working closely with the Global CEO, Boards and global support teams, the Country Director will be responsible for ensuring that Sparkle Malawi operates effectively, sustainably and compliantly, while creating the foundations required for future growth, replication and long-term impact.

Reports To: Global CEO (Strategic, donor and administrative reporting) and Malawi Board (Functional reporting)

Core Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Country Oversight:

Work closely with the Global CEO to develop, implement and deliver Sparkle Malawi's local country strategic plan, ensuring alignment with the wider global strategy

Provide strategic and operational leadership across all Sparkle Malawi programmes, departments and sites

Position Sparkle Malawi as a leading NGO within Malawi through innovation, impact, governance and sustainability

Lead organisational planning processes and ensure annual objectives are achieved

Support the implementation of Sparkle's long-term growth and replication strategy

Serve as a visible, accountable and values-led leader across internal teams, communities, partners and stakeholders

Organisational Management and Operations:

Oversee all day-to-day operations across HR, Finance, Programmes, Compliance, Monitoring & Evaluation, IT and Administration

Build, strengthen and maintain systems, processes, SOPs and operational frameworks that support transparency, accountability and scalability

Lead the development and documentation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across all functions

Work closely with the UAE, UK and global teams to ensure systems, reporting and operations remain aligned with organisational standards

Ensure excellence in programme delivery across Education, Health, Nutrition, Community Development, Sports and Social Enterprise

Drive continuous improvement and operational efficiency across all departments

Financial Management, Sustainability and Compliance:

Lead the development and management of Sparkle Malawi's annual operating and project budgets

Oversee budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management and financial planning processes

Ensure strong financial controls, accountability and donor compliance across all programmes and departments

Monitor financial performance and proactively identify risks, efficiencies and opportunities

Support the organisation's sustainability strategy through income generation, social enterprise development and local fundraising initiatives

Ensure all audits are completed effectively and that recommendations are implemented

Ensure compliance with all financial, legal and regulatory requirements

Fundraising, Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation:

Lead fundraising efforts within Malawi, including grant identification, proposal development and donor stewardship

Develop and maintain relationships with donors, corporate partners, foundations, government stakeholders and NGOs

Support the preparation of high-quality grant applications, donor reports, presentations and impact reports

Identify and pursue new funding opportunities to strengthen organisational sustainability

Work closely with the Global CEO and fundraising teams to deliver organisational income targets

Support the development and growth of social enterprise and income-generating initiatives

Human Resources, Talent and Leadership Development:

Lead recruitment, onboarding, performance management and succession planning across Malawi

Build a high-performing, values-led and accountable organisational culture

Develop leadership capacity across departments and support emerging leaders

Establish and strengthen internship, graduate and talent development programmes

Champion staff wellbeing, engagement and professional development

Ensure appropriate HR systems, policies and procedures are implemented and followed

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Innovation:

Ensure robust monitoring, evaluation and learning systems are embedded across all programmes

Use data and evidence to drive programme improvements and organisational decision-making

Promote a culture of innovation, continuous learning and accountability

Ensure accurate reporting of programme outcomes and organisational impact

Support the development of case studies, impact reports and learning materials

Technology, AI and Digital Transformation:

Champion the adoption and effective use of technology across the organisation

Ensure staff are trained and supported in the use of organisational systems, including SharePoint, CRM platforms and reporting tools

Promote the responsible use of AI and emerging technologies to improve efficiency, reporting, communication and programme delivery

Support digital transformation initiatives that strengthen organisational performance and scalability

Governance, Risk and Compliance:

Lead organisational risk management and oversee the maintenance of the risk register

Ensure compliance with NGO Board requirements, CONGOMA standards, safeguarding regulations, employment legislation, tax obligations and donor requirements

Oversee serious incident reporting processes and ensure incidents are appropriately documented, investigated and escalated

Ensure appropriate insurance policies are maintained and regularly reviewed

Act as the lead point of contact for legal, governance and compliance matters within Malawi

Support Board governance processes and ensure timely reporting to both the Malawi and UK Boards

Capital Projects, Volunteers and External Engagement:

Oversee the planning, implementation and monitoring of capital expenditure (CapEx) projects

Lead the management and coordination of international and local volunteers visiting Malawi

Ensure volunteer experiences are well structured, compliant and aligned with organisational priorities

Build and maintain strong relationships with government bodies, traditional leaders, community stakeholders, NGOs and private sector partners

Represent Sparkle at meetings, conferences, forums and public engagements within Malawi and internationally when required

Board Engagement and Reporting:

Prepare and present reports to the Global CEO, Malawi Board and UK Board

Provide regular updates on operational performance, financial management, programme delivery, compliance, fundraising and organisational risks

Ensure Board decisions are implemented effectively and in a timely manner

Support governance reviews, strategic planning and organisational development initiatives

Qualifications and Experience:

Master's degree (required) in Development Studies, Public Administration/Public Policy, MBA, Social Sciences or a related field. A PhD or equivalent advanced qualification is advantageous but not essential

Minimum 8 years' experience in a senior leadership or country/regional director role, with direct responsibility for multi-functional teams of 20 or more staff

Substantial international experience: the successful candidate will have lived and worked abroad

Proven fundraising track record: demonstrated success in securing grants, institutional funding or income from trusts, foundations, corporate partners or government donors

Strong financial management capability: experience overseeing multi-currency budgets, donor compliance reporting and financial controls

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft 365 (including SharePoint, Teams, Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and demonstrable experience using AI tools

Experience working with a CRM system (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot or similar)

Demonstrable commercial and social enterprise acumen

Hands-on execution style: this is not a purely strategic or oversight role. The Country Director must be comfortable operating at all levels

Experience delivering results under resource constraints: proven ability to build systems, deliver programmes and drive growth in environments where budgets, staffing and infrastructure are limited

Personal Attributes and Leadership Style:

Entrepreneurial and growth mindset

Bias to action with low ego

Forward-thinking and technically confident

Resilient and adaptable

Values-led and people-centred

Cost-conscious and operationally sharp

Application Procedure:

Send your application with traceable three referees, copies of certificates and cover letter to:

Email: procurement@sparklemalawi.org

Subject Line: Country Director

Address: Sparkle Foundation, Sogoja Office, P.O. Box 1122, Zomba – Malawi (clearly marking Country Director on the envelope)

Deadline: 11th July 2026

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.