Country Director Full Time

Location: Lilongwe, Malawi

ABOUT HEALTHY LEARNERS: Healthy Learners is an award-winning non-profit organisation working to improve the health and learning of children across Zambia and soon, beyond. In partnership with the Government of Zambia, we bring healthcare directly into schools so that children stay healthy, stay in class, and reach their full potential. Our model is government-owned and government-led, fully embedded in national priorities, systems, and structures. Today, we have 1,062 health rooms, trained 8,370 School Health Teachers, and operate in 45 districts across all ten provinces, reaching more than 1.4 million learners through Zambia’s first integrated School Health Program. Healthy Learners is the proud recipient of the Skoll Award for Social Innovation, the Duke F.M. Kirby Prize, and the Lipman Family Prize from the University of Pennsylvania.

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Country Director is Healthy Learners’ senior in-country leader for Malawi, our first expansion beyond Zambia. The role carries end-to-end responsibility for building Healthy Learners’ presence in-country: establishing government partnerships, negotiating and stewarding the MOU with the Ministries of Health and Education, and leading program delivery from initial pilot through to national scale. The Country Director owns the country’s operating model in full: government partnerships and technical assistance, program delivery, administration and finance, procurement and supply chain, and data systems. This is a start-up leadership role that requires comfort shaping strategy and structure in a changing environment, while upholding disciplined, government-led posture and child safeguarding standards.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Program Delivery (25%) – Own the adaptation, execution, and continuous improvement of the School Health Programme in Malawi, from pilot through to national scale; oversee programme expansion into new districts; use monitoring and evaluation data to drive evidence-based improvements; plan and execute the country’s progression through the phased expansion model; coordinate with headquarters on annual planning and target setting. Government Engagement & Partnerships (20%) – Serve as senior relationship holder with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education; steward the MOU from negotiation through implementation; conduct stakeholder relationship mapping; support policy research; manage political and inter-ministerial risks. Team & Operations Leadership (15%) – Hire, manage and coach direct reports across Administration & Finance, Government Partnerships & Technical Assistance and Programs; support recruitment, onboarding and performance management; coordinate contracted local expertise (HR, tax, legal). External Representation (15%) – Represent Healthy Learners to donors, funders, program partners, technical working groups and media; pursue strategic partnerships. Financial & Administrative Oversight (15%) – Manage the country budget, in-country compliance and procurement; serve as authorized in-country signatory; oversee data protection compliance and Malawi’s statutory and labor requirements. Safeguarding & Standards (10%) – Ensure child safeguarding and clinical safety protocols are embedded in training, delivery and school-level implementation; monitor compliance and escalate concerns.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s in Public Health, Business Administration, International Development, Public Policy/Administration or related field preferred. Minimum 8-10 years of senior leadership experience managing budgets, staff and external partnerships in a complex or emerging-market environment. Demonstrated financial and human resources management literacy. Strong track record engaging senior government and NGO stakeholders, preferably in health or education systems. Demonstrated ability to manage high-stakes projects in resource-constrained environments. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Comfort building or leading in ambiguous, start-up conditions. Preferred: prior experience setting up a new country program within a global organization; experience transitioning donor-funded programs toward government ownership; background in public health or education systems.

WHAT WE OFFER: Opportunity for impact, competitive salary and benefits package, professional growth and ongoing training, a supportive collaborative culture, and networking opportunities with international organizations in the public health sector.

Closing date: 2026-11-28