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Community / Citizens' Building Roles
Community/Citizens' Building Roles are the backbone of a vibrant, engaged society. They serve as the essential link between government, corporate sectors, and the people, fostering a culture of participation, collaboration, and shared responsibility.
In essence, Community/Citizens' Building Roles wield powerful opportunities by transforming local engagement into tangible societal benefits. They not only enrich community life but also create a robust foundation for sustainable development, ensuring that every citizen has the power to shape the future.
Quick Summary
Build and lead stakeholder relationships with government, NGOs, community and civic leaders, and run all local operations for [Country Name]. Senior role – INR 60,00,000 – 1,00,00,000 per annum (INR 6,000,000–10,000,000). English + local language required.
Short Posting
We are hiring a senior Country Relationship & Operations Lead for [Country Name]. This role builds and sustains strategic relationships with government officials, local administrations, NGOs, community leaders and private partners to enable program delivery and operations. You will manage local teams, ensure regulatory compliance, drive partner engagement, and be the principal field representative. Exceptional English + one or more local languages required. Open to candidates from the listed countries. Competitive compensation (INR 60 LPA–1 Cr LPA) and relocation/allowance package. Apply with CV, cover letter, and two references.
Full Job Description
Role Overview
The Country Relationship & Operations Lead for [Country Name] is a senior, hands-on position responsible for establishing trusted, high-level relationships across government, bureaucracy, NGOs, community leaders, and civil society – and for leading all on-the-ground operations. This role combines diplomacy, program management, operational oversight, and local representation. The ideal candidate is politically aware, culturally fluent, operationally pragmatic, and experienced in stakeholder engagement across public & non-profit sectors.
Location
Primary location: [City, Country]
Work arrangement: Field-based / Hybrid (minimum X% time in country) – specify if remote allowed.
Reports to: Regional Director / Head of Country Operations (specify)
Employment Type & Level
Role level: Senior / Country Head (specify grade)
Employment type: Full-time (permanent) or Fixed-term contract (specify)
Build and maintain high-level relationships with national, provincial/state, and local government officials and bureaucrats relevant to our activities.
Represent the organisation in meetings with ministries, departments, regulatory bodies and local administrations.
Facilitate access, approvals, and permissions required for program rollout and operations.
Proactively map political, regulatory, and social risks and escalate to Regional/Global leadership.
2) Community & Civil Society Partnerships
Engage NGOs, community leaders, faith leaders, and local influencers to secure buy-in and co-create field interventions.
Negotiate and manage MOUs, partnership terms, and community engagement plans.
Ensure community feedback mechanisms and grievance redress are functioning.
3) Operations & Program Delivery
Oversee day-to-day country operations: staffing, procurement, logistics, security coordination, and financial controls.
Ensure programs meet quality, timeline and budget targets locally.
Coordinate cross-functional teams (program, finance, legal, security) and external vendors.
4) Compliance, Ethics & Safety
Ensure compliance with local laws, tax, labor rules, and sector regulations.
Implement anti-bribery, anti-fraud, and conflict-of-interest policies.
Maintain security protocols and coordinate with Security/Legal teams for travel advisories and incident response.
5) Reporting & Strategy
Provide regular reports on stakeholder engagement, operational status, risks, and opportunities.
Contribute to country strategy, budget plans and scale-up proposals.
Lead local M&E and ensure accurate, timely data collection and reporting.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Number of formal government/agency meetings and level of outcomes (MOUs, approvals) per quarter.
Number of active partnerships with NGOs/community groups and partnership quality score.
Program delivery: % projects delivered on time and within budget.
Time to secure required permits/approvals.
Incidents: number and severity of compliance/security incidents (aim for zero major incidents).
Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) in Public Policy, International Relations, Development, Business Administration or related field.
8+ years progressive experience in government relations, public affairs, international development, NGO leadership, or senior operations roles in the target geography. Seniority may be adjusted.
Proven track record building relationships with senior bureaucrats, political leaders, and civil society.
Demonstrable experience managing budgets, vendors, and local teams (P&L or budget responsibility preferred).
Exceptional English communication (written & spoken).
Fluent in English + at least one language commonly used in [Country Name] (see Language Guidance).
Eligible to work in [Country Name] or able to obtain necessary work authorization.
Preferred Qualifications (Nice-to-have)
Prior experience working for international NGOs, bilateral agencies, UN, government liaison offices, or private sector public affairs in the region.
Advanced degree (MA/MBA/MSc) or relevant certifications.
Experience with donor reporting, compliance frameworks (e.g., donor contracts, FCRA/NGO laws where relevant).
Experience managing security protocols in complex environments.
Established network among government/NGO/community leaders in target country.
Skills & Competencies
Political awareness and cultural intelligence.
Outstanding negotiation and influencing skills.
Strong program/operational management and process orientation.
High integrity, professionalism and ethical judgment.
Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable operating in ambiguity.
Excellent stakeholder mapping and liaison skills.
Fluency in MS Office; comfortable with remote collaboration tools.
Language Guidance
Candidate must be excellent in English plus at least one local language listed for the country where they will operate.
Afghanistan: Dari, Pashto
Pakistan: Urdu; Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto (useful per region)
India: Hindi plus relevant regional language (Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati, Punjabi, etc.) – specify region
Nepal: Nepali
Bhutan: Dzongkha
Sri Lanka: Sinhala, Tamil
Myanmar (Burma): Burmese
Thailand: Thai
Laos: Lao
Cambodia: Khmer
Vietnam: Vietnamese
Malaysia: Malay (Bahasa Malaysia) – regional dialects as relevant
Salary band: INR 60,00,000 – 1,00,00,000 per annum (INR 6,000,000–10,000,000) – country and experience dependent.
Benefits (typical): annual leave, health insurance (local/international), relocation allowance, housing or housing allowance, travel allowance, performance bonus, pension/contribution scheme where applicable, communications allowance.
Additional: security allowance (if field risk level warrants), hardship premium (where applicable), visa/permit support and legal representation for work authorization.
Travel & Availability
Frequent domestic travel required; international travel depending on role.
Must be available for urgent stakeholder meetings and occasional after-hours liaison.
Will operate under local timezone and field constraints.
Compliance, Ethics & Security (must-read)
Strict prohibition on facilitation payments, bribery, or any unethical inducement. All engagements must follow organisation’s Code of Conduct and anti-corruption policy.
Candidate will undergo background checks (criminal, employment verification), reference checks, and enhanced due diligence when required.
In higher-risk geographies, acceptance is conditional on completion of security training and adherence to security plans.
How to Apply
Submit CV (maximum 3 pages) – highlight relevant engagements with government/NGOs and operations.
Cover letter (1 page) – explain fit, key relationships in the country, and salary expectations.
Provide 2 professional references (name, title, relationship, contact).
Optional: brief case study (1–2 pages) describing a successful stakeholder engagement you led.
Email applications to: [email@yourorg.org] with subject: Country Lead – [Country Name] – [Your Name].
Include earliest available start date and confirmation of work authorization/visa status.
Selection Process (typical timeline & stages)
Application review (1–2 weeks)
Initial HR screening call (30–45 minutes)
Two technical interviews: stakeholder engagement & operations (panel)
Final interview with Regional Director / CEO (strategic fit)
Reference checks and background checks
Offer & negotiation
Recruiter / Hiring Manager Shortlisting Checklist
Minimum required years of relevant experience (8+)
