International humanitarian job opening in Democratic Republic of Congo

INTERSOS is actively recruiting a Mission Manager to lead its humanitarian operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This is a fixed-term contract for 12 months, with no family accompaniment. Application deadline: July 29, 2026.

About INTERSOS

INTERSOS is a non-profit, non-governmental humanitarian organization committed to assisting victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts. Guided by the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, and equal rights, the organization prioritizes vulnerable communities worldwide, ensuring their access to essential resources and protection.

Position details

Role: Mission Manager

Reference code: SR-38-10259

Country: Democratic Republic of Congo

Duty station: Goma, with frequent missions across South Kivu, Ituri, and Kinshasa

Start date: September 1, 2026

Contract duration: 12 months

Reporting to: Regional Director

Functional supervision: Head of Mission

Team managed: Senior Management Team (SMT)

Context

The humanitarian landscape in the DRC remains deeply challenging, marked by overlapping crises, particularly in the eastern provinces. Chronic insecurity, recurring armed conflicts, and endemic violence have forced millions into repeated displacement. Public health vulnerabilities are severe, with frequent outbreaks of diseases like Ebola, while civilians endure systematic human rights violations, including targeted attacks and gender-based violence.

INTERSOS has been operational in the DRC since 2010, implementing protection, health, water, sanitation, and food security programs in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu. The organization collaborates with United Nations agencies and receives funding from donors such as ECHO, AICS, and SV.

Core responsibilities

Strategic leadership

Monitor and assess political and humanitarian developments across the DRC and neighboring countries through established networks and exploratory missions to identify new intervention opportunities.
Develop and refine INTERSOS’s operational strategy in alignment with its values and principles.
Explore funding avenues, leveraging initiatives to maximize community impact, and guide institutional and private donor engagement strategies.
Align mission activities with donor priorities, ensuring strict adherence to INTERSOS procedures and donor requirements.
Oversee project design, implementation, and evaluation, conducting periodic field visits to assess progress, quality, and compliance with technical and ethical standards.
Submit emergency intervention proposals to central administration for approval and lead the development of additional programs based on assessment findings.
Lead the country strategy planning process, prioritizing actions and resources to achieve program objectives.

Representation and advocacy

Act as INTERSOS’s primary representative in the DRC, managing relationships with authorities to ensure seamless and timely implementation of interventions while upholding the organization’s impartiality and independence.
Ensure proper government recognition of INTERSOS by adhering to local legal procedures.
Maintain productive communication with donors, ensuring assessed needs are clearly communicated to influence funding priorities.
Represent INTERSOS in relevant forums and engagements.

Team and personnel management

Ensure the Senior Management Team operates effectively, fostering collaboration and active participation in key decision-making processes.
Collaborate with the HR coordinator to guide and oversee performance management for both international and national staff.
Uphold INTERSOS’s organizational values, ethical code, and management control model, ensuring all staff adhere to policies and procedures.
Promote teamwork, maintain high ethical standards, and create a productive work environment.
Empower staff to achieve organizational goals through a highly functional and cooperative team structure.

Financial, logistical, and procurement oversight

Work closely with the Finance Coordinator to manage the mission’s overall financial strategy, ensuring financial viability and accountability for allocated funds.
Ensure transparent and efficient management of mission resources.
Collaborate with the Logistics and Procurement Coordinator to establish and maintain robust, effective service and procurement processes.

Safety and security management

Assume ultimate responsibility for safety, including developing and validating the country security plan, monitoring security developments, and analyzing risks to formulate recommendations.
Maintain regular communication with the regional office and security advisor on safety concerns.
Make final decisions regarding all security-related matters in the country.

Accountability and quality control

Oversee the production and submission of monthly activity reports in collaboration with the SMT.
Continuously evaluate the impact of programs and operations through periodic field visits, working alongside the Program Coordinator and MEAL team.
Ensure full compliance with INTERSOS’s safeguarding policies across all staff.
Supervise the effectiveness of complaint feedback mechanisms in partnership with the MEAL department.
Monitor program quality and impact against established strategic objectives and related indicators.
Oversee program reporting to ensure adherence to INTERSOS policies, donor regulations, and national requirements.

Candidate profile

Hold a university degree in project management, international affairs, development studies, international political economy, or a related field.
Possess a minimum of eight years of leadership experience in humanitarian contexts.
Demonstrated experience working with NGOs in developing countries.
Proven track record in managing major grants and international donors.
Experience operating in insecure environments with responsibility for safety planning, monitoring, and management.
Proficiency in essential computer skills (Word, Excel, and Internet).
Fluency in English and French is mandatory.
Strategic vision and strong organizational and planning skills.
Exceptional leadership, team management, and collaborative abilities.
Adaptability and strong networking, negotiation, and decision-making skills.
Diplomatic, interpersonal, and communication prowess.
Ability to take initiative and work independently with minimal supervision.
Analytical mindset and practical problem-solving expertise.
Commitment to INTERSOS’s core principles.

Terms and benefits

Salary range: €4,505 – €5,182 gross per month
Accommodation: Shared guesthouse
R&R: 7 days of psycho-physical recovery every 12 weeks, plus a €1,000 allowance
Annual leave: 2.5 days per month
Comprehensive medical insurance for staff
Transport and visa: Round-trip airfare provided. For missions of at least 9 months, an additional round-trip ticket to the home country is included.
Integration training: One week of online induction prior to deployment

How to apply

Interested candidates should apply through the designated platform. The application process consists of three quick steps: register (providing your name, email, password, and nationality), log in, and submit your application, including a PDF version of your CV. The platform allows candidates to track their application history with INTERSOS.

Please include the names, positions, and contact details of at least three references—two former supervisors and one HR contact. Family members are not eligible as references.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the first interview.