Plan International Regional Strategy, Programmes & Influencing Director Opportunity | Apply by 12 September 2026
Experienced development and humanitarian professionals have an opportunity to take on a senior regional leadership position with Plan International. The organisation is seeking a Regional Strategy, Programmes & Influencing Director to provide strategic leadership across its West and Central Africa region.
This is a senior-level opportunity for an experienced leader with a strong background in strategy, programme development, influencing, advocacy and partnership building. The position offers flexibility regarding location, as candidates can be based in countries where the organisation has a presence across West and Central Africa. Applications close on 12 September 2026.
Regional Leadership Opportunity in West and Central Africa
The Regional Strategy, Programmes & Influencing Director will provide strategic leadership for strategy, programming and influencing work across the West and Central Africa region.
The role is aligned with Plan International’s 2022–2027 global strategy, All Girls Standing Strong, Creating Global Change, with a particular focus on programme quality and strategic impact.
The successful candidate will become part of the regional leadership structure and will work closely with Country Offices, National Offices and the Global Hub. The position involves shaping strategic programming and influencing initiatives while developing partnerships that support regional goals.
Key Responsibilities
A major responsibility will be driving the implementation of the global strategy across the West and Central Africa region. The Director will work with different teams and offices to strengthen strategic programming, influencing and partnerships.
The role will also focus on ensuring that programmes deliver meaningful impact, legitimacy and sustainability. This includes supporting high-quality gender-transformative programming and influencing initiatives while maintaining close coordination with humanitarian programming.
The successful candidate will lead a multidisciplinary regional department and provide high-quality support to Country Offices. They will also ensure that regional priorities are represented in relevant spaces and collaborate with liaison offices connected to multilateral institutions.
Another important aspect of the position will be developing strategically aligned, multi-country projects and programmes and supporting their funding. The Director will build relationships with donors, governments, civil society organisations and other strategic stakeholders.
The position also provides oversight of partnership management and programme quality, ensuring Country Offices receive the support required to deliver effective gender-transformative programmes.
Senior Experience Required
This opportunity is designed for an experienced senior leader with a proven record of working across complex and geographically dispersed organisations.
Candidates should have substantial experience leading cross-functional and multi-country teams, developing organisational strategies, overseeing programme delivery and influencing organisational priorities.
Strong experience building and maintaining partnerships across development and humanitarian settings is essential. Applicants should also demonstrate expertise in programme development, programme quality and impact.
Experience in networking, advocacy, influencing and policy engagement with government stakeholders across West and Central Africa is particularly important. Candidates should also understand rights-based and gender-transformative programming approaches.
Strong interpersonal, negotiation and networking skills will be required. The organisation is also seeking an excellent communicator who demonstrates cultural sensitivity and strong relationship-building abilities.
English and French Fluency Required
One of the key requirements for this position is fluency in both English and French. Candidates must have excellent written and verbal communication skills in both languages.
This requirement is particularly relevant because the position covers a diverse West and Central African region where both languages are widely used across different country contexts.
The role also involves significant stakeholder engagement, strategic influencing and regional collaboration, making strong communication skills essential.
Location and Travel
The location for this position is flexible. Candidates may be considered from countries where Plan International has a presence in West and Central Africa.
These include Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
However, applicants should be prepared for substantial regional travel. The position requires frequent travel of up to 60%, reflecting the senior regional responsibilities of the role.
Who Should Apply?
This opportunity is best suited to senior professionals with extensive experience in international development, humanitarian programming, strategy, advocacy, influencing or programme leadership.
The position is classified as requiring 10+ years of experience, making it unsuitable for entry-level applicants. Candidates should be able to demonstrate strategic leadership, multi-country management, partnership development and strong knowledge of development and humanitarian contexts.
Professionals who have worked across West and Central Africa and have experience engaging governments, donors, civil society and regional or multilateral institutions may be particularly well suited to the role.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should review the full vacancy information and submit their application through the organisation’s recruitment portal.
Job Title: Regional Strategy, Programmes & Influencing Director
Organisation: Plan International
Location: Flexible across eligible West and Central African countries
Experience: 10+ years
Travel: Up to 60%
Languages: English and French
Posted: 10 September 2026
Application Deadline: 12 September 2026
Apply here: Plan International application portal
Conclusion
The Regional Strategy, Programmes & Influencing Director position presents a significant leadership opportunity for an experienced development or humanitarian professional seeking to influence programmes and strategy across West and Central Africa.
With responsibility for regional strategy, programme quality, influencing, partnerships and multidisciplinary teams, the role offers an opportunity to contribute to work focused on children’s rights, equality for girls and sustainable development.
Qualified candidates should ensure their applications demonstrate senior leadership experience, regional knowledge, strategic thinking, partnership-building ability and fluency in both English and French. With the 12 September 2026 deadline approaching, interested professionals should apply as soon as possible.
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Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
