Job Overview
Position: Country Manager, Tanzania (based in Zanzibar)
Location: Unguja, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Contract Length: 1 year, renewable
Compensation: 6,500,000 TZS/month + Health Benefits
Commitment: Full time, 40 hours/week
Start Date: August 2025
About Youth Challenge International (YCI)
Youth Challenge International is accelerating youth innovation for good. Together with young leaders and innovators, we are creating a better future where people, planet and profit can thrive. We are going all in on the bold ideas, skills and ventures that will get us there. In over 30 countries, YCI has teamed up with young people and partner organizations to transform complex challenges into sustainable solutions; collectively, we learn fast, fail smart and turn insights into action. We believe that a better world can – and will – be built by the next generation.
HerStart: Innovate the Future
HerStart is a YCI initiative advancing gender equality, innovation and economic empowerment on a global scale. Through the HerStart: Innovate the Future program, YCI delivers dynamic entrepreneurship and leadership training, mentorship and seed funding for young women to build businesses with positive community impact in Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda. We co-design and co-implement HerStart with local partners in each country, who contribute their unique expertise and advance their own organizational learning. We leverage the energy and skills of Canadian volunteers to further our impact, while enhancing their own personal and professional development. Supportive ecosystems are activated locally to fuel collaboration, reduce silos and dismantle gender barriers beyond HerStart.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Regional Project Manager, the Country Manager will bring leadership, initiative and innovation to the management and growth of HerStart in Tanzania. This role is accountable for achieving project results and expanding YCI’s impact at the country level. The ideal candidate demonstrates people-centred leadership for staff, partners and volunteers, ensuring they are well equipped to apply YCI’s principles across all activities and deliver on organizational and program objectives.
We are seeking an experienced, creative and passionate leader to deliver exceptional results. We are looking for people to join our team who have the skills, energy and drive to accelerate youth innovation for good on a global scale.
Responsibilities Include:
- Program Management: Establish a thriving team culture by leading, managing and strengthening team capacity to deliver a high quality project; Oversee the delivery of all program components through coordinated processes to meet goals and targets, including volunteer management and project grants for participants and partners; Manage country-level reporting and annual work planning activities; Drive the oversight and implementation of country level Human Resource Management, including recruitment, onboarding and performance management; Collaborate on the design and lead the implementation of Communication, Gender Equality and Climate Action Strategies in country.
- Finance, Operations and Risk Management: Monitor and manage annual and multi-year program budgets aligned with donor requirements and work plans; Ensure organizational compliance with country laws and regulations; Ensure preparation and submission of high quality financial documents and reports; Monitor and manage the program risk profile in country; Act as the focal point for all risk, safety and security incidents and ensure YCI’s Risk, Safety and Security protocols are monitored and implemented across the project.
- Partnership Development & Management: Manage local partnerships to ensure the effective delivery of collaborative project activities; Engage diverse ecosystem actors (including government, non-profit and private sectors) to build a multi-stakeholder network to support youth, women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship objectives; Ensure strong communication and relationships are established and maintained with all partners and YCI headquarters in Toronto, Canada; Remain well-informed about national and regional priorities and issues affecting women and youth, and where possible, position the project and partnerships to respond appropriately.
- Strategic Initiatives: Manage country team to develop and implement Annual Country Strategic Action Plans aligned with YCI’s Strategic Plan; Pursue and manage additional funding and public engagement opportunities aligned with Country Strategic Action Plan; Remain up-to-date on research, best practices and sector strategies to ensure relevancy and impact of strategic decisions; Expand YCI’s brand and presence through strategic engagements and relationship building; Perform other duties as assigned by the Regional Project Manager or CEO.
Skills and Experience:
You are an experienced leader with a minimum of 8+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience at a management or director level; you have a successful track record in co-designing, managing and implementing donor-funded projects, with a demonstrated commitment to team management, mentoring and supervising teams; you can demonstrate how you have built effective teams and partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including government, community leaders, donors, private sector and other NGOs; you exemplify a strategic mindset and are skilled at designing and implementing effective workplans; you have sound financial planning and budget management skills; you have strong experience leading effective community development; you are passionate about investing in women and youth livelihoods and are inspired by innovation and entrepreneurship; you know the impact of volunteerism and ideally have experience working with volunteers; ideally you demonstrate an integrated understanding of economic inclusion, gender equality and climate action; you are an effective communicator with excellent written and verbal English and Swahili proficiency; and you are a permanent resident or a Citizen of Tanzania, with availability to live and work in Zanzibar.
Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
YCI recognizes the unequal power dynamics inherent in international development work and our responsibility to protect the human rights of the communities we serve and provide an environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse. Youth Challenge International (YCI) commits to a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA).
Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) is everyone’s responsibility, and all employees are required to sign and adhere to the PSEA Policy and Code of Conduct, at all times. All employees must ensure that they understand and act in accordance with this clause.
How to Apply
Application Deadline: Monday, July 14, 2025
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received, so we encourage early submissions. No phone calls or emails about the position can be accepted. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
YCI encourages applications from all backgrounds. To achieve our goals, we rely on the unique experiences and viewpoints of our staff, volunteers and partners. We understand that diverse perspectives are required for an inclusive culture to thrive – a culture that is respectful and welcoming to all. We are committed to creating a place of inclusion for employees, candidates, volunteers, partners and participants of all backgrounds, ages, religions, races, gender identities, physical abilities and sexual orientations.
YCI uses a people-focused approach to evaluating applicants. We do not utilize artificial intelligence during the recruitment process. If you require accommodation for the recruitment process, please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.
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