Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.
Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.
For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.
We won’t stop until we are all equal.
The Strategy, Programmes & Influencing Director provides strategic leadership to Plan International's strategy, programming and influencing work in the West and Central Africa (WACA) region in line with our 2022-2027 Global Strategy 'All Girls Standing Strong, Creating Global Change' and with a particular focus on ensuring the quality of Plan International’s interventions as part of the WACA Regional Core Management Team and the wider Regional Leadership Team (RLT).
You are a senior leader with a proven track record of leading cross-functional, multi-country teams and driving strategy development, programme delivery, and organisational influence within complex, geographically dispersed organisations. You bring substantial experience in building and sustaining effective partnerships across development and humanitarian contexts, alongside strong expertise in programme development, quality, and impact.
You have demonstrated success in networking, influencing, advocacy, and policy engagement with government stakeholders across West and Central Africa, as well as a strong understanding of rights-based and gender-transformative programming approaches.
An excellent communicator and relationship builder, you possess strong interpersonal, negotiation, and networking skills, underpinned by a high degree of self-awareness and cultural sensitivity.
Fluency in both English and French, with excellent written and verbal communication skills in both languages, is essential for this role.
Location: The location for this role is flexible and any of the countries that Plan has a presence in West and Central Africa can be considered. This includes Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. Frequent travel (up to 60%) will be required.
Reports to: Regional Director
Contract Type: Two year fixed term contract. This is a global search and a relocation package will be available if needed.
Closing Date: September 11th 2026
Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.
We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.
We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.
Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.
A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.
Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.
Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children's rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child, but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.
Working with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children's rights from birth to adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.
For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries. We won't stop until we are all equal.
