Location: Juba, South Sudan
Position Status: Full-time, Exempt, Regular
Salary Level: Field Level 7
Risk Level: ☒ Level 3 ☐ Level 2 ☐ Level 1
Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/or high level of accountability.
Level 2: Some contact with participants; unplanned non-direct contact with children.
Level 1: Likely to have no contact with participants or sensitive data)
Mercy Corps is transitioning to Prosper Global. As the transition is being implemented by location, you may see the Mercy Corps and Prosper Global names used concurrently during this period. This is an administrative transition, and our teams, programs and commitments continue without interruption.
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.
Mercy Corps takes a unified, highly strategic approach, leveraging decades of experience in South Sudan (since 2005) and Uganda (since 2006) to drive profound, systemic transformation. As a region of considerable strategic interest and high growth potential for the agency, our combined portfolio bridges immediate humanitarian response with long-term development. We empower host communities, IDPs, returnees, refugees, and marginalized pastoralist populations to recover from crisis, build better lives, and transform their communities for good. Backed by a diverse donor base—including FCDO, the European Commission, United Nations, DANIDA, AFD, ADA, and the governments of Switzerland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Austria, alongside private foundations—our unified presence turns complex regional challenges into sustainable, transformative opportunities for last-mile communities.
Innovation and systemic change are at our core. We work hand-in-hand with the private sector, civil society, and governance structures at local and national levels to drive inclusive, market-driven opportunities in food security, livelihoods, civil society, WASH, maternal-child health, financial inclusion, clean energy, and conflict management. As a leader in the region, Mercy Corps is strongly positioned to influence donors, development actors, and governments to foster deep collaboration and strengthen the critical systems communities depend on to cope, adapt, and thrive in the face of external shocks.
The Mercy Corps South Sudan and Uganda Country Director (CD) is an innovative and visionary leader responsible for resourcefully developing and managing all programming and operations to deliver quality, harness innovative solutions and influence lasting and systemic change. Building on a strong foundation of programming, the CD will oversee the delivery of high-impact, multi-sector programming that is accountable to both program participants and donors, while prioritizing strategies for thoughtful growth, external influence and partnership building. Placing a high value on innovative solutions to humanitarian and development issues and creative partnerships, the CD has full supervisory responsibility for the portfolio and is responsible for building a cohesive team across both countries that works together to deliver efficient high-impact programming. The CD will position Mercy Corps to drive forward strategic programming, within South Sudan and Uganda, strategically connecting both country programs into a cohesive portfolio that aligns to the regional and Agency’s global vision. This is an exciting, high-profile opportunity for an ambitious leader to influence key development outcomes, lead a high-performing team, and build a portfolio designed to pivot as contexts evolve.
Finance, Operations, HR, and Program leads
Reports Directly To: Vice President, Africa Region
Works Directly With: HQ-based Program, Operations, Finance, Regional Program Team, Regional People Team, Compliance, Fundraising and Technical Support Unit.
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
demonstrable success in managing large, complex, transitional development programs.
private sector, INGO, NGO partners and other stakeholders in complex environments.
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
The successful Country Director will skillfully represent Mercy Corps’ programmatic priorities and agency distinctives to donors and partners while providing effective leadership to the program team to ensure high-impact programming. Navigating complex, shifting environments across two distinct countries requires a dedication to adaptive management—translating data into agile insights and quickly shifting operational tracks as contexts evolve. The Country Director (CD) will bring high emotional intelligence, a level-headed approach to problem-solving under pressure, and constructive mentoring skills to build long-term team capacity. Because this is a hands-on leadership role requiring intense multi-tasking across fundraising, strategy, and external representation, maintaining a healthy sense of humor will be a vital success factor for staying grounded and navigating ambiguity. A core priority for this role will be intentionally building a unified culture and boosting team morale, creating an inclusive, connected, and supportive environment across both country offices. Ultimately, successful Mercy Corps team members maintain a fierce commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in challenging landscapes, and prioritize clear, transparent communication.
The Country Director is based in the capital city of Juba, South Sudan. This is an unaccompanied post that demands a disciplined adherence to robust security protocols, restricted nighttime movement, and acute situational awareness due to inherent localized insecurities. This position will require up to 50% travel by road and air to field offices, often insecure environments, in South Sudan and Uganda.
Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.
Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.
We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.