SUMMARY:

The International Crane Foundation (ICF) Uganda Crane and Wetland Conservation Programme aims to secure and improve the ecological integrity of key sites for cranes in Uganda by collaborating with local communities and key stakeholders and monitoring and mitigating threats to Grey Crowned Cranes in these sites. The Uganda project is part of ICF's Africa Programme, which aims to maintain stable wild populations of four threatened crane species resident in Sub-Saharan Africa: Wattle, Blue, Black Crowned, and Grey Crowned. The ICF currently has three regional hubs across Africa, located in South Africa, Zambia, and Uganda, and will be expanding into the Sahel. The Uganda Programme works within our East African Regional Hub with the Headquarters in Kampala, Uganda. The position will be based at ICF's Uganda Country Office in Mbarara.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Country Director will provide strategic, programmatic, operational, and people leadership for ICF Uganda. The successful candidate will be a highly self-driven leader with strong field programme management experience, excellent people management skills, and demonstrated success in leading multidisciplinary teams and donor-funded conservation and development. The Country Director will be responsible for ensuring that ICF Uganda delivers high-quality conservation outcomes, maintains strong organisational performance, develops strategic partnerships, mobilises resources, strengthens staff capacity, and upholds the highest standards of accountability, compliance, and organizational culture.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

A. Strategic Leadership and Programme Oversight

Provide overall strategic leadership and management of ICF's programs, staff, work plans and budgets. Ensuring effective delivery, accountability and programmatic results. Developing and managing a team that works collaboratively with communities to ensure the conservation of wetlands and cranes.

B. Program Management

Develop, implement and monitor effective programs that produce timely, cost effective and compliant programs and projects that meet the needs of the stakeholders including government, communities, donors and other entities ICF collaborates with. This includes the ongoing evaluation of projects and making appropriate adjustments to ensure success of these programs. Promote a culture of accountability, integrity, and ethical conduct, ensuring robust safeguarding, anti-fraud, transparency, and compliance standards are implemented and upheld across all aspects of the Programme.

C. People Leadership and Team Development

Provide visionary and inspirational leadership to the Uganda team, fostering a high-performance culture built on trust, accountability, inclusion, collaboration, integrity, learning, and organisational excellence. Support the Human Resource Office in workforce planning and talent management, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and the development of current and future leaders. Support ICFs "OneICF" culture: by championing staff wellbeing, safeguarding, duty of care, workplace safety, ethical conduct, and professional development, addressing performance challenges fairly and constructively while supporting continuous staff growth and adherence to organisational values.

D. Partnership Development and External Relations

Develop, strengthen, and manage strategic partnerships with government agencies, donors, academic institutions, civil society organizations, private sector actors, community groups, and other stakeholders to advance conservation outcomes, organisational growth, and long-term sustainability. Represent ICF at national and international forums, policy dialogues, technical working groups, and stakeholder platforms, enhancing the organization's visibility, influence, and reputation as a trusted leader in crane and wetland conservation in Uganda. Work with ICF's communications teams to showcase programme achievements, support strategic communications and publications, and represent the organization in media and public engagement opportunities where appropriate.

E. Governance, Risk, and Organisational Compliance

Ensure organisational compliance and good governance, maintaining adherence to all legal, statutory, regulatory, donor, and organisational requirements, including registrations, permits, and reporting obligations. Lead organizational risk, security, and business continuity management, overseeing risk assessment, mitigation measures, security systems, and emergency preparedness to safeguard staff, assets, and operations. Promote a culture of accountability, integrity, and ethical conduct, ensuring robust safeguarding, anti-fraud, transparency, and compliance standards are implemented and upheld across all aspects of the Programme.

Core Competencies:

Strong team builder with the ability to effectively lead and mentor staff and projects to successful outcomes and provide an atmosphere in which individual and professional growth, leadership, and achievement are encouraged, recognized, and rewarded.

Strong collaborator committed to working cooperatively across departments and programs, making valuable contributions to shared projects and assisting with outputs of others.

Strong communicator with excellent verbal and written communication skills, including demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with lay-audiences, professional peers, and organizational leadership.

Strong partnership builder with interpersonal skills and commitment to cultivate strong external relationships and partnerships.

Strong skills in managing and directing budgets, including tracking expenses, revenue, and restricted sources.

Required Qualifications:

Master's degree in Natural Resource Management, Conservation Biology, Environmental Management, Wildlife Management, Ecology, Environmental Science or a related field

At least 10 years of progressive professional experience managing complex conservation, environment, natural resource management, or development programmes

At least 5 years of senior leadership and people management experience

Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams across multiple locations

Proven experience managing donor-funded programmes with budgets and compliance requirements

Strong understanding of biodiversity conservation, wetlands, community engagement, and sustainable development approaches

Demonstrated success in fundraising, proposal development, and donor relationship management

Experience working with government institutions, civil society, development partners, and local communities

Excellent financial management and organisational leadership skills

Additional Requirements

Attentive to detail and thoroughness in terms of timeliness and quality of work

Possess a valid driver's license and acceptable driving records

Flexibility to work the number and schedule of hours needed to accomplish regular and ad hoc job responsibilities.

Confidence in and ability to travel extensively, in Uganda, and occasionally to our other projects in Africa, and to the ICF Headquarters in the USA.

We are an equal opportunities employer, and this position is open to Ugandan nationals only. Qualified candidates should submit CVs, a daytime telephone contact, email address, names and addresses of three referees, and a cover letter explaining how their experience will contribute to the requirements of the position, as one pdf file.

Applicants should apply to [email protected]. Please put "Uganda Country Director" in the subject line.

Applications close on 6 September 2026, and any applicants who will not have heard from the International Crane Foundation by 31 October 2026 should consider their application unsuccessful.

• Provide overall strategic leadership and management of ICF's programs, staff, work plans and budgets.
• Ensure effective delivery, accountability and programmatic results.
• Develop and manage a team that works collaboratively with communities to ensure the conservation of wetlands and cranes.
• Develop, implement and monitor effective programs that produce timely, cost effective and compliant programs and projects.
• Evaluate projects and make appropriate adjustments to ensure success.
• Promote a culture of accountability, integrity, and ethical conduct, ensuring robust safeguarding, anti-fraud, transparency, and compliance standards are implemented and upheld.
• Provide visionary and inspirational leadership to the Uganda team, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Support workforce planning and talent management, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and leadership development.
• Champion staff wellbeing, safeguarding, duty of care, workplace safety, ethical conduct, and professional development.
• Develop, strengthen, and manage strategic partnerships with government agencies, donors, academic institutions, civil society organizations, private sector actors, community groups, and other stakeholders.
• Represent ICF at national and international forums, policy dialogues, technical working groups, and stakeholder platforms.
• Work with ICF's communications teams to showcase programme achievements, support strategic communications and publications, and represent the organization in media and public engagement opportunities.
• Ensure organisational compliance and good governance, maintaining adherence to all legal, statutory, regulatory, donor, and organisational requirements.
• Lead organizational risk, security, and business continuity management.

• Team building
• Mentoring
• Collaboration
• Verbal and written communication
• Interpersonal skills
• Budget management
• Fundraising
• Proposal development
• Donor relationship management
• Financial management
• Organizational leadership

• Master's degree in Natural Resource Management, Conservation Biology, Environmental Management, Wildlife Management, Ecology, Environmental Science or a related field
• At least 10 years of progressive professional experience managing complex conservation, environment, natural resource management, or development programmes
• At least 5 years of senior leadership and people management experience
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams across multiple locations
• Proven experience managing donor-funded programmes with budgets and compliance requirements
• Strong understanding of biodiversity conservation, wetlands, community engagement, and sustainable development approaches
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, proposal development, and donor relationship management
• Experience working with government institutions, civil society, development partners, and local communities
• Excellent financial management and organisational leadership skills
• Attentive to detail and thoroughness
• Valid driver's license and acceptable driving records
• Flexibility to work the number and schedule of hours needed
• Ability to travel extensively in Uganda, occasionally to other projects in Africa, and to ICF Headquarters in the USA.