ABOUT HEALTHY LEARNERS
Healthy Learners is an award-winning non-profit organisation working to improve the health and learning of children across Zambia and soon, beyond. In partnership with the Government of Zambia, we bring healthcare directly into schools so that children stay healthy, stay in class, and reach their full potential. Our model is government-owned and government-led, fully embedded in national priorities, systems, and structures.
Today, we have 1,062 health rooms, trained 8,370 School Health Teachers, and operate in 𝟰𝟱 districts across all ten provinces, reaching more than 1.4 million learners through Zambia’s first integrated School Health Program. Our approach combines school-based service delivery with technical assistance to government at every level—strengthening planning, supervision, data use, and local capacity to deliver.
As we complete our national scale-up, we’re focused on deepening programme quality, strengthening delivery systems, and laying the foundation for long-term government leadership. We’re looking for a dynamic operational leader to help drive this next chapter—someone ready to manage complexity at scale and help a proven model achieve lasting impact.
Healthy Learners is the proud recipient of the Skoll Award for Social Innovation, the Duke F.M. Kirby Prize, and the Lipman Family Prize from the University of Pennsylvania. These awards reflect not just our success to date, but the strength of the opportunity ahead. If this mission resonates with you, we’d love to hear from you.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Country Director is Healthy Learners' senior in-country leader for Malawi, our first expansion beyond Zambia. The role carries end-to-end responsibility for building Healthy Learners' presence in-country: establishing government partnerships, negotiating and stewarding the MOU with the Ministries of Health and Education, and leading program delivery from initial pilot through to national scale.
The Country Director owns the country's operating model in full: government partnerships and technical assistance, program delivery, administration and finance, procurement and supply chain, and data systems. They adapt Healthy Learners' Zambia model to Malawi's context, and represent Healthy Learners to donors and funders active in the country.
This is a start-up leadership role that requires comfort shaping strategy and structure in a changing environment, while upholding the disciplined, government-led posture and child safeguarding standards that anchor Healthy Learners' model everywhere it operates.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Program Delivery (25%)
Own the adaptation, execution, and continuous improvement of the School Health Programme in Malawi, from pilot through to national scale.
- Work alongside government partners and the Healthy Learners Senior team to adapt the program model to Malawi's context, ensuring high fidelity to Healthy Learners' program standards.
- Oversee programme expansion into new districts, including target setting, coordination of cascade trainings, and ensuring timely implementation with high programme fidelity.
- Use monitoring and evaluation data to track progress, identify implementation challenges, and drive evidence-based improvements.
- Plan and execute the country's progression through Healthy Learners' phased expansion model (pre-implementation, initial launch, operational scale, and government-funded scale-up), tracking progress against set standards.
- Coordinate with Healthy Learners headquarters on annual planning, target setting, and identifying emerging issues and opportunities for improvement; work with the Innovation Team and cross-functional partners to test assumptions, pilot new tools and approaches, refine implementation, and lead the scale-up of successful solutions
Government Engagement & Partnerships (20%)
Serve as Healthy Learners' senior relationship holder with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education in Malawi.
- Steward Healthy Learners MOU with the Malawi Government from negotiation through signing and ongoing implementation.
- Conduct relationship mapping of government stakeholders at national, district, and local levels, and develop individualized stewardship plans for each.
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with ministry directors, district officials, and other government counterparts, staying abreast of changes in government leadership and priorities.
- Support policy research and contribute to policy development that advances the school health agenda.
- Identify and manage political, bureaucratic, and inter-ministerial risks to the program.
Team & Operations Leadership (15%)
Build and lead Healthy Learners' Malawi team as the country program grows.
- Hire, manage, and coach direct reports across Administration & Finance, Government Partnerships & Technical Assistance, Programs, and other functions as they are established.
- Support recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and leadership development for the country team.
- Foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture consistent with Healthy Learners' values and ways of working.
- Coordinate contracted local expertise (HR, tax, legal) to support compliant in-country operations.
- Maintain clear, single reporting lines for country staff and strong working relationships with centralized HL functions.
External Representation (15%)
Serve as Healthy Learners' public face in Malawi to audiences beyond government.
- Represent Healthy Learners to donors, funders, and program partners active in Malawi, and steward those relationships between formal reporting cycles.
- Represent Healthy Learners in technical working groups, interagency forums, and sector convenings, positioning the organization as a credible and collaborative partner.
- Promote Healthy Learners' mission, values, strategy, and impact to civic bodies, media, and other external stakeholders as the program's public profile grows.
- Identify and pursue strategic partnerships with other organizations working in school health, education, or child welfare in Malawi.
Financial & Administrative Oversight (15%)
Own Healthy Learners' financial and administrative operations in Malawi.
- Manage the country budget, in-country compliance, and procurement.
- Serve as, or delegate, the authorized in-country signatory for expense approval and regulatory compliance.
- Oversee data protection compliance and adherence to Malawi's statutory and labor requirements.
- Champion resource stewardship across the country team.
Safeguarding & Standards (10%)
Uphold Healthy Learners' child safeguarding and clinical safety standards in Malawi.
- Ensure safeguarding protocols are embedded in training, delivery, and school-level implementation from day one.
- Monitor compliance and escalate concerns appropriately.
- Maintain alignment with Malawi's national safeguarding policies and Healthy Learners' global standards.
SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in Public Health, Business Administration, International Development, Public Policy/Administration, or a related field preferred.
- Minimum of 8-10 years of senior leadership experience managing budgets, staff, and external partnerships in a complex or emerging-market environment.
- Demonstrated financial and human resources management literacy, including experience owning significant budgets and leading teams.
- Strong track record engaging senior government and NGO stakeholders, with a preference for health or education systems experience.
- Demonstrated ability to manage high-stakes projects in complex, resource-constrained environments.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
- Demonstrated comfort and effectiveness building or leading in ambiguous, start-up conditions.
Preferred:
- Prior experience setting up a new country program within a global organization.
- Experience transitioning donor-funded programs toward government ownership.
- Background in public health or education systems.
WHAT WE OFFER
- Opportunity for Impact: Play a pivotal role in implementing a program that improves health outcomes for millions of schoolchildren, shaping the future of communities across Africa.
- Competitive Compensation: Receive a competitive salary and benefits package that reflects your expertise and commitment.
- Professional Growth: Access ongoing training, leadership opportunities, and engage in innovative projects that challenge and inspire you.
- Supportive Culture: Join a passionate, dedicated team that values collaboration and mutual support, fostering an environment where all contributions are recognized.
- Networking Opportunities: Collaborate with international organizations and enhance your network and influence in the public health sector.
