Country Director, Somaliland

Country Director, Somaliland

Hargeisa, Somaliland

Overview

The Pharo Foundation is a mission-driven organisation working to build a vibrant, productive, and self-reliant Africa. Founded and fully funded by Pharo Management, an emerging markets hedge fund, the Foundation applies private sector rigour and operational discipline to maximise impact.

We invest  in  economic  development  programmes  and  ventures to      deliver sustainable   impact,          meaning

outcomes  that  continue  long  after  the  initial  investment,  rather  than  gains  that  require  constant  external funding to maintain. Thus, our model links two engines together: ventures create jobs and economic activity, while their profits help fund the development programmes that strengthen the conditions for future growth.

Over the next decade, the Foundation’s ambition is to deliver lasting impact across three interdependent missions:

1. Empowering the next generation through affordable, high-quality education 2. Solving water scarcity through sustainable infrastructure

3. Driving economic productivity by unlocking jobs, investment, and innovation through both non-profit and for-profit ventures

The Foundation operates in Ethiopia, Somaliland, Kenya, and Rwanda, employing more than 800 people across three divisions: Pharo Schools, Pharo Development, and Pharo Ventures.

Opportunity

We are seeking an exceptional Country Director to lead and scale Pharo Foundation’s work in Somaliland. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of one of the Foundation’s most strategically important geographies at a pivotal moment of growth and ambition.

The Country Director will provide overall leadership for the Foundation’s operations, programmes, and ventures in Somaliland, driving execution across both non-profit and for-profit activities. The Country Director is the steward and protector of people, brand, assets, and licence to operate. The role requires a leader who combines strategic vision with operational excellence, and who is equally comfortable engaging with government stakeholders, overseeing complex programmes, and building high-performing teams.

The successful candidate will be responsible for translating the Foundation’s long-term ambitions into tangible outcomes on the ground, ensuring that programmes and ventures are delivered with excellence, accountability, and measurable impact.

This role is ideally suited to a commercially minded and mission-driven leader who thrives in dynamic environments, understands the complexities of operating in Somaliland, and is motivated by the opportunity to build institutions and initiatives that endure.

Key relationships:

Role: Country Director

Location: Hargeisa, Somaliland

Reporting to: Chief Operation Officer (COO)

Functional relationship: CEO, Executive Committee, Senior Leadership Team

Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership

• Lead the development and execution of Pharo Foundation’s country strategy in Somaliland, aligned with the organisation’s broader mission and long-term objectives

• Identify emerging opportunities, risks, and trends relevant to the Foundation’s missions and provide strategic counsel to senior leadership and the Board

• Shape the strategic  direction of  operations  in Somaliland in  partnership with global and regional leadership teams

• Foster a culture of ambition, accountability, innovation, and operational excellence across the country team

Programme and Venture Leadership

• Oversee the successful delivery and expansion of all country programmes, schools and ventures across Somaliland

•       Ensure strong governance, compliance, safeguarding, and risk management across all activities

• Support and oversee the performance of for-profit ventures within the Somaliland portfolio, working closely with venture leadership teams to drive sustainable growth and operational effectiveness

• Identify and evaluate investment opportunities, partnerships, and new initiatives aligned with Pharo Ventures’ strategic priorities

• Establish robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems to ensure continuous improvement and measurable impact

•       Maintain strong operational oversight through regular site visits and performance reviews

Management responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with the Global Senior Leadership team to effectively manage the team within a matrix organisation.

• Joint management of the Country Office’s Management team in collaboration with relevant functional managers (e.g. Director of Pharo Schools, CFO, etc).

Candidate Profile

We are looking for a leader with the credibility, judgement, and ambition to operate at scale in a complex and evolving environment.

The ideal candidate will bring:

•       A Master’s degree, MBA, or equivalent advanced qualification

• At  least  10  years  of  leadership  experience,  including  significant  senior  management  experience within international development, private sector, investment, or philanthropic organisations

•       Strong commercial and operational acumen, including experience managing budgets, teams, and

organisational growth

• Demonstrated success leading  and  scaling  complex organisations,  programmes,  or ventures in Africa

•       Deep understanding of Somaliland’s operating environment, institutions, and stakeholder landscape

• Exceptional leadership and people management capabilities, with the ability to inspire high- performing teams

•       Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills

• The ability to operate with autonomy, resilience, sound judgement, and accountability in fast-moving environments

•       A genuine commitment to Pharo Foundation’s mission and values

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate will be:

•       Entrepreneurial, strategic, and execution-oriented

•       Highly principled, professional, and values-driven

•       Curious, adaptable, and intellectually rigorous.

•       Comfortable operating in ambiguity and navigating complexity

•       Collaborative by nature, but decisive when required.

•                Motivated by impact and long-term institution building

•       Passionate about developing people and building strong teams.

•       Strong reputation for integrity, neutrality, and trustworthiness.

Application Process

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage interested candidates to apply early, as we reserve the right to close the process should an exceptional candidate be identified before the deadline.

Please submit:

•       A detailed CV.

•       A Cover letter outlining your interest and suitability for the role.

•       The application deadline is June 15th 2026.

Due to the volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

To apply, please visit the Careers page on the Pharo Foundation website and submit your application https://www.pharofoundation.org/index.php/current-opportunities