Co-Area Director for Southern, Central Africa & Nigeria at Mennonite Central Committee (MCC):Closing date: 6 Nov 2026

This is a senior line management position responsible for program in the Southern, Central Africa & Nigeria (SCAN) region. The Area Director (AD) in International Program carries out a joint program on behalf of MCC Canada and MCC U.S. This position is supervised by the Senior Program Director for MCC Canada but also works closely with the MCC U.S Program Director. This position works closely with the other Area Directors in International Program, primarily with the other Co-Area Director for SCAN and with the Area Directors for EAS (East Africa and the Sahel), to develop coherent strategies, priorities and networks.

All MCC workers are expected to exhibit a commitment to: a personal Christian faith and discipleship; active participation in a Christian church or Christian community; and nonviolent peacemaking. MCC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to employment equity. MCC values diversity and invites all qualified candidates to apply.

1.    Undergraduate degree required, Graduate Degree in relevant field preferred.
2.    5-7 years international development experience with MCC or a similar organization.
3.    Experience in the SCAN region preferred.
4.    Fluency in any of the languages commonly spoken in the SCAN region is an asset.
5.    Knowledge of current issues in the field of disaster relief, sustainable community development, justice and peacebuilding.
6.    Proficiency in program planning, budgeting, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
7.    Management experience with a demonstrated ability to lead a team, build consensus within a team, empower staff and move agenda forward.
8.    Strong relational, verbal and written communication and diplomatic skills in group leadership.
9.    Demonstrated ability in working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders.
10.  Commitment to working with local churches, both Anabaptist and ecumenical.
11.   Understanding of and respect for MCC’s supporting Anabaptist constituencies.
12.   Ability to build a team of people in a variety of locations.
13.   Demonstrated ability to work in multi-cultural teams.
14.   Willingness to travel within the SCAN region.
15.   Demonstrated ability to serve as Area Director without bias or conflict of interest, with ability to withstand intense pressure from local constituents.

​Invitations to serve with MCC are contingent on the successful outcome of criminal background check(s).

The primary Areas of responsibility include the following:
1.    Develop and implement strategic priorities and directions for the SCAN region in alignment with larger program and agency-wide priorities and directions, and in collaboration with the other Africa Area Directors.
2.    Appoint and supervise MCC Representatives and staff within the SCAN region.
3.    Provide oversight and evaluation for programs within the SCAN region.
4.    Facilitate and provide leadership to collaborate, network and communicate within the region as well as within the international program department and between the international program department and other parts of the MCC system.
5.    Serve as part of the international program department’s senior leadership team, providing leadership and direction to the whole of International Program.
6.    Collaborate with the other Area Directors for Africa to ensure effective programming and resource allocation across the continent.Responsibilities:Areas of Responsibility:
Contact/Relationships: This position requires extensive contact with other program staff, Communications and Donor Relations, and Human Resources. The Area Director in International Program also has regular contact with outside consultants, constituents and personnel applicants. The Area Director is responsible for communicating the organizational strategic direction to MCC International Programs and serves as the first point of contact for interpreting MCC policies for both MCC Reps and staff in the SCAN region. This position provides written reports to the MCC U.S./Canada Boards at least twice a year. In collaboration with the Program Director, the Area Director has the authority to approve program plans and budgets, along with making
personnel-related decisions.



Supervision: This position directly supervises and manages performance of some of the MCC Representatives and staff in the SCAN region. Supervision includes conducting annual performance appraisals of MCC Representatives and office staff, ensuring that worker care is provided for staff, as well as helping to interpret and enforce MCC policy. With input from Human Resources, the Area Director is responsible for problem solving and reporting related to personnel issues. Along with the other SCAN Co-Area Director, this position is responsible for the overall budget and program plans for the SCAN region.Complexity/Competencies: The Area Director must be able to develop and articulate a vision for MCC’s work in the SCAN region. As part of that vision, the Area Director develops and regularly updates the strategic plan for the region and assists MCC Representatives in developing annual budgets and program plans which fit into the larger five-year plan. He/she makes decisions about the spending of MCC resources in accordance to the region’s strategic plan and reports program activities to the Program Director. The Area Director serves as resource to MCC Communications and Donor Relations for issues related to their region. The Area Director has the ultimate responsibility for programming and personnel in the region, requiring creative approaches and solutions to a wide variety of issues. This position must be able to lead a team that is spread across the SCAN region. Due to the nature of this position, the Area Director will need to prioritize between various, and often competing, requests for information and input.


Independent Action: The Area Director exercises considerable independent judgment based on broadly defined outcomes in consultation with the Program Director. The Area Director must be able to lead a team, provide motivation for organizational directions and multi-task among a variety of administrative functions. In developing the five-year strategic plan, the Area Director helps to set the priorities for the SCAN region, which often has implications for the broader organization.
This position gives input for the development and implementation of MCC policies. He/she must be able to problem-solve as issues arise.Initiative and Ingenuity:
The position requires strong problem-solving skills and adaptability in crises and personnel situations. The Co-AD for SCAN will work to improve MCC systems, policies, and procedures in consultation with other stakeholdersCommunication/Interpersonal Skills:
This position will require very strong communication and interpersonal skills. The position entails networking with staff and partner organizations in Africa, and extensive consultation and coordination with internal and external stakeholders. Strong internal working relationships are required with the other Co-Area Director for SCAN, the EAS Area Directors, advocacy directors, the co-directors of PLDR, the GSL director, and directors of other departments in MCC.

End Result: The Area Director is responsible for harnessing and coordinating MCC’s resources in a way that results in impactful and mutually transformative programming in their Area of responsibility within the parameters set by the Board and senior management.

Major Responsibilities:
Supervision – 50%
Program Planning/Budget – 25%
Relationship Building/Networking – 20%
Program Department Leadership – 5%

• Travel to and from assignment is covered by MCC
• Stipend: This is in addition to the salary with the idea to cover a variety of costs typically incurred by staff which are outside of MCC’s other benefits. The stipend is $350 USD/month for International Staff. National Staff (those working in their home country) will receive a stipend amount which is country specific.
• Retirement Benefit
• Medical: medical dental, vision and psychiatric care expenses covered by MCC
• Vacation Time
• Sick Leave: 15 days annually
• Flex Time: compensation time off given when work or work-related travel occurs outside of normal work schedule
• Flights home for International Staff: every other year, starts accruing after two years of service
• Children’s Education Benefit
• End of Employment Benefits: MCC provides 1 month of salary per year of service when National Staff leave, up to a maximum of 6 months. International Staff who fulfill the length of time stated in their invitations to employment or employment contracts will receive one month of transitional support of $2,400 USD to be provided for each full year of service, up to a maximum of 6 months, to be paid out at the end of employment.
• Other benefits may be added based on applicable labor law and relevant policy.

Key Responsibilities: Areas of responsibilities; Burundi, DR Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The two SCAN Co-Area Directors are expected to collaborate on all of the following responsibilities:
1.    Represent the beliefs, values and mission of Mennonite Central Committee.
2.    Develop and articulate a vision for the work of SCAN and develop and implement strategic priorities for that region together with the other Africa ADs.
3.    Develop and regularly update a strategic plan for the SCAN region, in the context of continent-wide priorities.
4.     Provide oversight, support and evaluation for programs and personnel within the SCAN region.
5.    Develop and manage a budget for the region.
6.    Provide direction on exploring new initiatives and reducing other activities based on agreed upon priorities and program evaluations.
7.    Oversee and monitor the implementation of MCC’s planning system and of all MCC’s policies related to program.
8.    Provide active and collaborative feedback to the annual country planning process as well as timely response to mid-year update reports from the field.
9.    Assure country evaluations at least once every five years and sector evaluations as needed.
10.    Develop and maintain a plan for projected personnel needs for the region.
11.    Appoint, support and supervise MCC Representatives and Area staff, who in turn serve as the primary connection with local partners.
12.    Assist Human Resources and Reps with service worker selection and orientation process, and ensure worker care of Representatives and staff in their program region.
13.    Facilitate and provide leadership to collaborate/network/communicate within the region as well as within the international program department and between the international program department and other parts of the MCC system.
14.    Facilitate the annual SCAN Reps meeting.
15.    Serve as part of the international program department’s senior leadership team providing leadership and direction to the whole program.
16.    Policy Interpretation, with the assistance of Human Resources.
18.    Ensure a commitment to Program Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (PME/R) and financial management in SCAN.
19.    Oversee any MCC responses to disasters in the region.
20.    In coordination with the other SCAN Co-AD, ensure that each country program within SCAN receives at least one AD visit per year.
21.    Other duties as assigned.