Country Representative in Southampton

Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh

Contract: 3-year fixed term contract, renewable

Salary: £50,726 + £1,617 monthly allowance

Status: Accompanied position

Could you lead strategic humanitarian partnerships, strengthen local capacity, and drive innovative programmes that make a real difference for vulnerable communities in Bangladesh and Myanmar?

About the Role

The Country Representative leads the delivery of the British Red Cross strategy in Bangladesh and Myanmar, ensuring effective partnerships with National Societies, IFRC, and ICRC. They drive programme implementation in priority areas such as migration, climate resilience, livelihoods, and community engagement. The role focuses on strengthening National Society capacity, promoting innovative ways of working within the Movement, and aligning with external stakeholders to address large-scale humanitarian needs. They oversee office operations in Bangladesh, including HR, finance, security, and compliance. The post holder fosters collaboration across the Asia region to share learning and maintain consistency in approach.

The Country Representative will be entrusted to:

• Lead the development and delivery of BRC's country strategy and programme outcomes in Bangladesh and Myanmar, aligned with BRC's international priorities.
• Build and manage strategic partnerships with National Societies, IFRC, ICRC, and other stakeholders to strengthen capacity and deliver humanitarian impact.
• Represent BRC externally with donors, government agencies, and inter-agency coordination platforms to promote collaboration and influence humanitarian approaches.
• Oversee disaster preparedness and response support, ensuring effective contingency planning and capacity building for National Societies.
• Ensure sound programme and financial management, including monitoring, evaluation, and accountability to donors and beneficiaries.
• Manage country operations in Bangladesh, covering HR, finance, security, and compliance, and oversee deployments and visits to both countries.
• Champion locally led approaches and innovative ways of working within the Movement to promote efficiency, scale, and good donorship.
• Provide leadership and line management to the country team, fostering performance, learning, and staff development.
• Promote and ensure safe, inclusive environments, monitor safeguarding risk management, and guide safeguarding integration across all operations and partnerships.

What we are looking for

You will bring extensive experience and expertise to this pivotal role. We are looking for someone with proven ability to develop funding proposals for major donors such as FCDO, EU, Trusts, and Foundations, combined with a strong understanding of the international humanitarian system. You should demonstrate strategic analysis, planning, and delivery capability, alongside knowledge of vulnerability issues, humanitarian trends, and approaches to protection, inclusion, and gender mainstreaming. Excellent report writing skills and programme cycle management knowledge are essential, as is expertise in budget development and financial management to high standards of accountability. The ideal candidate will have significant experience managing international programmes and offices, with strong leadership, influencing, and change management capabilities. You will have at least ten years' experience in the humanitarian or international development sector, including overseas assignments, and a proven ability to build partnerships and lead coalitions in complex, developing economy contexts. Experience in disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, and emergency response programming is critical, as is substantive experience managing relationships with major institutional donors. It would be advantageous if you have a higher-level academic qualification (degree level or equivalent work experience) and experience developing accountability mechanisms that ensure participation of programme participants. Skills in mentoring, coaching, and leading multi-cultural teams, including working as part of a geographically dispersed team, will be highly valued. Knowledge of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, security awareness and management, additional language skills, and expertise in managing resources and complex financial systems would further strengthen your application.

Closing date for applications is 23:59 (UK time), Sunday 11th January 2026.

Should you have any questions on this role please email us at quoting the job title.

We offer a wide range of staff benefits, these include:

• Accommodation while on deployment
• Subsistence allowances while overseas
• Travel to and from the country of posting, plus long service flights
• Comprehensive insurance, including medical, personal effects and life insurance
• Pre and post assignment medicals and access to excellent health and wellbeing benefits
• Access to a pension, which you can join at any time during your contract
• Generous leave entitlement (36 days incl. public holidays)

A little bit more about us...

The British Red Cross help anyone, anywhere in the UK and overseas; get the support they need if crisis strikes. Our organisation was born out of a desire to bring help without discrimination. Impartiality and neutrality have been central values for the Red Cross since we started. At the British Red Cross, we are looking for the best people to help us provide support to millions of people affected by crisis in the UK. We want our team to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, offering equal opportunities to everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Diversity is something we celebrate, and we want you to be able to bring your authentic self to the Red Cross. We want you to feel that you are in an inclusive environment, and a great position to help us spread the power of kindness.

In the British Red Cross we will not tolerate any form of misconduct, including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse. We have a code of conduct in place, and are committed to creating a culture of integrity in the organisation where misconduct is not tolerated, situations of abuse are quickly investigated and perpetrators are dealt with effectively. British Red Cross also participates in the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme for roles within the International Directorate. In line with the scheme, we will request information from job applicants' previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures. If you are appointed to a role within BRC you will be subject to the organisation's Code of Conduct, a copy of which you can find on our website. As part of its recruitment and selection process the British Red Cross undertakes DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checking of all individuals who regularly work with or have access to children and vulnerable adults. If driving is an essential requirement of the role, appropriate driver checks will be completed in line with current policy.

The British Red Cross, incorporated by Royal Charter 1908, is a charity registered in England and Wales (220949) and Scotland (SC037738).