Job title: Country Manager

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Contract: Full-time, on-site

Duration: 1 year, with performance-based extension

Career Level: Senior

Deadline: 1 May 2026

We strongly encourage applications from women and individuals from diverse backgrounds. If you are excited about this role but do not meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply.

Background

TRAIDE foundation is headquartered in The Netherlands and we work through local offices across Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi. Our diverse team of 15 business developers works directly with companies, governments, and other stakeholders to create socio-economic and environmental impact.

TRAIDE works across sectors and value chains where private-sector innovation can create impact and economic growth. We focus on sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, water, renewable energy, digital solutions, and education. Using our methodology, we identify SDG-related challenges, develop business cases, build partnerships, and support pilot implementation and scaling. TRAIDE launched a new 4-year program in Ethiopia as of January 2026 and is seeking a Country Manager to implement our program.

Position

You will be based in the TRAIDE Ethiopia office in Addis Ababa and work within a multi-country team across Ethiopia, the Netherlands, Rwanda, and Burundi. In Ethiopia, you will help lead and shape TRAIDE’s Ethiopia program, combining team leadership with hands-on involvement in business development, partnership building, and project implementation.

You will support our team to identify local challenges (e.g. low farmer incomes, lack of clean water) and develop private-sector solutions by leveraging Dutch technology, knowledge, and investment. You will build and nurture relationships with private-sector actors, financial institutions, donors, and government stakeholders. Using these connections, you will develop partnerships between Dutch and Ethiopian stakeholders and help launch new initiatives, including securing funding for pilot projects.

In addition, you oversee program operations, including team management, recruitment, financial oversight, MERL, and reporting. You act as the main point of contact for key stakeholders such as the Netherlands Embassy.

Tasks and activities

TRAIDE Foundation is looking for someone who is excited to help the team build new business cases (60%) and manage the country program (40%). Key responsibilities include:

Business case development

• Fill the pipeline by identifying and exploring business opportunities that arise from Ethiopian development and sector challenges (e.g., to improve livelihoods for women and youth, promote climate resilience, or enhance competitiveness of SMEs).
• You will build and nurture relationships with private-sector actors, financial institutions, donors, and government stakeholders and develop business concepts and partnerships, including identifying business models, organisation roles, collaboration structures, and conditions for investment.
• Lead grant proposal writing together with wider TRAIDE team and partner companies.
• Represent TRAIDE professionally during networking events, meetings, field visits, workshops, and interactions with public and private partners.
• Support the creation of targeted sector scans in collaboration with the Ethiopia team through desk research, interviews and field visits and develop concise PowerPoint presentations with opportunity summaries, meeting notes and short sector insights.

Program management

• Contribute to overall direction of program, oversee implementation, and ensure quality delivery aligned with TRAIDE’s methodology.
• Support, mentor, and grow the local team, creating a collaborative and inclusive team culture.
• Support financial oversight and reporting, lead administration of payments, support compliance with donor requirements and manage monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning (MERL), including data collection and annual reporting.
• Act as primary contact for the Embassy and key partners, and represent TRAIDE during networking events, workshops and other strategic engagements.

Job requirements

We recognize that strong candidates may not meet every requirement listed below. If your experience aligns with the role, we encourage you to apply

Minimum requirements:

• 5+ years of experience in international business, business development, consulting, international development, or related field.
• At least a bachelor degree in international business, development studies, economics, sustainability, agribusiness management, or a related field.
• Minimum 1 year of experience working in agriculture, healthcare and/or water.
• At least 2 years of experience in team leadership and program management.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, including with private-sector actors and government institutions.
• Experience with business development, partnership building, and project implementation.
• C1 level English (fluent speech and writing).

Desirable criteria:

• Master degree in international business, development studies, economics, sustainability, agribusiness management, or a related field.
• Proven experience in grant writing.
• Network among Dutch organisations in agriculture, healthcare and/or water.
• Experience managing budgets, financial reporting, and administration of (donor-funded) programs.
• Flexibility to occasionally adjust working hours for events or field visits
• Experience working in the Global South / Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Proficiency in Dutch and/or French is a plus.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to grow personally and professionally through on the job coaching and structured courses and trainings (professional development budget available).
• Learn more about different sectors and value chains through research and field visits.
• Exposure to international and local businesses, donors, government stakeholders and development partners.
• Supportive, creative, and fun company culture.
• We value a healthy work-life balance and offer flexibility where possible, including options for occasional remote work and adaptable schedules.
• Experience Ethiopian culture and build country understanding via your work, interactions with colleagues, and opportunities to travel.

TRAIDE Foundation provides all staff with an attractive salary & benefits package including healthcare and travel allowances. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees & qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. TRAIDE Foundation complies with all applicable laws governing non-discrimination in employment.

How to Apply

If you are interested, please apply via the button below with your motivation (max 500 words) and as attachment your CV (max 2 pages).

Deadline: 1 May 2026

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 
• The recruitment process will include online and in-person interviews and written and/or verbal exercises.