Chief of Staff - DRC Country Manager

About the Role

BURN is seeking a Chief of Staff to support the DRC Country Manager in driving the country’s commercial performance, strategic agenda, and operational effectiveness. This is not a purely administrative role – the Chief of Staff will be a hands-on partner in project management, strategy execution, and cross-functional coordination, helping to ensure that priorities move forward efficiently and that the Country Manager’s time is focused on the highest-impact activities.

Responsibilities

Strategic Support & Planning

• Collaborate with the Country Manager to develop and track short and long-term country plans, ensuring alignment with BURN’s broader commercial strategy.
• Carry out research, project design, and thought partnership to support strategic decision-making.
• Review and analyse strategic options, providing structured recommendations on priorities for commercial growth, market expansion, and operational improvement.
• Analyse the performance of products, projects, and activities and identify opportunities to increase revenue and efficiency.
• Support the Country Manager in preparing for key meetings, board updates, and senior leadership engagements.

Project Management

• Lead and manage the end-to-end execution of key country projects and initiatives, ensuring they are delivered on time and within budget.
• Develop and monitor project timelines, deliverables, and KPIs, driving accountability across teams.
• Identify gaps, risks, and dependencies within ongoing projects and proactively flag or resolve them.
• Follow up with teams to ensure delegated tasks are completed effectively, maintaining momentum on priority workstreams.
• Support the implementation of new policies, processes, and operational improvements across the DRC business.

Operational Efficiency

• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives, ensuring smooth information flow and clear ownership across departments.
• Anticipate the Country Manager’s needs by proactively managing schedules, priorities, and deadlines.
• Identify areas where processes can be streamlined and propose practical improvements.
• Manage executive calendar logistics: coordinate meetings, travel, agendas, and action item follow-up.

Stakeholder & Communication Management

• Serve as a key liaison between the Country Manager and internal teams, as well as external partners and stakeholders.
• Represent the Country Manager in select meetings, capturing insights and reporting back with clear summaries and recommended actions.
• Draft and proofread presentations, reports, and communications for internal and external audiences.
• Ensure communications are clear, timely, and aligned with country and organisational priorities.
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with staff, partners, and external stakeholders across the DRC business.

Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, management, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in a project management, commercial, or business operations role.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Analytical and structured thinker, comfortable working with data and performance metrics to inform decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both French and English.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Self-directed and proactive, with the ability to operate independently and anticipate needs.
• Flexibility and adaptability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office / Google Workspace tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).

Qualified Female Candidates encouraged to Apply

BURN does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, processing, training, or any other fees).