Country Director France (m/f/d)

FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Find out more about our sustainable campaigns and projects on https://www.four-paws.org.

Would you like to contribute to something meaningful and work with us on our mission? This is your chance. We are looking for dedicated people to enrich our team.

Your contribution will be

• Providing thoughtful and visionary leadership and management that is inclusive, transparent, and empowering, leading QUATRE PATTES in delivery of the organisation’s mission as defined by FOUR PAWS International
• Translating organisational vision and global strategy into clear and globally aligned priorities in France, identifying opportunities, managing risks, and delivering tangible, measurable impact for animals
• Leading and shaping the QUATRE PATTES’ programmatic, campaigning, and advocacy work, ensuring integration into global strategic priorities and FOUR PAWS high standards of effectiveness and impact
• Ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of QUATRE PATTES France by driving effective fundraising strategy, prudent cost management, and smart allocation of resources in line with organisational priorities
• Strengthening the visibility, credibility, and public recognition of QUATRE PATTES in France as a leading animal welfare organisation
• Representing and promoting the objectives of QUATRE PATTES externally, influencing key stakeholders and policymakers
• Reporting to the France Board and being accountable for the effective implementation of financial governance, compliance, audit, and risk management in line with Board decisions and statutory requirements
• Acting as the primary executive counterpart to the France Board on matters of finance, audit, organisational risk, and financial reporting, in close collaboration with senior colleagues
• Leading and developing the France team with care and accountability, fostering a motivated, high-performing, agile and values-driven culture that supports engagement and long-term retention
• Overseeing France operations and organisational performance, ensuring operational excellence across fundraising, finance, administration, communications, and compliance
• Holding overall responsibility for QUATRE PATTES France’s financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, expenditure oversight, and adherence to governance and internal controls, in close collaboration with senior colleagues
• Collaborating closely with international teams, integrating QUATRE PATTES in France into ONE FOUR PAWS and contributing to the global organisation

Your profile ideally illustrates

• Proven track record in senior leadership and management, operational and strategic roles, ideally within NGOs
• Experienced working in an international organisation and contributing from a country-level perspective to a global structure
• Extensive knowledge in animal welfare or related areas
• Demonstrated ability to strategically position an organisation, constructively managing the relationship and natural tension between national and international priorities
• Strong understanding of the political landscape relevant to animal welfare, with the ability to translate insights into effective positioning
• Ability to move effortlessly between strategic thinking and hands-on execution, ensuring alignment between big-picture goals and day-to-day operations
• Strong team connector, fostering collaboration and synergy across teams and departments
• Advanced interpersonal skills, adjusting communication to diverse audiences and encouraging open dialogue
• Exemplary in prioritisation and responsible delegation, ensuring clarity and accountability
• Full proficiency in French and English, written and spoken
• Passion for animal welfare and QUATRE PATTES vision and mission

Our offer includes

• The opportunity to truly contribute to global animal welfare
• An animal-friendly workplace with a dynamic and pleasant job environment
• The chance to grow together with your team
• A possibility of partial remote work (the position does not allow 100% remote working)
• Birthday leave: extra day off to use around your birthday
• The minimum gross annual salary for this position starts at 80,000 EUR (full-time base), in accordance with our internal compensation scheme
   

We reveal, rescue and protect unique animals from many different species through systems change and by creating species-appropriate environments at our sanctuaries! 

We celebrate our colleagues' differences and strive to create an inclusive environment because we believe that only by working together, we can advance animal welfare worldwide. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we strongly encourage candidates from all diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals with diverse lived experiences, racial identities, national origins, religions, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and disability statuses to apply. We welcome everyone who wants to support our mission. Please contact careers@four-paws.org if you require assistance applying to this position. 

All interested individuals are invited to submit their applications for the position. Please note that in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, having a valid work permit for the respective country or being eligible to obtain one is a requirement for this position prior to commencing employment. 

Join our passionate team to make a difference for animals. Apply with your CV in English today.

Application deadline: 24th of May 2026