Job Summary

Our client is a Youth Serving and Youth-Led Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that advocates for and supports youth participation in development processes, they look to hire an Executive Director who will provide strategic leadership and overall management of the company, guiding programme delivery, institutional growth, operational effectiveness and the expansion of its social enterprise portfolio. The role will lead resource mobilisation, strengthen organisational sustainability and represent the organisation before government, donors, investors, partners and other strategic stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic leadership and governance

• Provide overall leadership in the development, implementation and periodic review of the company’s strategy, annual plans and institutional priorities.
• Translate the organisation’s vision, mission and values into measurable programmes, social enterprise objectives, operational plans and performance targets.
• Work closely with the Board to strengthen governance, institutional accountability and long term organisational sustainability, while maintaining a clear distinction between Board oversight and management responsibilities.
• Serve as Secretary to the Board, ensuring timely preparation of Board papers, management reports, resolutions and follow up actions.
• Support the Board in developing and reviewing policies on governance, social enterprise management, risk, ethics, safeguarding and organisational accountability.
• Ensure that the governance arrangements for the company’s nonprofit and commercial activities provide appropriate separation, alignment, transparency and oversight.

Resource mobilisation and financial sustainability

• Lead the development and implementation of the company’s fundraising, resource mobilisation and income diversification strategy.
• Identify, cultivate and secure funding from bilateral and multilateral agencies, foundations, corporate partners, investors, sponsors and other strategic partners.
• Lead the development of competitive proposals, concept notes, partnership pitches and investment cases.
• Work with the Board and management team to establish and achieve annual fundraising, revenue generation and financial sustainability targets.
• Develop strategic partnerships that support the financing, expansion and scalability of YAK’s programmes and social enterprise initiatives.
• Oversee the financial performance of the social enterprise, including revenue growth, profitability, cost recovery, cash flow and reinvestment of surpluses in support of the company’s mission.

Programme and social enterprise performance

• Provide strategic oversight of the company’s programmes and social enterprise portfolio, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s strategy, values and intended social impact.
• Ensure that all programmes and business initiatives have clearly defined inputs, outputs, outcomes, impact indicators, budgets, timelines and accountability structures.
• Oversee programme design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting, ensuring that evidence is used to improve performance and inform decision making.
• Establish and monitor organisational, programme and social enterprise key performance indicators.
• Regularly review programmes, products, services and business models against emerging development priorities, youth needs, market trends and stakeholder expectations.
• Ensure meaningful participation of young people in programme design, implementation, governance, learning and accountability processes.
• Approve major programme, donor and institutional reports before submission or public dissemination.

Institutional strengthening and people leadership

• Build and lead a competent, accountable and performance-oriented management and staff team.
• Ensure that employees and volunteers are appropriately recruited, inducted, trained, supervised, appraised, developed and rewarded in line with the company’s values and policies.
• Establish clear roles, performance expectations, decision making responsibilities and reporting relationships across the organisation.
• Strengthen organisational systems, structures, policies and processes to support effective programme delivery and social enterprise operations.
• Promote a culture of innovation, learning, collaboration, safeguarding, accountability and responsible performance.
• Ensure appropriate systems are maintained for knowledge management, talent development, succession planning, staff wellbeing, organisational development and business continuity.

Financial management, risk and compliance

• Oversee the preparation and management of organisational, programme and social enterprise budgets, ensuring accurate costing and expenditure control.
• Ensure that financial resources are managed efficiently through effective internal controls, financial records, procurement systems and accountability procedures.
• Ensure compliance with donor agreements, statutory obligations, contractual requirements, tax regulations and other legal requirements affecting the company and its social enterprise operations.
• Maintain an effective organisational risk management framework covering strategic, financial, operational, reputational, safeguarding and commercial risks.
• Oversee internal and external audits and ensure that audit findings, management recommendations and compliance gaps are addressed promptly.
• Ensure that the company’s policies, procedures, standards and controls are understood and consistently implemented across the organisation.

Partnerships, representation and communications

• Represent the company’s before government institutions, donors, development agencies, investors, regulators, private sector organisations, civil society networks and other strategic stakeholders.
• Build and maintain productive relationships that advance the company’s influence, resource base, programme reach and social enterprise growth.
• Maintain awareness of developments in youth programming, public policy, development financing, philanthropy, impact investment and social enterprise.
• Ensure that the Board, donors, partners and relevant stakeholders receive timely information on programme performance, financial position, organisational developments and social enterprise results.
• Serve as the company’s principal spokesperson and protect the organisation’s reputation, credibility and public positioning.
• Oversee the preparation of communications, publicity and knowledge products that demonstrate the company’s achievements, lessons, social impact and value proposition.

Qualifications

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Development Studies, Finance, Business Administration, International Relations, Law, Governance or a related field.
• Relevant certifications in M&E and other related fields are an added advantage.
• At least 7 years of progressive experience in the non-profit, civil society, international development or social impact sector, including a minimum of three years in a senior leadership position.
• A strong and verifiable track record in, including securing significant grants from bilateral agencies, multilateral institutions, income diversification, fundraising and resource mobilization, corporate partners and other funders.
• Demonstrated experience in developing high quality funding proposals, donor concept notes, partnership pitches and resource mobilisation strategies that have resulted in successful funding.
• Proven ability to provide strategic leadership, translate organisational strategy into operational plans and guide an organisation towards financial sustainability, growth and measurable impact.
• Extensive experience managing donor funded programmes, including programme design, budgeting, implementation oversight, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, compliance and risk management.
• Demonstrated experience working with young people and leading programmes in areas such as youth empowerment, governance, human rights, livelihoods, gender equality, social inclusion or civic participation.
• Strong financial and institutional management experience, including oversight of budgets, audits, internal controls, statutory compliance, human resources and organisational policies.
• Proven strategic relationships with government agencies, development partners, private sector institutions, civil society organisations, community networks and youth led organisations.
• Strong leadership, communication, negotiation and representation skills, supported by high standards of integrity, accountability, sound judgement and commitment to safeguarding and meaningful youth participation.

• Provide overall leadership in the development, implementation and periodic review of the company’s strategy, annual plans and institutional priorities.
• Translate the organisation’s vision, mission and values into measurable programmes, social enterprise objectives, operational plans and performance targets.
• Work closely with the Board to strengthen governance, institutional accountability and long term organisational sustainability, while maintaining a clear distinction between Board oversight and management responsibilities.
• Serve as Secretary to the Board, ensuring timely preparation of Board papers, management reports, resolutions and follow up actions.
• Support the Board in developing and reviewing policies on governance, social enterprise management, risk, ethics, safeguarding and organisational accountability.
• Ensure that the governance arrangements for the company’s nonprofit and commercial activities provide appropriate separation, alignment, transparency and oversight.
• Lead the development and implementation of the company’s fundraising, resource mobilisation and income diversification strategy.
• Identify, cultivate and secure funding from bilateral and multilateral agencies, foundations, corporate partners, investors, sponsors and other strategic partners.
• Lead the development of competitive proposals, concept notes, partnership pitches and investment cases.
• Work with the Board and management team to establish and achieve annual fundraising, revenue generation and financial sustainability targets.
• Develop strategic partnerships that support the financing, expansion and scalability of YAK’s programmes and social enterprise initiatives.
• Oversee the financial performance of the social enterprise, including revenue growth, profitability, cost recovery, cash flow and reinvestment of surpluses in support of the company’s mission.
• Provide strategic oversight of the company’s programmes and social enterprise portfolio, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s strategy, values and intended social impact.
• Ensure that all programmes and business initiatives have clearly defined inputs, outputs, outcomes, impact indicators, budgets, timelines and accountability structures.
• Oversee programme design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting, ensuring that evidence is used to improve performance and inform decision making.
• Establish and monitor organisational, programme and social enterprise key performance indicators.
• Regularly review programmes, products, services and business models against emerging development priorities, youth needs, market trends and stakeholder expectations.
• Ensure meaningful participation of young people in programme design, implementation, governance, learning and accountability processes.
• Approve major programme, donor and institutional reports before submission or public dissemination.
• Build and lead a competent, accountable and performance-oriented management and staff team.
• Ensure that employees and volunteers are appropriately recruited, inducted, trained, supervised, appraised, developed and rewarded in line with the company’s values and policies.
• Establish clear roles, performance expectations, decision making responsibilities and reporting relationships across the organisation.
• Strengthen organisational systems, structures, policies and processes to support effective programme delivery and social enterprise operations.
• Promote a culture of innovation, learning, collaboration, safeguarding, accountability and responsible performance.
• Ensure appropriate systems are maintained for knowledge management, talent development, succession planning, staff wellbeing, organisational development and business continuity.
• Oversee the preparation and management of organisational, programme and social enterprise budgets, ensuring accurate costing and expenditure control.
• Ensure that financial resources are managed efficiently through effective internal controls, financial records, procurement systems and accountability procedures.
• Ensure compliance with donor agreements, statutory obligations, contractual requirements, tax regulations and other legal requirements affecting the company and its social enterprise operations.
• Maintain an effective organisational risk management framework covering strategic, financial, operational, reputational, safeguarding and commercial risks.
• Oversee internal and external audits and ensure that audit findings, management recommendations and compliance gaps are addressed promptly.
• Ensure that the company’s policies, procedures, standards and controls are understood and consistently implemented across the organisation.
• Represent the company’s before government institutions, donors, development agencies, investors, regulators, private sector organisations, civil society networks and other strategic stakeholders.
• Build and maintain productive relationships that advance the company’s influence, resource base, programme reach and social enterprise growth.
• Maintain awareness of developments in youth programming, public policy, development financing, philanthropy, impact investment and social enterprise.
• Ensure that the Board, donors, partners and relevant stakeholders receive timely information on programme performance, financial position, organisational developments and social enterprise results.
• Serve as the company’s principal spokesperson and protect the organisation’s reputation, credibility and public positioning.
• Oversee the preparation of communications, publicity and knowledge products that demonstrate the company’s achievements, lessons, social impact and value proposition.

• Proficiency in strategic leadership
• Resource mobilization
• Programme management
• Strategic leadership
• Governance
• Institutional accountability
• Fundraising
• Income diversification
• Financial sustainability
• Programme design
• Implementation monitoring
• Evaluation
• Learning
• Reporting
• People leadership
• Financial management
• Risk management
• Compliance
• Partnerships
• Representation
• Communications
• Negotiation
• Integrity
• Accountability
• Sound judgement
• Safeguarding
• Meaningful youth participation

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Development Studies, Finance, Business Administration, International Relations, Law, Governance or a related field.
• Relevant certifications in M&E and other related fields are an added advantage.
• At least 7 years of progressive experience in the non-profit, civil society, international development or social impact sector, including a minimum of three years in a senior leadership position.
• A strong and verifiable track record in, including securing significant grants from bilateral agencies, multilateral institutions, income diversification, fundraising and resource mobilization, corporate partners and other funders.
• Demonstrated experience in developing high quality funding proposals, donor concept notes, partnership pitches and resource mobilisation strategies that have resulted in successful funding.
• Proven ability to provide strategic leadership, translate organisational strategy into operational plans and guide an organisation towards financial sustainability, growth and measurable impact.
• Extensive experience managing donor funded programmes, including programme design, budgeting, implementation oversight, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, compliance and risk management.
• Demonstrated experience working with young people and leading programmes in areas such as youth empowerment, governance, human rights, livelihoods, gender equality, social inclusion or civic participation.
• Strong financial and institutional management experience, including oversight of budgets, audits, internal controls, statutory compliance, human resources and organisational policies.
• Proven strategic relationships with government agencies, development partners, private sector institutions, civil society organisations, community networks and youth led organisations.
• Strong leadership, communication, negotiation and representation skills, supported by high standards of integrity, accountability, sound judgement and commitment to safeguarding and meaningful youth participation.