Executive Director position with Lwala Community Alliance
Job Opening: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Please click here for a detailed description of our Executive Director position.
Website: http://lwalacommunityalliance.org/staff/job-openings/
The Opportunity
LCA is a late-stage startup, now in its adolescent phase as an organization. It has made a transformative impact in Migori County, Kenya through its innovative community-based programs. The new Executive Director has the opportunity to build on a solid foundation of impact and lead LCA into the next season of growth and maturity. The organization has a robust strategic plan with actionable goals and measurable results. Reporting to the board of directors, the new ED will assume overall strategic and operational responsibility for LCA’s staff, programs, and finances and serve as a steadfast steward of the mission. The ED will ensure current strategy execution, future strategy development, and be the public face of the organization.
The organization’s place-based community model offers lessons with importance well beyond its rural location. LCA documents evidence of impact and purposefully shares these lessons with peer organizations to foster transferability to other similar settings. The new ED has the opportunity to further this work, positioning the organization as a center of excellence for community-based change in a rural setting with acute development needs.
Key Priorities & Responsibilities
1. Strategic Action
In partnership with our Kenya-based Managing Director and other senior staff, the ED will lead execution of our recently approved 2020 Strategy, including formulating annual work plans, driving program results through improved monitoring and evaluation systems, and evaluating new program ideas. The ED will also look ahead to 2030, envisioning the future state of the organization and planning organizational initiatives that align with that vision.
2. Staff Leadership and Management
The ED will champion an organizational culture that promotes “wholeness of life” in the staff and encourage excellent performance throughout LCA. He/she will ensure organizational structure and staffing levels support operational efficiency. The ED plays a key role in inspiring the staff in Kenya and the U.S. to embody the values of the organization and driving consistency, high performance, and constancy around the mission. He/she will also create the framework and tools for professional development, retention, and recruiting future staff while working to build meaningful relationships with U.S. and Kenya-based staff.
3. Build Financial Resources
With the support of the Partnerships and Communications Manager, the ED will cultivate strategic relationships with current and future partners and fundraise to meet the annual budget of $2M. The ED will lead the development and execution of a fundraising strategy to raise restricted and unrestricted institutional and individual funding at the $50k+ level. With active participation from the LCA board and development staff, the ED will ensure organizational financial health while implementing tactical and creative approaches to fundraising and visibility.
4. Champion the Mission and Lead by Example
As the external and internal ambassador of the community, the ED will tell the compelling story of LCA’s pursuit of holistic, comprehensive community support with health, education, and economic empowerment programs. The ED will ensure strong measurement and evaluation to capture impact and lessons learned that will be shared with the broader international development community. The ED will build LCA’s thought leadership through networking, writing, and speaking, as well as PR opportunities to gain exposure through external media.
5. Engage and Partner With the Board
Thoughtfully and meaningfully engage and partner with the board in strategic and fundraising activities. The ED will work in partnership with the Board Chair and committee chairs to recruit new board members, liaise with board committees, and facilitate quarterly board meetings. The ED should proactively engage board members as a sounding board, leveraging their capacity to support the organization and their functional expertise in fundraising, international development, business, and public health.
6. Ensure Financial Stability
Lead the annual budget approval process with the board of directors and ensure that all areas of the organization operate within the approved budget. In conjunction with the Board Treasurer, ensure revenues and expenses (actuals and projections) are updated in a timely manner. Implement metrics to link program outcomes to financial investment. In partnership with Board Treasurer and outside auditors, ensure annual audits are completed in the U.S. and Kenya.
The Ideal Candidate Is…
- Passionate. This role will be more than a job. You believe in the power of community-based change. You share our commitment to delivering holistic, multi-dimensional programming in health, education, and community development. You are authentic, hard working, and love to roll up your sleeves to get the job done. Your integrity is unquestioned and you are excited by the thought of spending approximately 75 days/year in Lwala, Kenya.
- A leader. You love to build and lead teams. People are inspired by you and want to follow you. You have the rare ability to rally the troops, communicate clearly and motivate others to work hard. You reward commitment to the mission and affirm the value of contributions. You are compassionate, a good listener, and the kind of person colleagues want to sit next to on the 18-hour trip from the U.S. to Kenya. You will find ways to connect our Nashville and Kenya-based teams and build cross-cultural relationships.
- Business-minded. You have a track record of managing operations, organizing people, implementing systems, raising funds, building relationships, and overseeing programs. You understand the importance of humility and listening. You have strong business acumen, are comfortable with ambiguity, and know when and how to make clear decisions. You possess high emotional intelligence and cultural sensitivity, enjoy working with many different types of people, and welcome the challenge that comes with doing hard work in difficult parts of the world.
- Strategic. You see both the weeds and the trees and can find the path to take our programs – and impact – to the next level. You can demonstrate the ability to strengthen programs, measure impact, and position us for an even more expansive reach in the future.
- A closer. You are comfortable asking for money and not deterred by the word “no”. You know how to ask and negotiate partnerships and major gifts with both individual and institutional partners. You are a skilled storyteller and love an audience. You are the consummate networker, able to work a room with confidence and poise. You build relationships to last.
Qualifications
Candidates should have at least 10 years of relevant experience, including at least four years of senior executive leadership experience in the for-profit, social enterprise, or non-profit arena. A Bachelor’s degree is required and an advanced degree in a relevant discipline (such as an MBA, MPA or MPH) is preferred.
Demonstrated performance in outcomes-based organizations where candidates have successfully developed and operationalized strategies that have taken the organization to the next stage of growth is highly desirable. Familiarity with a variety of international development models and theories of change is an asset.
Success cultivating and soliciting major donors or proven business development experience is strongly desired.
Experience expanding early stage organizations to maturity, building a new center, division, or program area from the ground up at a national or international nonprofit is a plus.
To Be Considered
Please submit your resume and cover letter online at http://candidates.waldronhr.com. Cover letters expressing your passion for the mission and fit for the role should be addressed to Melissa Merritt.
