- The Executive Director/CEO will serve as the chief executive and strategic leader of Open Health Foundation, providing overall direction for the organization's programmes, operations, people, partnerships, finances, and institutional development.
- The role will work closely with the Board and senior leadership team to develop and execute the Foundation's strategic priorities, build strong relationships with donors, government institutions, development partners, private-sector organizations, healthcare stakeholders, and other strategic partners.
- The Executive Director/CEO will also serve as a principal ambassador for the Foundation, representing its interests and mission at high-level meetings, conferences, policy forums, donor engagements, and other relevant platforms.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Organizational Direction:
- Provide visionary and effective leadership in alignment with the Foundation's mission, values, and long-term objectives.
- Develop, implement, and periodically review the Foundation's strategic plan and organizational priorities.
- Translate strategic objectives into clear annual operational plans, targets, budgets, and measurable outcomes.
- Identify emerging opportunities, risks, and trends within the health and development sectors and position the Foundation accordingly.
- Foster a culture of excellence, accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Ensure that the Foundation remains responsive to the evolving needs of the communities and populations it serves.
Programme Leadership & Impact:
- Provide strategic oversight of all Foundation programmes, projects, and interventions.
- Ensure programmes are evidence-based, impactful, scalable, and aligned with the Foundation's strategic priorities.
- Establish appropriate systems for monitoring, evaluation, learning, and impact measurement.
- Review programme performance and ensure timely corrective action where required.
- Promote innovation and the adoption of effective approaches to healthcare delivery and health-system strengthening.
- Ensure programme activities comply with relevant regulatory, ethical, contractual, and donor requirements.
Fundraising & Resource Mobilization:
- Lead the development and implementation of a sustainable resource-mobilization strategy.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with institutional donors, foundations, development agencies, government institutions, corporate organizations, philanthropists, and other funding partners.
- Identify and pursue strategic funding opportunities, grants, partnerships, and investment opportunities.
- Provide leadership in the development of high-quality proposals, concept notes, funding strategies, and partnership opportunities.
- Diversify the Foundation's funding base and reduce dependence on a limited number of funding sources.
- Represent the Foundation in high-level donor and funding discussions.
Strategic Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement:
- Develop and maintain strategic partnerships that advance the Foundation's mission and programmes.
- Build strong relationships with government ministries, departments and agencies, development partners, healthcare organizations, academic institutions, NGOs, private-sector organizations, and community stakeholders.
- Represent the Foundation at national and international conferences, policy engagements, sector meetings, and other strategic forums.
- Identify opportunities for collaboration, co-investment, knowledge exchange, and programme expansion.
- Position Open Health Foundation as a credible and respected organization within the health and development ecosystem.
Governance, Compliance & Risk Management:
- Work closely with the Board to ensure effective organizational governance and accountability.
- Provide the Board with accurate, timely, and strategic information to support informed decision-making.
- Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, donor requirements, organizational policies, and governance standards.
- Identify, assess, and manage organizational, financial, operational, reputational, and programme risks.
- Maintain appropriate internal controls and accountability mechanisms.
- Promote transparency and ethical conduct across the organization.
Financial & Operational Management:
- Provide executive oversight of the Foundation's financial sustainability and operational performance.
- Work with the finance team and Board to develop and manage annual budgets and financial plans.
- Ensure responsible stewardship of organizational and donor resources.
- Monitor organizational financial performance and take appropriate action where necessary.
- Ensure effective systems, processes, policies, and structures are in place to support organizational growth.
- Oversee organizational efficiency and ensure resources are aligned with strategic priorities.
People & Leadership Development:
- Provide strong leadership to the senior management team and promote effective cross-functional collaboration.
- Build and retain a high-performing, diverse, and mission-driven workforce.
- Establish clear performance expectations and accountability mechanisms for senior leadership.
- Support staff development, succession planning, and leadership capacity building.
- Promote a positive organizational culture built on professionalism, integrity, inclusion, accountability, and respect.
- Ensure that the Foundation attracts and retains high-calibre talent.
Advocacy, Visibility & Thought Leadership:
- Serve as a public ambassador and leading voice for Open Health Foundation.
- Develop and strengthen the Foundation's institutional profile and visibility within the health sector.
- Contribute to health policy discussions, sector advocacy, and thought leadership initiatives.
- Represent the Foundation in media engagements and public forums where appropriate.
- Promote the Foundation's achievements, evidence, lessons learned, and impact responsibly.
Monitoring, Reporting & Accountability:
- Ensure the timely preparation and presentation of organizational, programme, financial, and strategic reports.
- Track progress against organizational goals, key performance indicators, and strategic targets.
- Provide regular performance updates to the Board and other relevant stakeholders.
- Use data, evidence, and organizational learning to inform strategic decision-making.
- Ensure accountability to beneficiaries, partners, donors, regulators, and the Board.
Key Performance Indicators
The successful Executive Director/CEOwill be expected to demonstrate measurable performance across areas including:
- Achievement of the Foundation's strategic objectives and annual targets.
- Growth and diversification of funding and resource mobilization.
- Quality, reach, and measurable impact of programmes.
- Development and sustainability of strategic partnerships.
- Financial sustainability and responsible resource management.
- Organizational growth, efficiency, and institutional strengthening.
- Staff engagement, retention, and leadership development.
- Governance, compliance, and risk management.
- Increased institutional visibility and sector influence.
- Satisfaction and confidence of key stakeholders, partners, and the Board.
Qualifications & Experience
Essential
- A Bachelor's Degree in Public Health, Medicine, Health Sciences, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Business Administration, Management, or a related discipline.
- A Master's degree or relevant postgraduate qualification is highly desirable.
- Minimum of 7years of progressive professional experience, with at least 3years in a senior management, executive, or organizational leadership position.
- Demonstrated experience leading a nonprofit, foundation, NGO, development organization, healthcare organization, or comparable institution.
- Proven experience in strategic planning, organizational leadership, programme management, and stakeholder engagement.
- Demonstrable experience in fundraising, grant acquisition, donor management, and resource mobilization.
- Strong understanding of the health, development, nonprofit, or social-impact ecosystem.
- Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary teams and complex organizational operations.
- Strong financial management, budgeting, and organizational oversight capabilities.
- Excellent written, verbal, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-management skills.
- Experience working with international development agencies, foundations, bilateral or multilateral organizations, or major institutional donors.
- Experience working with government and public-sector stakeholders.
- Experience in health systems strengthening, healthcare access, community health, public health, or related areas.
- Experience developing and managing large-scale grants and multi-stakeholder programmes.
- Professional membership or certification in a relevant field.
- Experience serving on boards, committees, advisory groups, or sector-level initiatives.
Core Competencies:
The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
- Visionary and strategic leadership
- Exceptional stakeholder management
- Fundraising and business development acumen
- Strong understanding of the health and development sector
- High-level communication and public speaking skills
- Financial and commercial awareness
- Strong governance and ethical judgement
- Programme and project oversight
- Negotiation and partnership-building skills
- People leadership and talent development
- Problem-solving and sound decision-making
- Adaptability and innovation
- High integrity, professionalism, and accountability
- Commitment to equity, inclusion, and sustainable health impact
- We are looking for a leader who is strategic without losing sight of execution, commercially astute without compromising the Foundation's social mission, and ambitious while remaining accountable to the communities it serves.
- The ideal candidate should be able to move confidently between Board-level strategy, donor and government engagement, programme oversight, financial stewardship, and people leadership.
- They should possess the credibility and relationship-building ability to establish Open Health Foundation as a trusted partner while creating the systems, culture, and resources required for long-term institutional sustainability.