JOB DETAILS:

Location:                         Uganda, Rwanda, Ghana
Location Type:                Hybrid
Reporting to:                  Board of Trustees
Manages:                        Five
Annual salary:            Starting at £50K GBP, depending on experience and location.
Contract type:            Permanent
Working hours:              Full-time
Candidate level:             CEO

Background
Chance for Childhood (CfC) is an international charity dedicated to protecting and empowering the most vulnerable children across Rwanda, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, including those affected by conflict, disability, and life on the streets. Through innovative, locally led partnerships, the organisation ensures access to education, justice, and support services, helping children thrive in safe and inclusive environments.

Purpose of role
​Responsible for the overall global leadership and strategic management of CfC, the incoming Chief Executive Officer will guide the organisation through a pivotal transition, as it shifts its leadership to Africa to better serve the communities within which it operates. This role will champion locally led development, ensuring that decision-making is rooted in the experiences and needs of the communities CfC supports. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the CEO will provide strategic direction, financial oversight, and advocacy to elevate CfC’s profile and long-term sustainability.

Main responsibilities
Strategy, leadership & management
Drive the delivery of the charity's strategic objectives while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing organisational culture which involves empowering donors, partners, staff, and volunteers while strengthening both internal and external stakeholder relationships.

• Develop and implement a robust long-term strategy to guide CfC in achieving its objectives, as agreed upon by the Trustees and outlined in the charity’s articles.
• Uphold CfC’s values by fostering and sustaining a positive organisational culture, while protecting its reputation and aligning operations with its mission.
• Build an inclusive and thriving organisational environment by cultivating a strong team spirit and maintaining transparent internal communication. Ensure all staff understand their responsibilities, feel heard, and are accountable for achieving strategic, programmatic, and financial goals.
• Lead the organisation’s people strategy, embedding a culture of effective performance reviews, goal setting, and mentoring. Provide proactive guidance to people leaders on implementing HR and culture strategies.
• Oversee the successful implementation of CfC’s work through a network of partner organisations, ensuring robust monitoring and evaluation systems to achieve intended outcomes.
• Drive the development of cost-effective strategies and annual business plans to meet fundraising targets, providing leadership and oversight to ensure the implementation and evaluation of these initiatives.

Advocacy and external relations
Act as an ambassador for the Charity, representing it with distinction at the highest levels. Provide clear vision, decisive leadership, unwavering support, and inspirational guidance to staff and volunteers, ensuring alignment with the Charity's mission and values.

• Represent CfC authentically and in alignment with its values, ensuring consistent and effective communication with stakeholders at all levels.
• Cultivate strategic partnerships and alliances with national and international organisations, addressing shared concerns while enhancing CfC's reputation and credibility.
• Build and maintain strong networks with principal supporters, stakeholders, influential Patrons, and major donors to foster long-term engagement and support.
• Develop a well-informed and engaged supporter community to actively raise CfC’s profile and promote awareness of its impactful work.
• Elevate CfC’s profile through speaking engagements, networking, publicity, marketing and membership of relevant organisations.
• Serve as the chief spokesperson for CfC, representing it at high-profile events and within the media to highlight its mission and achievements.
• Stay informed about international development issues and global affairs, leveraging this knowledge to identify opportunities for expanding CfC’s role and influence.
• Ensure the success of CfC’s communication strategies by generating media interest and managing public relations to amplify its work and impact.

Governance and working with the Board of Trustees
Work collaboratively with the Trustees to ensure that CfC adheres to the highest standards of governance, ethics, and compliance, fostering transparency, accountability, and alignment with its mission and charitable objectives.

• Collaborate with Trustees to define and advance the organisation’s strategic objectives, ensuring alignment with its mission and values.
• Partner with the Chairperson to review CfC’s mission and strategy regularly, monitoring progress against agreed goals and targets.
• Provide clear, accurate reports and presentations to Trustees, keeping them informed on CfC’s performance and key responsibilities.
• Develop strategic plans and policy proposals for the Trustee’s discussion and decision.
• Support the Chair in maintaining active Trustee involvement by advising on Board composition, committee structure, self-assessment processes, and succession planning and, ensure an annual calendar of meetings is in place.
• Prepare and oversee the annual Board meeting schedule, including drafting Board papers and the Trustee’s Annual Report and Accounts for approval.
• Fulfil delegated responsibilities from the Trustees to ensure CfC adheres to its legal and constitutional obligations. Keep the Board informed of all current and upcoming statutory regulations and legal requirements, and coordinate responses to relevant consultations.
• Oversee the financial health of CfC by ensuring expenditure aligns with approved budgets and income generation is maximised while appropriately managing risks.

Fundraising
Provide strategic leadership to the Head of Fundraising and Communications, ensuring all fundraising activities are effectively managed. Focus on increasing and diversifying funding streams by engaging targeted audiences, ultimately achieving the Charity's financial objectives and fostering sustainable growth.

• Drive efforts to increase funding in alignment with the Trustees' agreed strategic aspirations.
• Ensure annual fundraising targets are met, as outlined in the approved budget.
• Strengthen CfC’s financial sustainability by increasing and diversifying income streams, including committed giving, major donors, trusts and foundations, institutional donors, corporate partnerships, and other innovative funding models.
• Develop and implement cost-effective fundraising strategies and annual business plans, providing strong leadership to staff in their execution and evaluation.
• Enhance the organisation’s visibility and reputation through speaking engagements, networking, publicity, marketing, and memberships with relevant organisations, leveraging these platforms to attract funding and new supporters.
• Oversee the development and execution of an annual communications plan, generating media interest and public engagement for CfC’s work.
• Evaluate and advise on the suitability of various funding streams for specific programmes, ensuring alignment with donor requirements and interests.

Oversight of international programs and operations
Provide strategic leadership to the incoming Head of Programmes, ensuring the effective delivery of a global portfolio of impactful programmes and partnerships. Align these initiatives with CfC’s strategic objectives to maximise their reach and sustainability. Provide strategic leadership to the operating Heads of East and West Africa.

• Set strategic direction ensuring the Head of Programmes aligns their initiatives with the priorities.
• Secure and allocate the necessary financial, human, and technical resources to enable the effective development and implementation of programmes.
• Promoting teamwork by facilitating collaboration between the Head of Programmes and other departments, such as fundraising, finance, and communications, to achieve integrated outcomes.
• Regularly review progress on programme objectives through key performance indicators and provide feedback or guidance for overcoming challenges.
• Create an environment that supports innovative approaches to programme development, encouraging the adoption of best practices and creative solutions to maximise impact.
• Oversee and govern the CfC’s partnership strategy.
• Ensure that the work of CfC is successfully implemented, through an effective network of partnering organisations, effective appraisal, and monitoring and evaluation systems of both our partner organisations and through access to appropriate technical advice.

Finance
Provide strategic oversight to the Head of Finance to ensure the Charity's financial stability and security. Ensure robust financial systems, resource planning, and accurate forecasting are in place to support the organisations long-term sustainability and growth.

• To ensure compliance and sound financial management of the CfC’s accounts.
• Be responsible to the Trustees for the overall financial health of CfC and ensure that a sufficient and sustainable income is secured and expenditure controlled in line with budgets; as approved by the Trustees to secure long term sustainability.
• Ensure that CfC has resources (human, material and financial) and appropriate procedures (financial, personnel, administrative and others) to discharge its functions efficiently and effectively, maximising the potential of staff, setting and managing staff targets and objectives.
• To deliver a high standard of financial reports to meet the requirements of regulatory bodies, donors and other stakeholders.
• To stay abreast of trends in the charity finance sector and work with the Finance team to adapt systems and processes to meeting changing reporting demands.

Profile
The following offers an aspirational view of our ideal candidate profile; however, we encourage applications from candidates with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, especially those from underrepresented groups. 

Experience

• An experienced leader with a proven track record in NGOs. Preferably, but not essential, in the child rights, disability, and/or child protection sectors.
•  Strong strategic leadership experience, having successfully implemented and delivered organisational strategies with measurable impact.
• Deep understanding of the international development sector from an African perspective, with experience navigating the complexities of power shifts within organisations.
• Deep understanding of the international development sector informed by diverse African regional and cultural contexts, with experience navigating the complexities of organizational power dynamics and transitions
• International experience with well-established networks, with a focus on global donor networks.
•  Experience working in safeguarding, ensuring the highest standards of child protection and organisational integrity.
• A track record of diversifying income streams beyond institutional donors, including securing funding from corporates, foundations, high-net-worth individuals, and innovative sources.
• Strong financial acumen, capable of driving income generation strategies to ensure CfC’s long-term sustainability.
• Experience leading an organisation through a period of transition, with the nuance and care needed to empowered team.

Skills

• Skilled at building and managing partnerships with global and local stakeholders, including donors, governments, grassroots organisations, and corporate partners.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage, influence, and advocate effectively at all levels.
• Proven success in navigating diverse stakeholder groups, fostering collaboration, and representing an organisation as a credible and influential ambassador.
• Strategic and analytical thinking, with the ability to drive impactful decision-making and organisational growth.

Personal attributes

• A leadership style that is collaborative, inclusive, and motivational, ensuring alignment with CfC’s values and mission.
• The ability to inspire and influence both internally and externally.
• A strong commitment to promoting locally led solutions that centre African leadership and expertise.
• The personal integrity, resilience, authority, and credibility to command wide respect and confidence.
• A mission-driven professional deeply committed to advancing children's rights, well-being, and equitable opportunities across the African continent.

Terms and conditions

• The role will require a minimum number of days based in the office each week, with the flexibility to work from home.
• International travel required 2-3 times per year.

• Please contact McAra Kirby-Fahey for any queries you may have.Stay updated on the latest jobs by subscribing to our Global Charity Jobs weekly bulletin and if you’re looking for a rewarding career in the non-profit sector register in our database.