CEO (Chief Executive Officer) at iDE Kenya

Primary Responsibilities and Key Capabilities

The CEO's responsibilities are organized around six core leadership capabilities:

Strategic Thinking & Transformation


Lead iDE in refining and executing our impact strategy
Anticipate external trends and challenges in international development, social enterprise, and impact investment; position iDE to adapt and thrive.
Ensure alignment of global programs, social enterprises, and innovation initiatives with strategic goals.
Lead the design and implementation of strategies that merge human-centered design with transformative thinking to create sustainable programmatic impact.


Stakeholder Engagement & Fund Development


Serve as iDE's chief ambassador with donors, investors, governments, and partners.
Strengthen and diversify iDE's funding base, with an emphasis on cultivating major individual and corporate donors, bilateral and multilateral partners, foundations & institutions, and private-sector collaborations.
Champion the impact of iDE's work through storytelling, thought leadership, and public speaking at high-profile events.


Change Leadership & Organizational Resilience


Lead iDE through ongoing transformation, including financial challenges, staffing shifts, and structural changes.
Balance iDE's entrepreneurial spirit with sound governance, risk management, and compliance practices.
Foster agility, innovation, and collaboration across global teams.


Financial Acumen & Resource Stewardship


Ensure the organization's financial sustainability and transparency.
Oversee global budgeting, risk management, and alignment of resources to strategy.
Partner with the Board Finance Committee and VP of Finance to maintain strong fiscal health, including navigating donor requirements and currency complexities.


People & Culture Leadership


Inspire and motivate a global workforce of over 1,000 employees and social enterprise staff.
Champion diversity, inclusion, and belonging across all offices.
Partner with the Headquarters Executive Team and Country Directors to build leadership succession planning across the organization, nurture talent, and ensure staff engagement and trust during a period of change.
Uphold iDE's culture of humility, empathy, and entrepreneurial drive.


Governance & Board Partnership


Partner closely with the Board of Directors, ensuring transparency, accountability, and alignment on mission and strategy.
Provide regular updates on organizational performance, risks, and opportunities.
Engage the Board as strategic thought partners while ensuring management retains operational accountability.


Supervisory Responsibilities

The CEO directly supervises members of the Headquarters Executive Team, including but not limited to:


Vice President of Administration (HR, IT, Compliance, Executive Office)
Vice President of Fund Development & Business Development
Vice President of Finance
Vice President of Strategy, Delivery, and Impact
Country Directors (dotted-line accountability)
Other senior leaders as assigned


Experience


Minimum 15 years of progressive leadership experience, with at least 10 years in senior executive roles.
Proven success leading international NGOs, social enterprises, or global organizations of comparable size and complexity.
Demonstrated success in fund development and donor engagement, including bilateral/multilateral donors, foundations, and private sector partnerships.
Track record of leading organizational transformation, change management, and strategic repositioning.
Financial management expertise, including experience with multi-country budgets and donor compliance.
International experience required; significant time living/working in iDE's regions of operation strongly preferred. (This includes Central America, Africa, and Asia)