Job advert: ED, TY Danjuma Foundation

The T. Y. Danjuma Foundation (TYDF) seeks to hire an outstanding individual to serve as its first Executive Director based Abuja, Nigeria. The Foundation is a new, independent foundation dedicated to improving the quality of life of the people of Nigeria. The trustees seek a dynamic and creative leader with impeccable integrity to further establish the foundation, and develop and implement strategic grantmaking programs.

Candidates must be deeply committed to TYDF’s purpose and values. They should bring demonstrated interests, and optimally, professional experience, in the foundation’s two key program areas of health and education, and have a record of accomplishment. They must be interested in working with and answering to an active board that has high standards and also values its participation in policymaking.

TYDF will award grants to select educational and health non-governmental organizations. Each grant is intended to advance the recipient institution’s pursuit of excellence and enhance the educational and health infrastructure of the nation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

In executing these responsibilities, the Executive Director must be able to engage trustees effectively and provide them with concise and rigorous information to make sound decisions.

The Executive Director will report to the Board of Directors and work closely with the Board chair. The Executive Director will:

1. Assume leadership for the creation, vision and implementation of an operational plan, covering administration and grantmaking, and including the setting of both short and long-term goals and objectives;
2. Review and analyze proposals and grant applications, develop requests for proposals, assess and evaluate programs and make grant recommendations to the board.
3. Develop and implement grantmaking and programmatic strategies that strengthen educational and health care opportunities for Nigerians.
4. Oversee grant payments and the review of grantee narrative and financial reports; the preparation of grant award letters, agreements, and related correspondence; and the determination of payment schedules and monitoring of grant balances;
5. Create a staff organizational chart and be responsible for day-to-day operations;
6. Ensure effective management and guidance of all employees, including recruitment, orientation, hiring, and ongoing supervision, and the development of a personnel manual;
7. Establish and maintain grantmaking policies, procedures and tracking systems;
8. Monitor and assess the impact of all programs, projects and activities;
9. Develop the Foundation’s capacity to evaluate the results of its work and help decide how best to use that information to inform its practices.
10. Promote and publicize the Foundation's work; develop and implement a dynamic communications plan targeting diverse communities and stakeholders in Nigeria;
11. Serve as the Foundation’s spokesperson and develop key relationships with external stakeholders, including the NGO community, other donor institutions, local government officials and policy makers, grantees, international development, education and health care organizations, partner organizations, and the media;
12. Develop and oversee administrative and grant budgets in consultation with the board finance committee.


QUALIFICATIONS

This is an excellent opportunity for a seasoned leader and manager to design new strategies that will generate positive educational and health opportunities for the people of Nigeria. The chosen candidate must demonstrate maturity, leadership, a passion and commitment to the foundation’s mission, and a deep commitment to the welfare of Nigeria’s people. The successful candidate will be hardworking, energetic, outgoing, and enthusiastic.

While no one person will embody all of the qualities enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional abilities, attributes, and experiences:

The ideal candidate will possess:

➢ At least ten years of progressively responsible management experience in a (preferably) grant-making environment or implementing and managing innovative, successful educational or health care or philanthropic initiatives in Africa—with increasing leadership responsibilities;
➢ Proven experience in developing, managing and implementing grantmaking programs;
➢ A minimum of a Masters-level degree in education, health care, social sciences, international development or a related field;
➢ Experience working with and empowering diverse low-income communities, and building the capacity of local non-governmental organizations;
➢ Substantial experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa;
➢ A record of working with an engaged board of directors;
➢ High personal and professional standards and an impeccable reputation for honesty and integrity;
➢ Strong oral and written communication skills;
➢ Excellent analytic skills, intellectual curiosity, and sound judgment;
➢ A superb ability to chart strategic directions that result in clear operational goals.


SALARY AND BENEFITS
Competitive salary that is commensurate with experience. Benefits include housing, car/driver, relocation and health care benefits.

TO APPLY: Qualified candidates are invited to send a substantive cover letter describing interest in the position and qualifications, resume/cv, salary history, and one writing sample to: [email protected] by May 18, 2009.

The Danjuma Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and
welcomes a diverse pool of candidates in this search. It was established in 2008 through the generosity of Lieutenant General T.Y. Danjuma to serve as a perpetual resource for the nation of Nigeria.