East Africa Director

Position Summary

WomenLift Health is seeking an experienced, strategic, innovative, and dynamic Director to design, lead, grow, and implement the WomenLift Health strategy in the East Africa region serving Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and expanding to serve Ethiopia. The East Africa Director will be responsible for leading the strategy to elevate the voice and influence of women leaders in health in the East Africa region, to influence systemic change in organizations and to contribute to advancing women leaders in the health sector to improve health outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Management and Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership for the East Africa Regional Hub, including establishing and growing WomenLift Health’s presence and partnerships in East Africa and developing and implementing the East Africa strategy including overseeing the budget and operations.
• Working in a matrix structure, lead an inspired, high performing, inclusive and diverse team of 5-7 people and contribute to sustaining the WomenLift Health culture.
• actively participate in global management decisions regarding the growth, strategy and priorities of WomenLift Health and provide guidance to the President and other senior leaders on strategic opportunities.
• In alignment with the WomenLift Health Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning strategy, oversee monitoring and evaluation in East Africa, ensuring accurate data for purposes of reporting, program improvement and donor accountability.
• Serve as the WomenLift Health’s representative for East Africa and other regions as appropriate in interviews, panels, events, and other forums.
• Work collaboratively with other hubs and regions to ensure alignment of strategic goals and activities.

Strategy Development and Implementation: Programs, Partners, and Brand

• Lead the East Africa regional team to refine, implement and monitor the contextualized WomenLift Health strategy and program implementation plan.
  • The program strategy will both align with and contribute to global and cross-regional plans.
• Contribute to societal acceptance of women’s leadership and gender equality.
• Develop partnerships with key leaders and regional, national, and sub-national organizations in East Africa to advance women’s leadership and gender equality in health.
• With support from the Communications and Engagement Director, oversee the development and implementation of a strategic communication plan that will promote key messaging on women’s leadership in health in the region.
• Design and implement platforms to raise the visibility of women leaders and male allies and establish the WomenLift Health brand.
• Partner with fellow regional Directors and functional teams to design new programs and projects, share learning, engage, and manage implementing partners, and build shared capacity.

Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Ability

• Minimum 15 years' work experience in the health or development sector, or leadership field including 10 years of regional or global experience leading the development of strategy for and execution of projects of comparable size/complexity.
• Master’s degree required. Candidates with a Bachelor's degree and 17 years of progressively responsible experience will also be considered.
• Minimum of 10 years leading and managing a team.
• Experience working across multiple countries in the East Africa region.
• Demonstrated impact designing and implementing a complex regional strategy.
• Established network of personal and institutional relationships in health in East Africa.
• Strong influencing, negotiating and relationship management (diplomatic?) skills, including successfully engaging and influencing high-level leaders and partners.
• Proven ability to grow, manage, leverage, and sustain a diverse and multi-cultural team.
• Proven ability to thrive in an entrepreneurial environment that requires initiative, flexibility, ingenuity, and resilience.
• Outstanding communications skills, including the ability to work across cultures and geographies at all levels and for all audiences.

Valued and Non-Essential Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Ability

• Additional language, especially French.