Executive Director

ABOUT THE COMPANY

SRI Executive is a global Executive Search, Leadership and Strategy consulting practice specialising in international development for over 20 years. We have partnered with more than 200 organisations to place, coach and develop exceptional leaders and co-create future-ready strategies that lead to impact.

JOB SUMMARY

About NEST360 AllianceWe are an international alliance united to end preventable newborn deaths in African hospitals. For more information, visit nest360.org.Role purposeThe Executive Director (ED) provides overall leadership, strategic vision and direction, and accountability for NEST360 operations and programs. The ED will lead a diverse team and work closely with the global alliance as well as collaboratively with governments, donors, and other partners to strengthen partnerships and ensure operational excellence across all domains.Major Duties and ResponsibilitiesStrategy and DirectionProvide visionary leadership to drive NEST360’s goal of reducing newborn mortality and advancing high-quality care across African hospitals.Translate vision into actionable strategies, priorities, and measurable outcomes.Shape and execute the multi-year strategic direction of NEST360 with the board and alliance members, including alignment with global health priorities such as the UN SDG 3.2 for newborn survival.Guide the organisation through its multi-country implementation phases, including expansion across existing and new member countries.Governance and AccountabilityServe as the primary interface between the Global Fiduciary Board and hub management, ensuring clarity of expectations, accountability, and performance.Promote appropriate harmony between governance and management to ensure the Board remains strategic rather than engaged in day-to-day, operational decisions. Uphold fiduciary, statutory, and ethical responsibilities associated with leading a Company Limited by Guarantee.Participate in the global fiduciary board in an ex officio capacity.Co-chair the Leadership Strategy Committee.External Leadership, Positioning, and AdvocacyAct as the principal representative and spokesperson for NEST360 with governments, donors, alliance partners, and global stakeholders.Build and manage high-level relationships with Ministries of Health, regional bodies, multilateral agencies, and private partners, moving forward the sustainability of NEST360’s interventions through integration in national and regional policy agendas.Build NEST360’s visibility, credibility, and influence as an Africa-led organisation on newborn health.Represent NEST360 at international forums and champion its interventions to be integrated into the standard of care in African countries and hospitals.Resource Mobilisation and Financial StewardshipLead fundraising strategy and execution to secure sustainable, multi-year funding.Maintain oversight of budgets, ensuring transparency, compliance, and effective risk management in coordination with the Chief Operating Officer and Finance Department.Cultivate relationships with philanthropic foundations, bilateral donors,corporations, and individual contributors and strengthen relationships with current and future donors.Partner closely with the leadership strategy committee and the board to set strategic fundraising priorities and develop compelling cases for support. Alliance and Stakeholder Management.Navigate complex multi-partner and multi-country alliance dynamics, aligning diverse partners with differing systems and operating models to ensure program success across NEST360 countries in alignment with set strategic objectives, plans, and timelines.Build trust, manage tensions, and resolve conflicts across partners with skilful diplomacy and emotional intelligence.Ensure effective coordination and value add from the NEST360 hub without duplicating country-level implementation roles.Organisational Leadership, Operations, and CultureRecruit, lead, and develop a high-performing senior leadership team.Build fit-for-purpose systems, processes, and culture appropriate for a growing, distributed organisation operating in multiple African countries.Foster a culture of transparency, accountability, learning, collaboration, ethics and integrity.Operating Environment Operates within a politically nuanced, multi-country public health environment.Works across a broad alliance of academic institutions, NGOs, governments, and donors.For the hub, impact is achieved primarily through technical assistance, coordination, fundraising, and strategic leadership rather than direct program implementation.Decisions often involve ambiguity, competing priorities, and long-term consequences for reputation and sustainability.Funding is donor-dependent and, therefore, can be unpredictable and change quickly at times.Key RelationshipsInternal:Global Fiduciary BoardSenior management team of the hub (direct reports)Hub staff across functionsExternal:Ministries of Health and government stakeholdersDonors and philanthropic partnersAlliance member organisations and country leadership teamsMultilateral agencies and regional bodiesKnowledge, Skills, and ExperienceExperience: Extensive senior leadership experience (15+ years) leading complex, medium to large development, NGO, or publicinterest organisations.Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of public health systems and the ability to operate credibly in health-sector discussions. Clinical or neonatal technical expertise is not required, although it is an advantage.Education: Master’s, MD/MBBS, or Doctoral-level degree in relevant fields or Bachelor’s with demonstrated significant relevant experience.Regional Expertise: Proven track record of navigating health systems in sub- Saharan Africa and working with governments, leading multi-country and/or multi-partner programs in Africa. Preferred: citizen of any African country.Financial Acumen: Demonstrated fundraising capability and donor relations experience, and experience overseeing large-scale, multi-year budgets.Stakeholder Engagement: Demonstrated experience collaborating with ministries of health, donors, NGOs, academic institutions, and other partners in public health with proven success leading in multistakeholder, politically complex environments.

REQUIRED SKILLS

Management of financial resources, Vision and strategy, Public health, Negotiation, Business strategy, Project management, Stakeholder communication, Programme management, Partnerships, Budgeting, financial planning

REQUIRED EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree