Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

Tongabezi Trust School (TTS) is looking for a visionary and energetic leader to lead our team. TTS was founded as a pre-school for a handful of local children in 1996, and over the past 30 years we have expanded to offer educational opportunities to the Simonga community through our programs at Tujatane Primary School and Twaabane Creative Centre. Across our programs, we offer free holistic primary education to over 300 pupils, provide scholarships to 80 secondary and 65 tertiary students, and we deliver high-quality literacy, GCE, and vocational skills training to adults from the Simonga community. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will be responsible for the overall leadership, strategic direction, and operational effectiveness of the organisation, and will work closely with the Board of Governors, staff and the Simonga community to ensure the achievement of our mission.

Our vision is to cultivate compassionate, empowered leaders, entrepreneurs and change-makers that drive positive transformation in their communities,breaking cycles of poverty.

Position Overview

Position Title: Chief Executive Officer

Reports To: Board of Governors

Location: Simonga, Livingstone, Zambia

Start Date: September 2026

Salary: Competitive senior leadership package

Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor’s degree or higher-level qualification in Education Leadership and Management

Minimum 10 years’ experience in a leadership role

Proven experience in leading diverse teams, managing senior staff, and driving organizational change.

Strong decision-making, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution abilities.

Demonstrated success in fundraising, donor relations, and developing sustainable revenue streams.

Solid understanding of nonprofit financial processes, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.

Ability to think strategically and translate vision into actionable plans, demonstrating a deep understanding of the educational and community development landscapes and their challenges.

Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with experience engaging a wide range of stakeholders, including government agencies, educational institutions, donors, and rural communities.

Deep commitment to improving educational opportunities and outcomes for marginalized and under-served communities.

Knowledge of Tonga, Lozi or Nyanja a strong asset

Zambian citizens and candidates with prior work

Role Description

Leadership and Strategy

Lead on the continued refinement, updating and implementation of the strategic development plan, organisational vision and mission and ensure alignment of operational activities with the strategic direction of the organisation.

Lead on the development and implementation of a five-year strategic business plan for the organisation

Provide guidance and mentorship to the senior leadership team through effective line management

Cultivate a professional and positive staff culture

Develop job descriptions for new roles and make recommendations for approval by the board.

Fundraising and Financial Management

Oversee the development and implementation of a sustainable fundraising strategy that includes student sponsorship, major donors, grants, partnerships, and other revenue-generating activities.

Support the management of relationships with key funders, including long-term sponsors, major donors and grant-making institutions

Oversee the development of the annual budgets for approval by the Board of Governors

Oversee regular financial updates and forecasts to the Board of Governors

Be responsible for sound financial management and stewardship of organizational resources

Lead the development and oversee the implementation of clear financial policies, accounting processes and controls for Tujatane and Twaabane.

Governance

Ensure the organization fullfils its legal, statutory and regulatory obligations

Collaborate with the Chairperson of the Board of Governors to set board meetings and agendas.

Lead on the preparation of reports for the Board and its committees. Follow organisational guidance documents to ensure appropriate information is brought to the Board and its

committees for information, and decision-making. This includes regular reports updating on programs achievements, financial performance, and operational challenges, as well as ad-hoc proposals and reports.

Support the Board in its governance role, ensuring alignment between the Board’s strategic vision and the charity’s operational activities.

Maintain awareness of risk and changes to the external environment impacting the

operations and strategic direction of the organisation and take reasonable measures to mitigate these risks. Ensure that significant risks are shared with the Board of Governors.

Lead on the continuous review and updating of all existing policies and work with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Board of Governors (BOG) for additional policies as required.

Refine existing and develop new systems and processes to improve efficiency and day-to-day operations, including clear schemes of delegation for the SLT and BoG

External Relationships

Serve as the primary spokesperson for the organisation, building and maintaining

relationships with donors, government entities, educational institutions, community leaders and the Simonga community.

Represent the organization in key public forums, media appearances, and at educational conferences and events.

Operational Excellence

Oversee the day-to-day operations of the charity, ensuring efficient and effective delivery of programs and services.

Oversee the implementation of policies and procedures to guide organisational operations. Ensure these are reviewed and updated regularly.

Ensure the delivery of high-quality educational programs that align with the charity’s mission, meet the needs of target communities, and reflect best practice.

Oversee the monitoring and evaluation of programs, using data-driven insights to continuously improve service delivery and assess impact.

• Lead on the continued refinement, updating and implementation of the strategic development plan, organisational vision and mission and ensure alignment of operational activities with the strategic direction of the organisation.
• Lead on the development and implementation of a five-year strategic business plan for the organisation
• Provide guidance and mentorship to the senior leadership team through effective line management
• Cultivate a professional and positive staff culture
• Develop job descriptions for new roles and make recommendations for approval by the board.
• Oversee the development and implementation of a sustainable fundraising strategy that includes student sponsorship, major donors, grants, partnerships, and other revenue-generating activities.
• Support the management of relationships with key funders, including long-term sponsors, major donors and grant-making institutions
• Oversee the development of the annual budgets for approval by the Board of Governors
• Oversee regular financial updates and forecasts to the Board of Governors
• Be responsible for sound financial management and stewardship of organizational resources
• Lead the development and oversee the implementation of clear financial policies, accounting processes and controls for Tujatane and Twaabane.
• Ensure the organization fullfils its legal, statutory and regulatory obligations
• Collaborate with the Chairperson of the Board of Governors to set board meetings and agendas.
• Lead on the preparation of reports for the Board and its committees. Follow organisational guidance documents to ensure appropriate information is brought to the Board and its committees for information, and decision-making. This includes regular reports updating on programs achievements, financial performance, and operational challenges, as well as ad-hoc proposals and reports.
• Support the Board in its governance role, ensuring alignment between the Board’s strategic vision and the charity’s operational activities.
• Maintain awareness of risk and changes to the external environment impacting the operations and strategic direction of the organisation and take reasonable measures to mitigate these risks. Ensure that significant risks are shared with the Board of Governors.
• Lead on the continuous review and updating of all existing policies and work with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Board of Governors (BOG) for additional policies as required.
• Refine existing and develop new systems and processes to improve efficiency and day-to-day operations, including clear schemes of delegation for the SLT and BoG
• Serve as the primary spokesperson for the organisation, building and maintaining relationships with donors, government entities, educational institutions, community leaders and the Simonga community.
• Represent the organization in key public forums, media appearances, and at educational conferences and events.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the charity, ensuring efficient and effective delivery of programs and services.
• Oversee the implementation of policies and procedures to guide organisational operations. Ensure these are reviewed and updated regularly.
• Ensure the delivery of high-quality educational programs that align with the charity’s mission, meet the needs of target communities, and reflect best practice.
• Oversee the monitoring and evaluation of programs, using data-driven insights to continuously improve service delivery and assess impact.

• Leadership
• Strategic planning
• Team management
• Organizational change management
• Decision-making
• Problem-solving
• Conflict resolution
• Fundraising
• Donor relations
• Financial management
• Budgeting
• Forecasting
• Financial reporting
• Strategic thinking
• Interpersonal skills
• Communication skills
• Stakeholder engagement
• Commitment to education and community development
• Knowledge of Tonga, Lozi or Nyanja (strong asset)

• Bachelor’s degree or higher-level qualification in Education Leadership and Management
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in a leadership role
• Proven experience in leading diverse teams, managing senior staff, and driving organizational change.
• Strong decision-making, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution abilities.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, donor relations, and developing sustainable revenue streams.
• Solid understanding of nonprofit financial processes, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Ability to think strategically and translate vision into actionable plans, demonstrating a deep understanding of the educational and community development landscapes and their challenges.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with experience engaging a wide range of stakeholders, including government agencies, educational institutions, donors, and rural communities.
• Deep commitment to improving educational opportunities and outcomes for marginalized and under-served communities.
• Knowledge of Tonga, Lozi or Nyanja a strong asset