About Cecily’s Fund Zambia

Cecily's Fund Zambia (CFZ) is an independent Zambian charitable organisation committed to improving the quality of education and life opportunities for vulnerable children and young people. Working in partnership with schools, communities, government and long-standing implementing partners, CFZ seeks to strengthen educational outcomes through a holistic approach that supports learners, families and communities.

After twenty-eight years of successful programme implementation in Zambia Cecily’s Fund, a UK-based charity, is establishing CFZ to carry this work forward, As a newly established organisation, CFZ needs to build a lean, high-performing team that combines strong governance, effective partnerships and evidence-driven programming to deliver sustainable impact across Zambia and thus attract the funding which will secure its future..

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Executive Director to lead this new chapter, build a lean and effective team, and secure the resources needed for sustainable impact.

The role

Location: Lusaka, with regular travel within Zambia Reports to: Board of Directors Contract: Full-time consultancy, with the possibility of subsequently moving to a salaried position

As CFZ’s first Executive Director, you will provide strategic and operational leadership, working closely with the Board, implementing partners and Cecily’s Fund UK. Your key responsibilities will include:

Strategic Leadership and Organisational Direction

• Provide overall strategic leadership and direction to Cecily's Fund Zambia.
• Lead implementation of CFZ's strategic plan and ensure annual workplans and budgets are aligned with organisational priorities.
• Work closely with the Board to develop, review and refine CFZ's strategy and organisational direction.
• Position CFZ as a credible, locally led Zambian organisation within the development sector.
• Identify emerging opportunities, risks and trends affecting children, young people, education and poverty in Zambia.
• Ensure organisational decisions remain aligned with CFZ's mission, values and charitable objectives.

Programme Leadership and Quality Assurance

• Provide strategic oversight of CFZ programmes and projects implemented through partners.
• Ensure programmes are evidence-based, responsive to community needs and aligned with CFZ's strategic priorities.
• Oversee programme planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and learning.
• Ensure programmes demonstrate measurable improvements in the lives of children, young people and vulnerable communities.
• Promote meaningful participation of children, young people and communities in programme design and decision-making.
• Ensure programme learning informs future programming, organisational strategy and resource mobilisation.
• Strengthen relationships with implementing partners and ensure effective partnership management.

Organisational Development and Management

• Lead the development of CFZ as a strong, sustainable and professionally managed Zambian organisation.
• Establish and maintain appropriate organisational systems, policies, procedures and internal controls.
• Develop and maintain an effective organisational structure and staffing model.
• Recruit, supervise, motivate and develop staff, fostering a high-performing and accountable team culture.
• Promote a positive organisational culture based on integrity, inclusion, learning, collaboration and accountability.
• Build organisational capacity to manage increasingly complex programmes and funding relationships.
• Ensure compliance with relevant Zambian legal, regulatory and governance requirements.

Resource Mobilisation and Fundraising

• Lead CFZ's fundraising and resource mobilisation strategy in consultation with the Board and Cecily's Fund UK.
• Identify and develop relationships with Zambian and international foundations, bilateral and multilateral donors, corporates and other funding partners.
• Lead the development of high-quality concept notes, funding proposals and programme designs.
• Build strategic partnerships that generate financial and non-financial resources for CFZ.
• Represent CFZ with prospective donors and strategic partners.
• Provide programme evidence, organisational information and impact results to strengthen fundraising efforts.
• Explore opportunities to diversify CFZ's funding base and strengthen long-term financial sustainability.

Financial Management and Sustainability

• Provide overall oversight of CFZ's financial management and organisational sustainability.
• Work with the Finance function to develop realistic annual budgets, forecasts and cash-flow projections.
• Ensure expenditure is aligned with approved budgets, organisational priorities and donor requirements.
• Ensure effective financial controls, procurement procedures and accountability systems are maintained.
• Monitor organisational financial performance and provide regular reports to the Board.
• Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting to donors and other stakeholders.
• Lead efforts to strengthen CFZ's long-term financial sustainability.

Governance and Board Relations

• Serve as the principal link between the Board and management.
• Provide the Board with accurate, timely and relevant information to support effective decision-making.
• Prepare Board papers, management reports and recommendations as required.
• Implement decisions of the Board and ensure appropriate follow-up.
• Maintain a clear distinction between governance and management responsibilities.
• Support the Board in fulfilling its fiduciary, legal and strategic responsibilities.
• Ensure organisational policies and governance requirements are implemented effectively.

Relationship with Cecily's Fund UK

• Maintain a strong, constructive and mutually accountable working relationship with Cecily's Fund UK.
• Establish and maintain clear roles and responsibilities between CFZ and Cecily's Fund UK.
• Ensure effective coordination of programme, financial, fundraising, reporting and communications activities.
• Provide Cecily's Fund UK with timely information required for donor reporting and accountability.
• Represent CFZ's interests in discussions concerning the relationship and future collaboration between the two organisations.
• Promote local leadership and ensure CFZ increasingly has the capacity and authority to lead work in Zambia.

Partnerships and External Representation

• Represent Cecily's Fund Zambia to government, donors, NGOs, development partners, communities and other stakeholders.
• Build strategic relationships with relevant ministries, local authorities, schools, community organisations and development partners.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration, strategic alliances and joint initiatives.
• Participate in relevant sector forums, coordination meetings and networks.
• Raise the profile, credibility and influence of CFZ within Zambia.
• Act as a strong advocate for education, child wellbeing, youth development and poverty reduction.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Accountability

• Ensure CFZ has effective systems for measuring programme performance and organisational impact.
• Promote a culture of evidence-based decision-making, reflection and organisational learning.
• Ensure programme results, achievements and lessons are documented and communicated effectively.
• Oversee the production of organisational, Board and donor reports.
• Ensure beneficiaries, partners and other stakeholders have appropriate mechanisms for feedback and accountability.

Safeguarding, Risk and Compliance

• Ensure safeguarding and child protection are embedded across CFZ programmes and operations.
• Ensure compliance with CFZ safeguarding policies and relevant Zambian legislation.
• Maintain effective organisational risk-management systems.
• Ensure programme, financial, operational, safeguarding, reputational and compliance risks are identified and appropriately managed.
• Promote an organisational culture in which safeguarding concerns can be raised safely and acted upon promptly.

Your Profile

• A university degree in development studies, education, social sciences, business administration, management, economics, public administration or another relevant discipline.
• A postgraduate qualification in a relevant field would be an advantage.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in the NGO, development, education, social enterprise or related sector.
• Significant senior management experience, preferably at Executive Director, Country Director, Programme Director, Head of Programmes or equivalent level.
• Demonstrated experience managing programmes, people and budgets.
• Strong understanding of the Zambian development context.
• Experience working with donors and managing institutional funding relationships.
• Demonstrated fundraising and proposal-development experience.
• Experience working with Boards and senior stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of organisational governance, financial management and accountability.
• Experience in monitoring, evaluation and learning.

Desirable

• Experience in education, child protection, youth development or poverty reduction.
• Experience working with vulnerable children and communities.
• Experience in community-based development.
• Experience managing relationships between organisations in different countries.
• Experience establishing or strengthening a local NGO.
• Experience with institutional fundraising, trusts and foundations and corporate partnerships.
• Experience working with international NGOs or international development organisations.

Key Competencies

• Strategic and analytical thinking.
• Strong leadership, decision-making and organisational management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong fundraising, partnership development and influencing skills.
• High level of integrity, professionalism and accountability.
• Initiative, adaptability and problem-solving ability.
• Commitment to learning and continuous improvement.
• Ability to synthesise complex information into practical recommendations.
• Strong planning, coordination and organisational skills.
• Commitment to the mission and values of Cecily's Fund Zambia.

• Provide overall strategic leadership and direction to Cecily's Fund Zambia.
• Lead implementation of CFZ's strategic plan and ensure annual workplans and budgets are aligned with organisational priorities.
• Provide strategic oversight of CFZ programmes and projects implemented through partners.
• Lead the development of CFZ as a strong, sustainable and professionally managed Zambian organisation.
• Lead CFZ's fundraising and resource mobilisation strategy in consultation with the Board and Cecily's Fund UK.
• Provide overall oversight of CFZ's financial management and organisational sustainability.
• Serve as the principal link between the Board and management.
• Represent Cecily's Fund Zambia to government, donors, NGOs, development partners, communities and other stakeholders.
• Ensure CFZ has effective systems for measuring programme performance and organisational impact.
• Ensure safeguarding and child protection are embedded across CFZ programmes and operations.

• Strategic and analytical thinking
• Strong leadership, decision-making and organisational management skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills
• Strong fundraising, partnership development and influencing skills
• High level of integrity, professionalism and accountability
• Initiative, adaptability and problem-solving ability
• Commitment to learning and continuous improvement
• Ability to synthesise complex information into practical recommendations
• Strong planning, coordination and organisational skills

• A university degree in development studies, education, social sciences, business administration, management, economics, public administration or another relevant discipline.
• A postgraduate qualification in a relevant field would be an advantage.
• Strong understanding of the Zambian development context.
• Strong understanding of organisational governance, financial management and accountability.