Tongabezi Trust School is seeking a Chief Executive Officer.

Responsibilities or duties,

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 fulfils 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.

Project Management

• 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.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills),

• Bachelor’s degree or higher-level qualification in Education Leadership and Management.
• Strong decision-making, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution abilities.
• 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.

Experience needed,

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in a leadership role.
• Proven experience in leading diverse teams, managing senior staff, and driving organizational change.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, donor relations, and developing sustainable revenue streams.
• Solid understanding of nonprofit financial processes, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.

• 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 fulfils 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.

• Strong decision-making abilities
• Problem-solving abilities
• Conflict-resolution abilities
• Strategic thinking
• Interpersonal skills
• Communication skills
• Fundraising skills
• Donor relations management
• Financial management skills
• Budgeting skills
• Forecasting skills
• Financial reporting skills
• Understanding of nonprofit financial processes
• Understanding of educational landscapes
• Understanding of community development landscapes
• Stakeholder engagement skills
• Commitment to improving educational opportunities
• 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
• Proven experience in managing senior staff
• Proven experience in driving organizational change
• Demonstrated success in fundraising
• Demonstrated success in donor relations
• Demonstrated success in developing sustainable revenue streams
• Solid understanding of nonprofit financial processes
• Ability to think strategically
• Ability to translate vision into actionable plans
• Deep understanding of the educational and community development landscapes and their challenges
• Exceptional interpersonal skills
• Exceptional communication skills
• Experience engaging a wide range of stakeholders (government agencies, educational institutions, donors, rural communities)
• Deep commitment to improving educational opportunities and outcomes for marginalized and under-served communities