Executive Director

AI summary

Open Health Foundation is hiring an Executive Director to serve as chief executive and strategic leader, providing overall direction for programmes, operations, people, partnerships, finances, and institutional development. The role works closely with the Board and senior leadership to execute strategic priorities and represent the Foundation at high-level forums across Nigeria.

• Chief executive and strategic leadership role for a health-focused foundation
• Responsible for fundraising, resource mobilization, and donor relations
• Represents the Foundation at national and international policy forums
• Works closely with the Board on governance, compliance, and risk management
• Focus on health programmes, partnerships, and institutional development

Original source description

The Executive Director will serve as the chief executive and strategic leader of Open Health Foundation, providing overall direction for the organization’s programmes, operations, people, partnerships, finances, and institutional development. The role will work closely with the Board and senior leadership team to develop and execute the Foundation’s strategic priorities, build strong relationships with donors, government institutions, development partners, private-sector organizations, healthcare stakeholders, and other strategic partners. The Executive Director will also serve as a principal ambassador for the Foundation, representing its interests and mission at high-level meetings, conferences, policy forums, donor engagements, and other relevant platforms. Key Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership & Organizational Direction: Ensure that the Foundation remains responsive to the evolving needs of the communities and populations it serves. Foster a culture of excellence, accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Identify emerging opportunities, risks, and trends within the health and development sectors and position the Foundation accordingly. Provide visionary and effective leadership in alignment with the Foundation’s mission, values, and long-term objectives. Develop, implement, and periodically review the Foundation’s strategic plan and organizational priorities. Translate strategic objectives into clear annual operational plans, targets, budgets, and measurable outcomes. Programme Leadership & Impact: Promote innovation and the adoption of effective approaches to healthcare delivery and health-system strengthening. Ensure programme activities comply with relevant regulatory, ethical, contractual, and donor requirements. Provide strategic oversight of all Foundation programmes, projects, and interventions. Review programme performance and ensure timely corrective action where required. Ensure programmes are evidence-based, impactful, scalable, and aligned with the Foundation’s strategic priorities. Establish appropriate systems for monitoring, evaluation, learning, and impact measurement. Fundraising & Resource Mobilization: Identify and pursue strategic funding opportunities, grants, partnerships, and investment opportunities. Represent the Foundation in high-level donor and funding discussions. Diversify the Foundation’s funding base and reduce dependence on a limited number of funding sources. Provide leadership in the development of high-quality proposals, concept notes, funding strategies, and partnership opportunities. Build and maintain strong relationships with institutional donors, foundations, development agencies, government institutions, corporate organizations, philanthropists, and other funding partners. Lead the development and implementation of a sustainable resource-mobilization strategy. Strategic Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement: Represent the Foundation at national and international conferences, policy engagements, sector meetings, and other strategic forums. Build strong relationships with government ministries, departments and agencies, development partners, healthcare organizations, academic institutions, NGOs, private-sector organizations, and community stakeholders. Position Open Health Foundation as a credible and respected organization within the health and development ecosystem. Develop and maintain strategic partnerships that advance the Foundation’s mission and programmes. Identify opportunities for collaboration, co-investment, knowledge exchange, and programme expansion. Governance, Compliance & Risk Management: Promote transparency and ethical conduct across the organization. Provide the Board with accurate, timely, and strategic information to support informed decision-making. Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, donor requirements, organizational policies, and governance standards. Work closely with the Board to ensure effective organizational governance and accountability. Identify, assess, and manage organizational, financial, operational, reputational, and programme risks. Maintain appropriate internal controls and accountability mechanisms. Financial & Operational Management: Work with the finance team and Board to develop and manage annual budgets and financial plans. Ensure effective systems, processes, policies, and structures are in place to support organizational growth. Ensure responsible stewardship of organizational and donor resources. Oversee organizational efficiency and ensure resources are aligned with strategic priorities. Monitor organizational financial performance and take appropriate action where necessary. Provide executive oversight of the Foundation’s financial sustainability and operational performance. People & Leadership Development: Promote a positive organizational culture built on professionalism, integrity, inclusion, accountability, and respect. Support staff development, succession planning, and leadership capacity building. Ensure that the Foundation attracts and retains high-calibre talent. Build and retain a high-performing, diverse, and mission-driven workforce. Establish clear performance expectations and accountability mechanisms for senior leadership. Provide strong leadership to the senior management team and promote effective cross-functional collaboration. Advocacy, Visibility & Thought Leadership: Contribute to health policy discussions, sector advocacy, and thought leadership initiatives. Represent the Foundation in media engagements and public forums where appropriate. Develop and strengthen the Foundation’s institutional profile and visibility within the health sector. Serve as a public ambassador and leading voice for Open Health Foundation. Promote the Foundation’s achievements, evidence, lessons learned, and impact responsibly. Monitoring, Reporting & Accountability: Track progress against organizational goals, key performance indicators, and strategic targets. Provide regular performance updates to the Board and other relevant stakeholders. Ensure accountability to beneficiaries, partners, donors, regulators, and the Board. Use data, evidence, and organizational learning to inform strategic decision-making. Ensure the timely preparation and presentation of organizational, programme, financial, and strategic reports. Key Performance Indicators The successful Executive Director will be expected to demonstrate measurable performance across areas including: Financial sustainability and responsible resource management. Governance, compliance, and risk management. Quality, reach, and measurable impact of programmes. Growth and diversification of funding and resource mobilization. Development and sustainability of strategic partnerships. Satisfaction and confidence of key stakeholders, partners, and the Board. Increased institutional visibility and sector influence. Organizational growth, efficiency, and institutional strengthening. Achievement of the Foundation’s strategic objectives and annual targets. Staff engagement, retention, and leadership development. Qualifications & Experience: Essential Proven experience: in strategic planning, organizational leadership, programme management, and stakeholder engagement. Demonstrated experience: leading a nonprofit, foundation, NGO, development organization, healthcare organization, or comparable institution. A Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Medicine, Health Sciences, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Business Administration, Management, or a related discipline. Minimum of 10 years of progressive professional experience, with at least 5 years in a senior management, executive, or organizational leadership position. Excellent written, verbal, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-management skills. Demonstrable experience: in fundraising, grant acquisition, donor management, and resource mobilization. Strong financial management, budgeting, and organizational oversight capabilities. Demonstrated experience: managing multidisciplinary teams and complex organizational operations. A Master’s degree or relevant postgraduate qualification is highly desirable. Strong understanding of the health, development, nonprofit, or social-impact ecosystem. Desirable: Experience: working with government and public-sector stakeholders. Experience: developing and managing large-scale grants and multi-stakeholder programmes. Experience: serving on boards, committees, advisory groups, or sector-level initiatives. Experience: working with international development agencies, foundations, bilateral or multilateral organizations, or major institutional donors. Experience: in health systems strengthening, healthcare access, community health, public health, or related areas. Professional membership or certification in a relevant field. Core Competencies: The ideal candidate will demonstrate: High-level communication and public speaking skills Problem-solving and sound decision-making Negotiation and partnership-building skills Visionary and strategic leadership Commitment to equity, inclusion, and sustainable health impact Fundraising and business development acumen Financial and commercial awareness High integrity, professionalism, and accountability Strong governance and ethical judgement Exceptional stakeholder management Strong understanding of the health and development sector People leadership and talent development Adaptability and innovation Programme and project oversight Leadership Profile: The ideal candidate should be able to move confidently between Board-level strategy, donor and government engagement, programme oversight, financial stewardship, and people leadership. We are looking for a leader who is strategic without losing sight of execution, commercially astute without compromising the Foundation’s social mission, and ambitious while remaining accountable to the communities it serves. They should possess the credibility and relationship-building ability to establish Open Health Foundation as a trusted partner while creating the systems, culture, and resources required for long-term institutional sustainability. How to Apply Interested and qualified candidates should: Click here to apply online Application Deadline: 9th October, 2026. View all Jobs in Nigeria Abuja Executive Director job vacancies in Nigeria