ASEI is a non-profit Ugandan-based organisation aimed at fostering a comprehensive transformation for young individuals and underprivileged communities by providing education, empowerment, and access to innovative technologies that have the potential to change lives.
We envision a future where young individuals and underprivileged communities, empowered by education and access to life-changing technologies, are the driving force behind their own comprehensive transformation.
We work to assist communities adapt a new pedagogical approach to STEM education that involves project-based learning, collaboration, problem solving and critical thinking – all essential skills to compete in the global job market.
Through the provision of our innovative makerspace and other hands-on programs, we provide opportunities to access equipment and know-how to work on solving local challenges such as access to clean water and development of renewable energy cooking solutions.
About the Position:
CEO responsibilities include:
1. Leadership, Governance and Operations
- Continue to promote, review and enhance our organizational vision, strategy, identity, and brand
- Develop shared vision and strategy for board development and engagement.
- Oversee implementation of the Strategic Plan, steering its operationalization, tracking, and annual review.
- Develop and operationalize overall staff management, talent development and organizational culture strategies.
- Supervise, support, mentor, and develop all direct reports, and oversee consultants.
- Lead the development and review of ASEI’s annual budget, including project-specific spending allocations. While the Finance Manager steers this process, the CEO shall propose spending allocations for the organization’s goals and priorities with input from their teams and harmonize the overall budget in line with the Strategic Plan for discussion at board level.
- Review, approve and sign-off on payments, MoUs, contracts, procurement etc.
- Ensure legal status and regulatory compliance, including oversight of outsourced accountant, external audit, NGO board compliance, regulatory requirements, etc.
- Consider the opportunity to onboard Head of Operations in late 2025, to delegate operations and administrative work, strengthen internal controls and formalize operational systems.
2. Strategic Planning and Oversight
- Provide strategic oversight and coaching on the design of responsive programs, high quality services, organizational capacity development tools and partner peer-learning forums that drive adoption of best-case practices.
- Preparing monthly/quarterly reports for board review and coordinating regular team meetings
- Oversee key network processes, such as the identification of priorities and decisions during the in-country meetings, harvesting outcomes for discussion at board level, and incorporating collective feedback loops. This includes agenda design and facilitation.
- Continue to build on programs that enhance cohesion, trust and collaboration across ASEI and its partner organization
- Work with the ASEI team to ensure all programs and activities align to annual planning processes and our broader strategic plan and mission
3. Spearhead our growing Advocacy Agenda
- Lead an internal process to build out an advocacy strategy that identifies ASEI’s key global and regional arenas and audiences, and defines our goals, priorities, messaging, and approaches for each.
- Actively seek out events, platforms, and opportunities that further our advocacy goals.
- Ensure streamlined partner outreach by supporting all network and country-level partner communication.
- Ensure we have an effective engagement plan for each advocacy opportunity and position our various advocacy assets well in these spaces (our research and evidence base, our partners, team, allies, and like-minded networks, etc.).
- Personally participate in speaking engagements, panel discussions and in-person and virtual forums. Help colleagues or partner representatives in preparing for the same.
- Write and prepare presentations, content, thought pieces as needed, collaborating with the team.
- Strengthen our advocacy capabilities through engaging and learning from experts and consultants, and potentially creating an in-house position as our advocacy ambition grows.
4. Support Fundraising and Communications
- Represent ASEI’s work, impact and opportunities in partner support programming and network management to current and potential donors.
- Attending local, regional, or international donor meetings, calls and convenings as part of donor stewarding efforts.
Who we are looking for;
- You are deeply enthusiastic about equity in development. You have built your career around the idea that all voices should be heard, and that resources, power and respect belong to community- driven organizations. You are acutely aware of the inequities of the developing world and have worked to overcome them and created access for those previously excluded.
- You have vast experience in managing teams in a growing non-profit with a social justice mission. You have been at the forefront of overseeing implementation of an organization’s strategic plan, shaping programming based on learnings and engaging senior level stakeholders and board.
- You are visionary, with strong strategic thinking skills with a track record of creating successful strategies to achieve ambitious long-term goals in various contexts.
- You are highly collaborative, know how to achieve alignment and are comfortable dealing with conflict in a remote, cross-cultural setting.
- You have successfully identified and delivered on influencing opportunities (local, regional, global level). You know how to package and position a message to stakeholders to educate their hearts and minds! Technical advocacy training/skills are an added advantage, but not required.
- You are an experienced, engaging networker and a confident public speaker. You know how to make people feel welcome and connect with them to build mutual benefit. You have strong connections within the sector and have a track record in building strategic new linkages and partnerships.
- Demonstrated experience managing teams. You have a track record in mentoring and developing people, helping them succeed in ambitious goals and in new responsibilities. You are comfortable with driving recruitment and performance management processes to build a performing team.
- You have a strong ability to bring people together and facilitate insightful conversations using participatory methodologies that lead to consensus around the way forward, e.g., change in strategies or processes.
- You are a strong writer and are comfortable adapting your writing style to the occasion, from global development audiences to busy leaders of local community organizations.
- You have good operational skills, e.g., spreadsheets for budget creation, understanding of HR processes, and the attentiveness needed for regulatory and legal issues.
Why work with us? What to expect at ASEI!
- ASEI is on an exciting upward trajectory, and we believe our growth in less than two years of operation is a great indicator of how much work is needed in the sector.
- Our relationship with our network of partners means that we can both focus on broader sector trends and on the programs that help us feel grounded in the cause.
- Interact with many of the most dynamic and accomplished players in our sector – from multilateral development organizations to world-class researchers.
- We pride ourselves on maintaining a supportive and collaborative environment that allows for strategic input, requests, and growth opportunities to come from all staff at all levels of management
- We, as an organization, value excellence, but not at the cost of practicality. Expect management and processes that prioritize making your working life easier rather than sticking to a strict procedure.
Other information
- The role is based in our current network district in Fort Portal. Our team works fully onsite.
- The ideal start date is August 2024, and we will be flexible with the chosen candidate’s availability.
- The salary range will be 20,000,000 – 30,000,000 UGX annual gross depending on relevant experiences and qualifications.
How to apply
- Your CV should be no more than four pages and in PDF format. Share the CV and cover letter to [email protected] and cc: [email protected]
- Applications deadline will be no later than Sept 9, 2024
- The interview process will entail interviews, team interaction, and reference checks.
- All official communication regarding this opportunity will come from email accounts in the domains @aseiug.org