Chief Executive Officer

TITLE:                     CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER (COO)

JOB NUMBER:       20260715-CEO

REPORTS TO:        BOARD

SUPERVISES:         ALL STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

LOCATION:            ABUJA, NIGERIA

DURATION:            Three-Years (Renewable)

I.        INTRODUCTION

The Visiola Foundation is a non-profit organization that invests in African girls and young women from disadvantaged backgrounds through education, training, and mentoring in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The Visiola Foundation stimulates the interest of women in the STEM fields from an early age by building their confidence and curiosity through its engaging, hands-on after-school and summer programs.

The Foundation wishes to recruit a visionary Chief Operating Officer (CEO) skilled in driving organizational success and empowering high performing staff. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the CEO will be based full-time at the Foundation’s office in Abuja, Nigeria, and will have overall management responsibility for a growing impactful organization.

Combining inspirational leadership and sophisticated management abilities, the he/she will advance the Foundation in terms of culture, capability, processes, and impact. While working closely with the organization’s executive team, the CEO will inspire innovation and ensure that the organization is continually well equipped to advance its mission of building a pipeline of ethical and entrepreneurial female African STEM leaders.

II.       RESPONSIBILITIES:

Executive Leadership and Organizational Management:

Provide thoughtful and visionary executive leadership that is inclusive, transparent, and empowering in a manner that supports and guides the organization’s mission as defined by the Board of Trustees. Present strategic options and plans for organization impact and gain Board approval as needed to carry out the work of the mission of the organization. Oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization and ensure its overall successful long-term operations. Organize, motivate, and mentor internal team leaders to strategically grow the organization’s impact, programs, fundraising, and to effectively fulfill its important mission. Apply innovative thinking and performance measurements to analyze and support strategic decision-making. Continually foster a culture that encourages collaboration between departments and recognizes positive contributions. Contribute to the strategic plan and drive its implementation. Manage and motivate staff, overseeing processes such as hiring, separation, ongoing staff development, performance management, and compensation and benefits. Inspire a business-oriented, professional, results-driven environment across the organization. Perform general management duties overseeing the day-to-day operations of the organization. Establish goals, objectives, and operational plans in collaboration with the Board of Trustees, staff, and other leaders.

Board Governance:

Maintain regular and ongoing communication to build strong relationships with the entire Board, providing leadership and support to members at all times. Communicate effectively with the Board by providing members with all information necessary to continually function properly and make informed decisions in a timely and accurate manner. Attend all Board meetings and provide reports and updates on staff as well as all current work, project timelines, and project and organizational progress. Gracefully manage the board as needed to build consensus, remind of outstanding deliverables, and offer support. Implement Board policies and procedures and build support for Board decisions amongst staff. Work closely and openly with the Board and its committees, ensuring ongoing communication of risks, issues, as well as successes.

Development and Fundraising:

Drive development and fundraising, leveraging the Board as needed to build multi-year, unrestricted funding for the organization with a three-five year cash runway. Initiate, cultivate, and extend relationships with the organization’s portfolio of individual, foundation, and corporate supporters. Ensure the organization’s financial stability and sustainability by maintaining healthy cash flow and adequate reserves.

Financial Management and Administration:

Provide strategic leadership and hands-on management for all of the administrative and operational functions of the organization in accordance with the mission, objectives, and policies. Prudently direct resources and manage all financials within budget guidelines and according to current laws and regulations. Assume responsibility for the fiscal integrity of the organization. Monitor board-approved budget and manage daily financial operations to ensure maximum utilization of resources and optimum financial positioning for the organization. Ensure maximum resource utilization, budget management, and maintenance of the organization in a positive financial position. Build and administer the annual budget, with Board approval.

External Relations and Communications:

Represent the organization and serve as chief spokesperson publicly at events, conferences, and partnership meetings. Present and promote the organization and its mission, programs, partners, and members in a consistently positive manner. Ensure high visibility to prospects and the public, and build interest in engaged philanthropy. Manage all aspects of the organization’s marketing and public relations.

III.     QUALIFICATIONS:

Candidates may emerge from nonprofit, foundation, government, or industry backgrounds and should possess the following:

Five years of prior experience as a CEO, Managing Director, Executive Director, at a nonprofit, foundation, government, or industry. Strong business acumen and a history of providing visionary leadership at the executive level. Proven experience executing organization growth and leading a similar or larger size successful nonprofit and/or related entity. Proven experience working with and leading a nonprofit Board and working with diverse groups of people. Familiarity with diverse business functions such as Marketing, Public Relations, Human Resources, etc. Experience and success in motivating, recruiting, developing, retaining, and mentoring high performance, mission-driven, and results-oriented teams. Excellent written, oral, and public speaking skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with strong interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills. An advanced degree in business administration, finance, law or a related degree is preferred.

IV.      COMPENSATION:

This wonderful opportunity offers the ability to make significant impact leading and growing an impactful nonprofit. This career opportunity offers a strong starting base salary, a full benefits package, and a team-oriented atmosphere that is both positive and rewarding. Starting compensation includes: a very competitive salary dependent on experience, plus full benefits package that includes housing, transportation, and telephone allowances, as well as medical and dental insurance and pension contribution.

V.       HOW TO APPLY:

For immediate consideration please send your Resumé, cover letter, and salary requirements as a single pdf saved under the format: YEAR-MONTHDATE-LAST-FIRST (e.g. 2026-0720-DOE-JANE) to careers@visiolafoundation.org.  E-mail subject: Application to CEO Role.

Review of applications, nominations, and expressions of interest will begin immediately and continue on a confidential basis until an appointment is made.

The Visiola Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity and equity in all facets of the organization’s work. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other protected class.

No phone calls please. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

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