Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is recruiting a strategic, inspirational and dynamic leader to take on the role of Senior Director, Business Services for Africa. This is a unique opportunity to drive real impact not just within business operations, but in the broader, critical mission of making affordable housing more accessible across the region. By leading Finance & Administration, HR, and IT at the Area Office level in Africa, you’ll work closely with regional and global teams to develop strategies, improve systems, and enhance organizational effectiveness, which directly support Habitat’s ability to build homes, strengthen communities, and empower families in need.
This role calls for big-picture thinking and strong analytical skills to ensure that the financial, administrative, and operational structures behind Habitat’s work are strong and sustainable. You’ll serve as a strategic partner to senior leaders, using data and best practices to guide business service priorities, increase accountability, and improve compliance. With a focus on capacity building and financial sustainability, you’ll help Habitat’s National Organizations implement a cost recovery model that ensures long-term impact. By aligning teams across the region and contributing to Habitat’s global strategy and ERP implementation, you’ll play a key role in making safe, decent, and affordable housing a reality for more people across Africa.
Reports to: Area Vice President for Africa, with dotted-line to Global Chief Finance and Administration Officer.
Coordinates: Dotted-line with globalized functions of Legal; Governance, Risk Management & Compliance; and Grants Compliance & Donor Reporting.
Location: Nairobi, Kenya.
Travel: 25%, mostly within Africa.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
*Support implementation of global and regional strategies, and planning processes, generating greater scale and higher impact for the Habitat for Humanity network.
*Ensure National Office Directors and Boards of Directors have access to adequate data, and administrative information, for their strategies and planning.
*Actively engage with the regional network to ensure the effective implementation of the regional strategy, including capacity building and provision of expertise from the Area Office business services unit to branches and independent national organizations.
*Coordinate both direct, and dotted line, reports to ensure implementation and reporting requirements are met, in accordance with standards, expectations, and laws.
*Oversee and coordinate relevant functions to ensure proper planning, monitoring and analysis of financial and other data.
*Lead strategic provision of high quality business services, monitoring achievement of organizational goals and development of sustainable operational model.
*Serve as a key representative on business services.
*Develop a culture of accountability, clear decision-making and open lines of communication, to enhance compliance.
*Work with others to monitor and assess risks in the region and respond to crises.
*Align business services capabilities with programmatic goals.
*Liaise between National Offices, Area Office, and global teams to achieve growth goals, supporting the Area Vice President in regular reviews of network performance.
*Strengthen relationships with National Organizations, sitting on several Boards.
*Support and enhance collaboration with global teams, including legal and compliance, by ensuring alignment with geographic priorities and broader regional needs.
*Provide leadership and stewardship that supports HFHI’s Christian faith and values through active servant leadership, motivating staff members, serving partner families, and encouraging volunteers to follow the mission and vision.
DIVISION OF TIME:
1: ERP and Regional Strategic Framework Plan Realization (50%).
-Hold direct teams and globalized administrative functions to account on the delivery of strategic framework.
-Liaise with global teams on the strategic enhancement of business services functions.
-Provide support to regional network in the implementation of the ERP, as well as holding relevant teams to account in the delivery of strategies and organizational planning processes across the regional network.
-Ensure review, control, analysis and monitoring of budgets, data and planning processes.
-Support realignment and resourcing processes including:
a. proper budget planning, analysis, monitoring of income and expenses;
b. monitoring grant management processes;
c. talent recruitment, hiring and compensation efforts in partnership with HR;
d. workforce planning;
e. IT policies.
2: Lead the alignment of support structures, processes, and functions as relate to business services (15%).
3: Advise on organizational effectiveness for regional network (15%).
4: Manage contracts and collaborations with external partners (5%).
5: Special Projects (15%).
REQUIREMENTS:
*10+ years’ relevant experience in one of the following: finance, administration, HR, IT, and/or organizational effectiveness.
*Bachelor’s degree.
*Demonstrated ability to understand financial management and budgeting including, grants and grant management.
*Senior leadership experience within complex, matrixed organizational structures.
*Experience working with a business partnering approach to achieve joint goals.
*In-depth understanding of the complexity of overseeing and managing business services (finance & administration, HR, IT) in an international context, and supporting and developing colleagues that lead their respective areas of work.
*Understanding of entire grant management cycle, including financial reporting systems that meet donor requirements.
*Strong written, presentation and oral communication skills in English.
*Strong skillset relating to change management, organizational development and project management.
*Deep knowledge and experience working with an array of business service functions, with both direct and dotted-line reports.
*Strong level of confidence and relational skills to build trust and influence with all levels of the network, external partners and a diversity of people.
*Capacity to lead and engage with highly-qualified team of leaders.
*Excellent people management skills, with proven ability to lead teams virtually and in person.
*High degree of resourcefulness to lead projects that may not be clearly defined.
*Mission-driven and comfortable leading within, communicating about, and working with a Christian organization.
*Active support of and contribution to HFHI values and commitments:
–Humility – We are part of something bigger than ourselves.
–Courage – We do what’s right, even when it is difficult or unpopular.
–Accountability – We take personal responsibility for Habitat’s mission.
–Safeguarding – HFHI requires that all employees take seriously their ethical responsibilities to safeguarding our intended beneficiaries, their communities, and all those with whom we work. Managers at all levels have responsibilities to support and develop systems that create and maintain an environment that prevents harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, safeguards the rights of beneficiaries and community members (especially children), and promotes the implementation of our code of conduct.
PREFERRED:
*Experience working in an international non-governmental organization (INGO).
*Experience working in a federated context.
*Fluency in other languages of Sub-Saharan Africa.
*MBA.
*Qualifications in finance, HR or IT.
More Information
- Job City Kenya
