Business Manager

Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership

• Lead all budgeting, forecasting, and short/medium/long-term financial planning.
• Establish and maintain strong financial controls and reporting systems including quarterly reports to the Board of Trustees.
• Prepare for, attend and inform all Board and Board Committee meetings as the lead representative of the Senior Leadership Team.
• Manage cash flow, cost structures, and financial sustainability
• Provide clear, timely financial insights to support leadership decisions
• Ensure financial discipline across all functions
• Identify and manage risks to the schoolʼs financial sustainability.

Operations & School Infrastructure

• Ensure the school is fully registered with the Ministry of Education and meets all necessary requirements
• Oversee all day-to-day school operations, including facilities, transport, security, extra curricular vendors, and campus services - this includes from establishment to ongoing maintenance
• Ensure the school environment is safe, functional, and consistently high-quality
• Anticipate and resolve operational issues proactively
• Support infrastructure planning as the school grows

Procurement & Vendor Management

• Design and implement procurement systems and policies in tandem with the existing SHOFCO team
• Identify, negotiate, and manage suppliers and service providers
• Ensure strong cost control, transparency, and value for money
• Oversee asset and inventory management

Human Resources (Non-Academic)

• Recruit, manage, and develop administrative and support staff including performance expectations
• Oversee contracts, payroll, and HR compliance, in tandem with existing SHOFCO team
• Build a culture of accountability and professionalism across support functions

Compliance, Risk & Governance

• Ensure full compliance with Kenyan regulatory requirements and school standards
• Lead health, safety, and risk management systems
• Manage audits, insurance, and statutory obligations
• Maintain strong governance and reporting practices

Systems Building & Institutional Development

• Design and implement core systems across finance, HR, procurement, and operations, in partnership with existing SHOFCO team
• Develop policies, processes, and tools required for a high-functioning school
• Build structures that will scale as the school grows
• Translate leadership priorities into operational execution

Team Leadership

• Directly manage a small but growing operations team (2–5 associates initially)
• Build team capacity and structure as the school expands
• Ensure strong performance, accountability, and clarity across all roles

Candidate Profile

Required Experience

• 5–10+ years in operations, finance, or general management roles
• Prior experience in a top private or international school in Kenya is required
• Prior experience in launching a new school is strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience building systems, processes, and teams—not just managing them
• Experience operating in complex, multi-function environments (finance, HR, operations, procurement)
• Strong familiarity with Kenyan regulatory, vendor, and operational contexts

Core Capabilities

• Strong financial management and analytical capability (non-negotiable)
• Ability to build systems from the ground up and make them work in practice
• Decisive operator who can prioritize and execute in a fast-moving environment
• Strong procurement and commercial judgment
• Ability to manage people and hold teams accountable
• High attention to detail without losing sight of the bigger picture

Profile We Are Targeting

• We are looking for someone who:
• Has operated at a senior level within a high-performing school in Kenya
• Has been involved in the launching of / early stages of a new school in Kenya
• Is comfortable owning outcomes end-to-end, not just coordinating tasks
• Can make decisions quickly and confidently with incomplete information
• Thrives in a startup environment where structure is being built, not inherited
• Brings both financial discipline and operational rigor

What Will Not Succeed in this Role

• Candidates whose experience is primarily administrative or coordination-focused
• Individuals who rely on established systems but have not built them
• Individuals who have not navigated government registration processes
• Those who require highly structured environments to operate effectively
• Slow or overly cautious decision-makers

Personal Attributes

• High ownership and accountability
• Exceptionally organized and structured in thinking
• Calm, decisive, and solutions-oriented under pressure
• High integrity and professionalism
• Resourceful, pragmatic, and results-driven

What Success Looks Like

• The school opens and operates smoothly from day one
• Financial systems are robust, transparent, and forward-looking
• Operational issues are anticipated and resolved quickly
• Staff are well-managed and accountable
• Systems are in place to support growth without constant reinvention