Managing Director

About the Opportunity

As Inkomoko enters a new phase of growth and deepens its impact across Africa, the Managing Director (MD) will serve as the most senior leader in their country. The MD is accountable for delivering Inkomoko’s mission locally—driving client impact, team performance, operational excellence, and strategic partnerships. Whether launching a new market or scaling in a mature one, the MD leads a country portfolio aligned with enterprise strategy, ensures strong client outcomes, manages local compliance and risk, and positions Inkomoko as a respected and influential stakeholder nationally.

This role is ideal for a dynamic, purpose-driven leader with an entrepreneurial mindset, local credibility, and the operational discipline to lead teams and systems at scale.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Country Planning

• Develop and execute the country-level strategy, contextualizing enterprise goals and impact priorities for the local context.
• Ensure performance against the country-level Balanced Scorecard (BSC), driving the achievement of strategic and operational milestones across departments.
• Monitor emerging risks and opportunities, applying adaptive management and scenario planning to guide country-level decision-making.
• Align cross-functional teams through collaborative planning, clear communications, and shared accountability.
• Prepare and synthesize insights for the VP to inform regional and enterprise decision-making.

Team Leadership & Culture

• Champion a culture of excellence, equity, and impact; ensure team alignment with Inkomoko’s values and mission.
• Build and coach a high-performing, inclusive country team anchored in Inkomoko’s values, mission, and talent framework.
• Ensure health, safety, and safeguarding practices are embedded across all teams, with robust systems for client and staff well-being.
• Act promptly and appropriately on any safeguarding concerns, fostering a culture of transparency, trust, and collective responsibility.

Program Impact & Innovation

• Oversee program implementation, including regular site visits, to encourage, advise, build relationships, and evaluate measurable impact.
• Collaborate with technical and functional teams to identify gaps and opportunities for program improvement or innovation.
• Promote learning and adaptation by integrating MEL insights, field feedback, and market and external trends into decision-making and program design.
• Advance accountability around gender equity, diversity, and safeguarding across the company.
• Identify and mitigate operational and safeguarding risks in collaboration with Legal and Risk functions.

External Engagement & Partnerships

• Serve as Inkomoko’s senior spokesperson in-country, representing the organization to government, funders, peer organizations, and private sector actors.
• Cultivate strategic partnerships that expand access to capital, markets, and enabling environments for refugee and host entrepreneurs.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with donors and multilaterals, contributing to proposal design, grant performance, and reporting in partnership with Development.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for advocacy and thought leadership, in partnership with the VP, Country Leadership, and Director of Advocacy.
• Contribute to the creation of country-specific reports, communication materials, and policy briefs to amplify Inkomoko’s work in partnership with MEL, Advocacy, and Communications.
• Lead the coordination and strategic engagement of the country’s Advisory Board, ensuring diverse membership and actionable input into country-level priorities.

Financial & Operational Stewardship

• Oversee the country budget and financial planning process, ensuring alignment of resources with strategic goals and donor compliance.
• Ensure legal and regulatory compliance with national laws, internal policies, and funding requirements.
• Ensure that operations, procurement, and program delivery systems are efficient, secure, and scalable for growth.

Qualifications & Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive leadership in NGOs, social enterprises, or public institutions, ideally in livelihoods, entrepreneurship, or economic development.
• Proven success managing large, diverse teams and cross-functional operations in complex environments.
• Expertise in country strategy development, financial management, and operational leadership.
• Deep understanding of national socio-economic and political dynamics, with strong local networks and credibility.
• Demonstrated experience navigating government relations and compliance frameworks.
• Experience in partnership development, fundraising, and donor relationship management.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills across multicultural settings.
• High tolerance for ambiguity and change, with a proactive, problem-solving mindset.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% including to Inkomoko’s operational sites in the country and to regional events.
• Commitment to inclusive leadership, staff development, and values-based decision-making.
• Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., business, development, policy) preferred.
• Deep commitment to equity, client-centered innovation, and collaborative leadership.
• Lived experience of displacement is highly valued and encouraged for leadership roles at Inkomoko.