YALI Africa Managing Director

YALI AFRICA COMPANY LIMITED

About YALI Africa:

YALI Africa is seeking an experienced leader to guide the vision and implementation of a high-level and well established sub-Saharan African youth development program as the managing director.

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), https://yali.state.gov/, is the U.S. government’s signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders through three distinct activities: the Mandela Washington Fellowship, the YALI Regional Leadership Centers (RLC) based in Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa, and the YALI Network. USAID is planning for the next decade of support to promote effective public administration, foster entrepreneurship and business opportunities, and cultivate civic leadership.

YALI Africa was conceived by the four YALI RLCs to build upon their work to create a pan-sub-Saharan Africa entity that supports their efforts to offer comprehensive and harmonized leadership training programs in 49 countries, build awareness of what YALI offers to reach more youth and partners, and create additional opportunities for YALI alumni post-training.

YALI Africa will continue to expand the work of the Regional Leadership Centers in harmonizing transformative leadership training to diverse African youth and linking alumni to opportunities. To achieve its strategic objectives, YALI Africa will be led by a Board of Directors composed of competent, diverse, and qualified members from across Africa and the diaspora.

As such, YALI Africa is seeking a qualified candidate to serve as the YALI Africa managing director based in Accra, Ghana, and lead a dynamic team that will make YALI Africa the premier pan-sub-Saharan African youth-focused organization on the continent.

The managing director will work closely with the Young African Leaders Initiative Legacy Localization (YALI Legacy Localization) activity funded by USAID Washington and managed by Arizona State University. YALI Legacy Localization’s mission is to ensure the prosperity of YALI Africa, a Company Limited by Guarantee that was registered in Ghana in 2019 and renewed in June 2024, by collectively directing its affairs while meeting the interests of relevant stakeholders, which includes leadership at the RLCs and their affiliated higher education institutions, U.S. and Africa government agencies, YALI alumni, the Africa diaspora, private sector and non-profit leaders, and more. From 2019 to 2024, the RLCs have been working with USAID to harmonize curriculum and systems for a unified continent-wide program. The managing director will lead the efforts to continue this work and grow YALI Africa, positioning it as the premiere leadership development program on the continent.

Overview: YALI Africa Managing Director

The YALI Africa managing director should be a strategic thinker with high integrity and dependability with a vision for the future and expertise in starting new organizations, especially in Francophone, Lusophone, and Anglophone sub-Saharan Africa, strategic development, leading a diverse team, and building coalitions. The ideal candidate is a seasoned leader who is proficient in English, French, and preferably, Portuguese, has keen decision-making skills, and a proven track record in starting and managing successful organizations, executive-level planning and finance, performance management, partnership development, and experience with boards and government agencies.

The managing director, who will be located in Accra, Ghana, will serve as the chief executive of YALI Africa and will be responsible for the overall management and leadership of the organization. YALI Africa is a fledgling organization at this point, so there will be a heavy focus on establishing systems, policies, procedures, etc., in the first year. The managing director will report to the YALI Africa Board of Directors and work with them to develop and implement the company’s vision, strategy, and policies.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Building upon the 10 years of work of the four RLCs, lead the formulation and execution of the new YALI Africa’s immediate and long-term strategy to deepen its impact across sub-Saharan Africa, ensuring the continued growth of leadership development opportunities for young people on the continent
• Build a corporate vision and develop strategies based on that vision.
• Lead and direct corporate officers and business unit heads in implementing tactics to achieve strategic objectives.
• Communicate company strategy and philosophy to YALI Africa stakeholders.
  Leverage the pre-existing networks of YALI stakeholders to develop and maintain YALI Africa’s culture, values, standards, and regulations, ensuring alignment across all stakeholders.
• Provide an empowering model of leadership, strengthening capacity across the company while taking ownership of executive responsibilities and harnessing the potential of the governance structures.
• Maintain technology and infrastructural integrity for high efficiency across company activities.
  Act as an ambassador for YALI Africa on the continent and globally, building the company’s networks to enhance its reach and continue to raise its profile.
• Demonstrate the highest commitment to diversity and inclusion, creating an environment where diversity is valued, and differing viewpoints are welcome and ensuring the highest standards of technical competence, gender balance, regional representation, and social inclusion in all operational aspects.

Fiduciary, Accountability, and Risks

• Develop strategic options to maximize enterprise value and enhance return on investment.
• Develop annual plans in line with the company’s strategic plan.
• Review quarterly business plans, annual budgets, activities, benchmarks, and operating targets to ensure objectives are met.
• Work with the chief finance officer to maximize financial resources and meet financial objectives and benchmarks.
• Report to the board and stakeholders on YALI Africa’s performance, including business risks and mitigations.
• Seek opportunities to diversify income through partnerships and leverage existing networks for philanthropic activities.

Governance and Policies

• Execute the responsibilities of a company director according to lawful and ethical standards and company policies.
• Serve on boards and key committees of major business units and joint ventures.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and company policy standards.
• Report directly to the Board of Directors, ensuring transparent and effective communication regarding organizational progress, challenges, and financial status.
• Implement policies, procedures, and decisions made by the Board of Directors.
• Drive visibility, fundraising efforts, and partnership development to support organizational growth and expansion across sub-Saharan Africa.

Business Performance and Management

• Represent the company to key shareholders, the investment community, joint venture partners, and other stakeholders.
• Recruit, select, and develop executive team members.
• Lead the strategic cross-functional development of key executives and provide tools for professional skills development.
• Develop executive succession planning options with the board chairperson to support the company’s growth and acquisition strategies.

Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in business leadership, international development, public policy, or other related fields.
• Proven track record on the African continent and leadership skills with a track record of successful delivery of strategic initiatives, growth, and change in a context of significant complexity and scale in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Proven experience as a managing director, chief executive officer, or more than 10 years in other senior managerial positions in Francophone or Lusophone Africa will be an added advantage.
• Strong understanding of corporate finance and performance management principles.
• Familiarity with diverse business functions, such as operations, human resources, marketing, public relations, information communication technology, and fundraising.
• In-depth knowledge of corporate governance and general management best practices.
• An entrepreneurial mindset with outstanding organizational and leadership skills.
• A collaborative leadership approach, excellent listening, communication, and public speaking skills, and high levels of emotional intelligence, tact, and diplomacy.
• People management skills, particularly for diverse and interdisciplinary groups.
• Strong commitment to multicultural partnership building, combining an international outlook with a genuine appreciation of local culture and ability to engage with business, government, and educational leaders.
• Experience in resource mobilization, management, and strategic partnership development
  Proficiency in English and French required; Portuguese preferred.

Appointment and Term:

This is a full-time position with a contract that is renewable every three years and a job description that may evolve according to needs.