Country Director, Uganda job at School for Life Uganda

About School for Life

School for Life Uganda (SFLU), under the School for Life Foundation, is dedicated to transforming lives in rural Uganda by providing high-quality education, vocational training, and essential services such as clean water and healthcare to the community. With a mission to "educate poverty out of existence," SFLU operates 3 schools at the Katuuso and Mbazzi Riverside campuses, serving over 1,500 students. Its holistic approach integrates academic learning with practical skills to empower youth and communities, fostering self-reliance and sustainable economic growth.

Our 5-Year Strategy focuses on five strategic pillars:

1. Quality Education & Learning Outcomes

2. Community Empowerment & Livelihoods

3. Sustainable Organisational Growth & Partnerships

4. Institutional Excellence & Systems Strengthening

5. Advocacy, Influence & Research for Impact

As we enter this new exciting phase, we are seeking a visionary Country Director to lead SFL Uganda into this next chapter - someone who combines strategic leadership, commercial acumen, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to empowering communities through education.

Role Purpose:

To provide strategic leadership, vision, oversight over the operations in Uganda and external representation for SFL Uganda, ensuring the delivery of the 5-Year Strategy through effective partnerships, program alignment, and organisational sustainability.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

1. Strategic Leadership

• Co-design the development of and lead the implementation of SFL Uganda’s 5-Year Strategy and annual operational plans.
• Drive the alignment of programs and systems with SFLA’s global priorities, ensuring synergy across all strategic pillars.
• Represent SFLU at senior levels with donors, partners, and government, positioning SFLU as a credible, values-based development partner.
• Foster a learning and performance-driven culture across the organisation.
• Identify and pursue new strategic opportunities, partnerships, and funding channels to sustain growth.

2. Program & Impact Leadership

• Oversee delivery of high-quality education and community development programs that are evidence-based and scalable.
• Champion the constant improvement of these programs, working closely with the department heads. This includes identification of potential partnerships to ensure this is executed innovatively and efficiently.
• Ensure robust program planning, implementation, and monitoring systems are in place and effectively managed.
• Partner with the MEL & Research team to track results, evaluate impact, derive data-driven insights and respond by embedding learning across programs.
• Ensure compliance with donor, legal, and organisational requirements in all program operations.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement to enhance program relevance and efficiency.

3. Organisational Leadership & People Management

• Build, develop, and inspire a strong, accountable, and high-performing leadership team.
• Provide strategic direction and mentorship to the department heads and other leaders within the organisation.
• Model a leadership culture of integrity, teamwork, and inclusivity.
• Work closely with the Head of Human Resources to implement effective talent management, performance review, and leadership development frameworks.
• Champion staff engagement, wellbeing, and succession planning.
• Development of and responsibility for the execution of the organisation’s annual objectives and key results, aligned with the broader organisation’s strategy.
• Drive the organisation’s operating rhythm, ensuring all teams are aligned and working efficiently and effectively.

4. Governance, Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure organisational compliance with national regulations, internal policies, and SFLA governance standards.
• Maintain transparent and accountable reporting to the SFLU Board, SFLA management, and donors.
• Oversee effective risk management, internal controls, and audit readiness in collaboration with the broader leadership team and Finance team.
• Promote ethical conduct, good governance, and stewardship of resources across all operations.
• Ultimate responsibility for all Board and Committee reporting, managing the Company Secretary and ensuring papers are drafted and shared with Committee/ Board members ahead of meetings.

5. Financial & Operational Stewardship

• Provide strategic oversight of financial planning, resource mobilization, and budget management.
• Ensure financial sustainability through diversification of funding streams and prudent financial management.
• Collaborate with the Finance team to maintain compliance, cost control, and donor reporting standards.
• Identify efficiencies and innovations that enhance value-for-money and operational impact.
• Collaborate with the Finance team to develop the annual organisational budget.

6. External Relations, Partnerships & Advocacy

• Cultivate and strengthen strategic relationships with donors, government institutions, and community partners.
• Represent SFL in key forums, networks, and advocacy platforms within Uganda and internationally.
• Enhance SFL’s visibility and reputation through thought leadership and evidence-based advocacy.
• Maintain effective collaboration and communication with SFLA, ensuring alignment of strategy, messaging, and impact reporting.

Key Attributes

• Visionary, strategic, and values-driven leader with strong moral and professional integrity.
• Excellent communicator with high emotional intelligence and ability to inspire teams and stakeholders.
• Strong commercial acumen, analytical and decision-making skills with a bias for action and accountability.
• Adaptive, innovative, and solutions-oriented in dynamic contexts.
• Passion for education, community empowerment, and social transformation.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of 8–10 years of senior management experience, including leadership of multidisciplinary teams in complex development or education settings.
• Proven experience in strategic planning, organisational management, and external relations.
• Strong understanding of the Ugandan and East African context, including governance, culture, and development dynamics.
• Demonstrated experience managing donor-funded programs and ensuring compliance with international standards.
• Exceptional leadership, people management, and financial acumen.
• Advanced degree in Education, Development Studies, Business Administration, or related field.

Why Join Us

At School for Life, you’ll lead an organisation at the forefront of education-led transformation. You will have the unique opportunity to shape strategy, strengthen systems, and empower passionate teams whose work changes lives daily. Join us to build the community that educates poverty out of existence.

• Co-design the development of and lead the implementation of SFL Uganda’s 5-Year Strategy and annual operational plans.
• Drive the alignment of programs and systems with SFLA’s global priorities, ensuring synergy across all strategic pillars.
• Represent SFLU at senior levels with donors, partners, and government, positioning SFLU as a credible, values-based development partner.
• Foster a learning and performance-driven culture across the organisation.
• Identify and pursue new strategic opportunities, partnerships, and funding channels to sustain growth.
• Oversee delivery of high-quality education and community development programs that are evidence-based and scalable.
• Champion the constant improvement of these programs, working closely with the department heads. This includes identification of potential partnerships to ensure this is executed innovatively and efficiently.
• Ensure robust program planning, implementation, and monitoring systems are in place and effectively managed.
• Partner with the MEL & Research team to track results, evaluate impact, derive data-driven insights and respond by embedding learning across programs.
• Ensure compliance with donor, legal, and organisational requirements in all program operations.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement to enhance program relevance and efficiency.
• Build, develop, and inspire a strong, accountable, and high-performing leadership team.
• Provide strategic direction and mentorship to the department heads and other leaders within the organisation.
• Model a leadership culture of integrity, teamwork, and inclusivity.
• Work closely with the Head of Human Resources to implement effective talent management, performance review, and leadership development frameworks.
• Champion staff engagement, wellbeing, and succession planning.
• Development of and responsibility for the execution of the organisation’s annual objectives and key results, aligned with the broader organisation’s strategy.
• Drive the organisation’s operating rhythm, ensuring all teams are aligned and working efficiently and effectively.
• Ensure organisational compliance with national regulations, internal policies, and SFLA governance standards.
• Maintain transparent and accountable reporting to the SFLU Board, SFLA management, and donors.
• Oversee effective risk management, internal controls, and audit readiness in collaboration with the broader leadership team and Finance team.
• Promote ethical conduct, good governance, and stewardship of resources across all operations.
• Ultimate responsibility for all Board and Committee reporting, managing the Company Secretary and ensuring papers are drafted and shared with Committee/ Board members ahead of meetings.
• Provide strategic oversight of financial planning, resource mobilization, and budget management.
• Ensure financial sustainability through diversification of funding streams and prudent financial management.
• Collaborate with the Finance team to maintain compliance, cost control, and donor reporting standards.
• Identify efficiencies and innovations that enhance value-for-money and operational impact.
• Collaborate with the Finance team to develop the annual organisational budget.
• Cultivate and strengthen strategic relationships with donors, government institutions, and community partners.
• Represent SFL in key forums, networks, and advocacy platforms within Uganda and internationally.
• Enhance SFL’s visibility and reputation through thought leadership and evidence-based advocacy.
• Maintain effective collaboration and communication with SFLA, ensuring alignment of strategy, messaging, and impact reporting.

• Strategic leadership
• Commercial acumen
• Operational excellence
• Communication
• Emotional intelligence
• Analytical skills
• Decision-making skills
• Adaptability
• Innovation
• Problem-solving
• People management
• Financial acumen

• Minimum of 8–10 years of senior management experience, including leadership of multidisciplinary teams in complex development or education settings.
• Proven experience in strategic planning, organisational management, and external relations.
• Strong understanding of the Ugandan and East African context, including governance, culture, and development dynamics.
• Demonstrated experience managing donor-funded programs and ensuring compliance with international standards.
• Exceptional leadership, people management, and financial acumen.
• Advanced degree in Education, Development Studies, Business Administration, or related field.