Executive Director

Operation Smile South Africa is a foundation of Operation Smile, Inc. (OSI). The Executive Director (ED) is the legal representative and decision-maker of Operation Smile South Africa, along with the Board of Directors. The ED, reporting to the Board, is responsible for inspiring overall multi-year business strategy, including setting goals, outcomes and deliverables and mitigating risk related to operations, human resource management, programs, strategic initiatives, fundraising and communications. Of particular importance is the ED’s role in ensuring that the foundation becomes and remains financially solvent in its programmatic and fundraising activities, as determined by revenue and expense, budget planning and management. More importantly, it will be the ED’s role to guide this business strategy into implementation by supporting the development of programs that allow goals to be achieved and attract interest from funders. It is the responsibility of the ED to lead, encourage, guide, and manage the staff to achieve those goals.
Operation Smile seeks to appoint a Executive Director to be based in Western Cape.
Essential Responsibilities:
Strategic Planning & Program Development:
Vision & Strategy:

Collaborate with Board, Regional Director and other OSI stakeholders to design the foundation’s strategic goals in alignment with Operation Smile’s theory of change.
Collaborate with the Regional Senior Vice President and Vice President of Global Programs and Operations to ensure goals of the Operation Smile South Africa multi-year business strategy align with overarching goals for the region of sub-Saharan Africa.
Facilitate the development of a coherent vision for the role of Operation Smile South Africa nationally and regionally.
Maintain an understanding of the strategy and priorities of the National Department of Health to facilitate collaboration and partnership opportunities.
Maintain an understanding of the academic cleft care centres, global surgery centres, and other cleft surgical non-profit organisations in the country to ensure coordinated efforts.
Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in global health or global surgery, and any relevant national matters. Ensure all staff have a working knowledge of these topics. Provide training or opportunities to enhance that understanding as needed.

Advocacy & Policy Work:

Elevate the strategic goals of the foundation, and collaborate with the National Department of Health, NGOs, and other partners for achievement of mutual priorities.
Advocate on behalf of the organization and children and families who lack access to essential surgery at policy forums, conferences, community events, fundraisers, and other special events.
Advocate for Operation Smile South Africa’s role in the provision of cleft care within the country.

Program Delivery:

Encourage visionary and innovative approaches to program design that align with the goals outlined in the business strategy and the overarching goals for the sub-Saharan African region.
In collaboration with foundation and OSI regional programs staff develop and present annual program plans and budgets.
Ensure that programs are delivered according to the values and principles of the founders of the organization and according to the priorities identified in Operation Smile’s global vision.
Oversee the program team in planning, implementing and evaluating programs and services (including but not limited to missions, center activities, education programs, strategic initiatives, patient management, volunteer engagement), in accordance with the Global Standards of Care, budgets and other guidelines.
Ensure timely programmatic and medical reporting to OSI as requested and on a regular basis.
Synthesize reports and other program feedback to inform future strategic design and program planning.

Stakeholder Engagement:
Partnership Management:

Cultivate relationships with appropriate government, non-government and international agencies, university and academic partners, medical and research councils contributing to stronger collaboration and the successful achievement of the foundation’s goals.
Establish good working relationships with community groups, volunteers, funders and other stakeholders.

Board Engagement:

Advise the Board in decisions on policies, program strategy, operations, and personnel and financial matters by preparing effective and efficient reports and materials.
Escalate pertinent issues in a timely manner, including but not limited to, personnel issues, significant financial variance or accounting challenges, increased exposure to risk, medical incidents or legal matters.
Develop, engage and manage a balanced and effective Board, leveraging the individual and collective capacity of the Board to meet the needs of the organization.

Volunteer Management:

Work with the Programs staff and OSI Volunteer Operations department to create and implement a volunteer management strategy that recruits necessary positions, communicates with volunteers regularly, evaluates performance, provides feedback, and recognizes volunteer contributions.
Facilitate discussions with the OSI Volunteer Management, and Education and Training department where volunteers will be utilized in the capacity of educators or mentors.
Respond to and resolve volunteer issues, needs, or concerns as needed, keeping in mind the values of the organization and the spirit of volunteerism.

Development:
Fundraising:

Work with fundraising team to develop and execute annual fundraising plan, targets, timeline and pipeline to maintain a diverse funding profile that consistently supports the annual budget and aligns with the organization’s strategy and corresponding activity plans.
Design a thoughtful strategy for donor and partner engagement.
Support the identification and development of new opportunities for grants, fundraising events, or partnerships with donors, businesses, and other organizations.
Identify new projects and initiatives, aligned with the organization’s vision and strategy, and propose for consideration to OSI and the Board. Develop new, creative and innovative ways to raise funds and compete for market share within the development constraints of the local area.

Ensure the growth and maintenance of lasting relationships with key partners, such as major donors, corporate sponsors, and other alliances.
Capitalize on the organization’s vision to promote corporate partnerships, raise awareness and increase brand recognition throughout the country and region.

Communications:

Oversee the creation of a communications plan (inclusive of Public Relations, social media and website) to promote and sustain a positive image and clear vision and mission for the office. This plan aligns with the organization’s strategy and corresponding activity plans.
Ensure maintenance of the website, social media and other aspects of brand awareness through collaboration with OSI’s Brand and Content teams.
Communicate the global vision and program strategy to all office staff. Ensure staff, as representatives of the organization, can communicate these topics to other stakeholders, and contribute to the implementation and achievement of the respective goals.
Embody the organization’s values and guiding principles in interviews with the media and other public entities, incorporating talking points that increase brand awareness.

Business Operations:
Office Administration:

Institute key processes and structures (e.g. HR systems, operations and administrative manual, financial processes, legal processes) that contribute to an efficient and effective organization which upholds good governance and ethical practices.
Provide timely updates regarding programs, medical, legal, financial, human resources, fundraising and communications matters to the Regional Director, Regional Senior Vice President of Africa, and/or other relevant OSI staff.

Financial Management:

Ensure the foundation becomes and remains financially solvent. Steward the office’s finances effectively, working with the foundation staff and Board as needed.
Write and manage programmatic, operating and fundraising budgets for the office (expense and revenue).
Oversee or complete the preparation of all reports for annual audits and donors. This includes reporting to OSI, as well as reports in accordance with statutory requirements of the government.

Legal & Governance:

Oversee and maintain foundation’s legal registration, and ensure that the foundation complies with all national laws, regulations, etc.
Oversee and maintain all MOUs and official agreements, such as with the National Department of Health, regional health offices, university partners, hospital partners, NOG partners, etc.
Develop and implement risk management strategies.

Human Resources & Personnel Management:

Oversee all aspects of human resources strategy and management, ensuring adequate and qualified staff are available to carry out the mission of the organization, and that they have the requisite resources to deliver organizational goals.
Ensure that sound, transparent and fair human resource policies and practices are documented, approved by the Board, aligned with OSI, and communicated effectively to employees.
Encourage staff development and maintain a climate which attracts and motivates top quality personnel.
Regularly assess internal capacity to implement business strategy and draft job descriptions for new members of staff.
Conduct performance evaluations with members of staff to ensure deliverables are met and feedback on performance is regularly provided, and positive staff morale is supported.

Experience required (education/work):

Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant bus