Emerging Public Leaders partners with governments and local organizations to rigorously identify public service professionals who are committed to practicing and promoting good governance throughout Africa. With EPL’s support throughout their career journeys, this diverse network of leaders influence and strengthen their country’s institutions for delivering democracy with excellence, care, innovation, and integrity. 

Inspired by a program created during the administration of former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, today EPL supports in-country fellowship programs that recruit Africa’s most promising future leaders and place them into meaningful civil service positions. Over a period of two years, fellows are provided with the supervisory support, rigorous training and mentorship they need to launch and build a successful career in public service. With a footprint in Liberia, Ghana and Kenya, our short-term vision is to expand our Public Service Fellowship Program and create a pan-African network of fellows and partner programs across the continent. By supporting a merit-based pathway for competent and ethical talent to work in government, EPL is helping to improve civil service performance and promote prosperity and equity in Africa.

Position Description: Executive Director

• Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED) will have overall strategic responsibility for Emerging Public Leaders’ staff, programs, expansion, and execution of its mission. The Executive Director will initially develop deep knowledge of the field, core programs, operations, and business plans
• The ED will directly supervise the Director of Sustainability and Communications, the Director of Finance and Operations, the Director of Programs and Learning, and the Princeton in Africa Fellow, and indirectly supervise staff that report to these positions
• The ED will also bear responsibility for strategic coordination among EPL’s partner programs in Kenya, Liberia, and Ghana, as well as additional partner programs that EPL may establish in Africa

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 
Strategic Execution

• Ensure effective systems to track scaling progress and regularly evaluate program components to measure successes that can be effectively communicated to the board, funders, and other constituents
• Travel to program areas and events to support local partners, engage new partners and funders, and otherwise support EPL’s mission
• Design and complete the strategic business planning process for the program expansion into new markets
• Ensure ongoing global and local programmatic excellence, rigorous program evaluation, and consistent quality of finance and administration, fundraising, communications, and systems; recommend timelines and resources needed to achieve the strategic goals

Resource Mobilization and External Partnership

• Strengthen relationships with existing funders and identify, establish, and cultivate relationships with new funders in furtherance of support towards EPL’s mission
• Develop and implement a fundraising strategy to increase funding for EPL and position EPL as a premier partner in public service development across Africa
• Build and sustain partnerships with government, nongovernment, and private entities in order to expand EPL’s efforts into new countries, as well as to deepen EPL’s work in countries with existing partnerships

 Outreach and External Communications

• Communicate organization goals and operational plans to all levels of the organization and to key stakeholders
• Be an external local and global presence that publishes and communicates program results with an emphasis on the successes of the local programs as a model for regional replication
• Regularly and rigorously measure and communicate impact
• Advocate for and/or partner with peer organizations to amplify EPL's message of investing in good government and institutions of governance

Governance

• Maintain and support a strong Board of Directors; serve as an ex-officio member of each Board committee; coordinate with the Board to develop strategic direction for EPL’s efforts in existing and future partner countries  
• Lead, coach, develop, and retain EPL’s high-performance senior management team 

Key Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g. International Relations, Public Policy, Public Administration, Economics, Political Science, African Studies); Master’s degree preferred
• At least 10 years of experience in managerial positions in a related field, with increasing levels of responsibility, preferably in Africa or on Africa-related issues
• Proven track record of successfully fundraising from a wide array of donors on behalf of large nonprofits or other organizations
• Passionate about and proven commitment to EPL’s mission  
• Experience working with international nonprofit organizations and/or government institutions, particularly in Africa
• Track record of effectively leading and scaling an outcomes-based organization; ability to point to specific examples of having developed and operationalized strategies that have taken an organization to the next stage of growth.
• Proven ability to develop, manage, and improve systems and processes 
• Ability to manage multiple work tasks, maintain attention to detail and accuracy, and meet the pressure of deadlines 
• Unwavering commitment to quality programs and data-driven program evaluation
• Excellence in organizational management with the ability to coach staff, manage, and develop high-performance teams, set and achieve strategic objectives, and manage a budget
• Past success working with a Board of Directors with the ability to cultivate Board relationships
• Strong marketing, public relations, and fundraising experience with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills
• Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to business planning
• Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people
• Passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Suite (Drive, Gmail, Sheets)

• Globally competitive salary
• Health insurance
• Paid leave
• Retirement contribution
• Professional growth opportunities

Emerging Public Leaders is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability, credit information, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, sexual offense or stalking, or homeless status.

Emerging Public Leaders (EPL) is driving Africa’s development by creating a new generation of public servants committed to social impact. EPL exists to accelerate good governance and equitable prosperity in Africa. EPL believe that Africa’s development and economic growth can be accelerated by building effective civil service departments from the bottom up. 

Through the Public Service Fellowship, we support in-country programs that recruit Africa’s most promising future leaders and place them into meaningful civil service positions.  Over a period of two years, fellows are provided with the supervisory support, rigorous training and mentorship they need to launch and build a successful career in public service.

With a footprint in Liberia, Ghana and Kenya, our short-term vision is to expand our Public Service Fellowship Program and create a pan-African network of 500+ fellows by 2027. By supporting a merit-based pathway for competent and ethical talent to work in government, EPL is helping to improve civil service performance in Africa.

Today's fellows. Tomorrow's leaders.

EPL Fellowships provide an array of benefits for aspiring public leaders.

• Employment – Fellows are guaranteed two years of salaried employment during the fellowship and support for ongoing career growth and development to ensure successful careers in civil service.
• Purpose – Fellows are placed in meaningful positions in enabling workplaces, and are encouraged to make contributions to the overall development of their country
• Prestige – Fellows become a part of Africa’s only competitive and reputable civil service program for youth leadership in government.
• Access to resources – Fellows have access to a myriad of resources including monthly professional development training sessions, supervision and mentoring, and networking opportunities to navigate the challenges of civil service
• Community – Access to EPL’s regional network of mentors, alumni, and supporters