Director of Program Operations
About Girls Education Collaborative
Millions of girls around the world are out of school, simply because they are girls. Girls Education Collaborative (GEC) works to support local changemakers in those locales, using the power of girls' education to drive social change.
Since its founding in 2012, GEC has been an ally to change agents in Tanzania whose vision is to lift women out of poverty and away from destructive gender-based cultural traditions, through the power of girls education. GEC has been a funder, advisor, co-developer, project manager, and friend in helping local leaders achieve their vision - what we call allyship.
The Kitenga Girls Secondary School in Northern Tanzania stands as the cornerstone of GECs commitment to affecting change through allyship. Over the last 12 years, GEC has played a vital role co-designing programs and infrastructure developments with The Immaculate Heart Sisters of Africa (IHSA,) supporting their vision in building the Kitenga Girls Secondary School (KGSS) and transforming the lives of girls.
By providing partnership, technical assistance, and securing over $2 million in financial support, GEC supports the IHSA vision to create a safe and high-quality educational environment for girls in an underserved region and ensure girls receive the education they deserve. Now in its eighth year, KGSS offers residential education to 230 students, with plans for enrollment to reach 350 as the school continues to expand. Our longstanding relationship and success of the school is proof that the model works.
GEC helps girls transform their own lives through education and believes in the values of:
Based on the success of the GEC partnership model with the IHSA, GEC scaled in 2021 to create the Ally Funder Alliance. The Ally Funder Alliance is a philanthropic model to accelerate the pace and volume of philanthropic funding and allyship directed towards authentic community-born development. Created and managed by GEC, the Ally Funder Alliance (AFA) brings together a deliberately small group of like-minded funders to provide unrestricted funding and other assistance to early-stage, promising, and locally-driven girl-centered organizations. Read more about the Ally Funder Alliance here.
Learn more about GEC at https://gec.ngo/about-us/.
The Opportunity
The Director of Programs Operations (DPO) will play a pivotal leadership role in driving the strategic direction and execution of GEC's initiatives and relationships in East Africa. This successful candidate must be a resourceful, solutions-driven individual who can oversee, manage, and implement programs while working directly with partners in Tanzania. This is a role for a strategic thinker and creative problem solver, who will be proactive while understanding local challenges. The successful candidate will partner closely with the KGSS Head of School to support sustainable and impactful programs.
The DPO will bring a strong strategic mindset and a relationship-driven approach, with a deep commitment to advancing global gender equality through education. A deep understanding of international development, particularly within East and West Africa, and recognition of the cultural nuances specific to these regions are essential. The DPO will also be a passionate advocate for gender equity and poverty alleviation, leveraging their experience to drive meaningful outcomes.
GEC's approach contrasts with traditional philanthropic models that often rely on short-term funding cycles and external control which can lack the long-term impact that community-driven solutions provide. By fostering this sense of shared responsibility and collective ownership, GEC supports and partners with the local community so that they are at the forefront of their development journey as they best understand their challenges
This is an exciting opportunity to lead and expand GEC's transformative work in some of the world's most challenging environments and to make a lasting difference in the lives of girls and their communities.
Candidate Profile
Strong candidates will offer the following:
We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will display the following professional skills, experience, and characteristics:
Program Expertise
Relationship Builder & Cultural Understanding
Program Operations and Project Management
Strategy and Execution
Compensation
The salary range for this position is $75,000 to $90,000. GEC offers a health insurance co-payment.
Contact
Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Alicia Salerno and Amanda Lauder. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.
Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
GEC is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.
About Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group
Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation's premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of "America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms" and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.
Learn more about Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group via the firm's website.
To apply, visit: https://talent-profile.diversifiedsearchgroup.com/search/v2/21408
jeid-47e3b392a0a44e439ecd33fb9f53870d
Director of Program Operations
About Girls Education Collaborative
Millions of girls around the world are out of school, simply because they are girls. Girls Education Collaborative (GEC) works to support local changemakers in those locales, using the power of girls' education to drive social change.
Since its founding in 2012, GEC has been an ally to change agents in Tanzania whose vision is to lift women out of poverty and away from destructive gender-based cultural traditions, through the power of girls education. GEC has been a funder, advisor, co-developer, project manager, and friend in helping local leaders achieve their vision - what we call allyship.
The Kitenga Girls Secondary School in Northern Tanzania stands as the cornerstone of GECs commitment to affecting change through allyship. Over the last 12 years, GEC has played a vital role co-designing programs and infrastructure developments with The Immaculate Heart Sisters of Africa (IHSA…