Due Date: August 7, 2026
3 year contract, to be extended based on performance and availability of funds

Background/Job Purpose

The Director, Business Services and Operations is a strategic partner to the Executive Secretary and a member of the senior management team, responsible for leadership and oversight of the Foundation’s core operational and fiduciary functions. The role directly supervises five key service units: Finance, Procurement, Information Technology (IT), People and Culture, and Corporate Services.
 
The Director ensures these functions operate as a cohesive, client-oriented platform that enables effective delivery of ACBF’s programs and impact agenda. The role serves as a central coordination point across the organization, working closely with Programs & Impact, Legal, and other units, as well as external stakeholders.
 
The incumbent ensures that operational systems, financial stewardship, and people management practices support efficient grant management, high-quality reporting, and full compliance with donor, legal, and regulatory requirements. The role also leads engagement with internal and external auditors, ensuring robust internal controls, risk management, and compliance frameworks across the organization. This position will be based in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership and Integrated Service Delivery

  • Provide strategic direction and leadership to five core units: Finance, Procurement, IT, People & Culture, and Corporate Services, ensuring alignment with ACBF’s strategy and priorities.
  • Maintain an integrated business services model that promotes collaboration, efficiency, and service quality.
  • Ensure seamless operational support to program teams across the project lifecycle, including planning, implementation, and reporting.

2. Cross-Functional Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement

  • Serve as a central coordination point between Business Services and:
    • Programs & Impact teams for grant management, budgeting, and donor reporting;
    • Legal function for contractual matters relating to procurement of good and services and staff employment;
    • Senior management and the Executive Board on financial, operational, and risk matters.
  • Ensure that financial, procurement, contractual, business services and HR processes are compliant, efficient and aligned with legal and policy requirements.
  • Build and maintain effective relationships with donors, partners, service providers, and financial institutions, ensuring operational credibility and responsiveness.

3. Financial Stewardship, Risk, and Compliance

  • Provide overall leadership for financial management, fiduciary oversight, and risk management, ensuring robust internal controls and regulatory compliance.
  • Oversee coordination with internal and external auditors, ensuring timely audits, effective implementation of audit recommendations, and continuous strengthening of control systems.
  • Ensure that risk and compliance frameworks are embedded across all supervised units, not only Finance, fostering a culture of accountability and transparency.
  • Lead organizational compliance with donor requirements, statutory obligations, and internal policies across procurement, HR, IT, and administration.

4. Operational Excellence and Service Efficiency

  • Ensure efficient delivery of core services, including :
    • Procurement and contract management;
    • IT systems reliability and security;
    • Human Resources management and staff lifecycle support;
    • Administrative and logistical support.
  • Promote a service-oriented culture across all business service units, ensuring responsiveness to internal and external stakeholders.
  • Strengthen systems, processes, and digital solutions to enhance operational performance and data-driven decision-making. 

5. Team Leadership and Organizational Capability

  • Lead and manage a multi-disciplinary team across five functional areas, fostering collaboration, accountability, and high performance.
  • Ensure clear role definition and coordination across units to avoid silos and duplication.
  • Build capacity within teams and across partner organizations, particularly in financial, procurement, and operational management systems.
  • Drive performance management, continuous learning, and professional development across all supervised functions.

Qualification and Experience

  • Advanced degree in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, or related field (professional accounting qualification preferred).
  • Minimum of 12–15 years of relevant experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
  • Strong experience in financial management, donor-funded programs, and fiduciary oversight.
  • Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams (IT, People and Culture, Procurement and corporate services) and manage complex operations.
  • Experience working with international organizations or development institutions is an advantage.
  • Bilingual (English*/French) is an advantage.

Core Competencies:

  • Strategic thinking and leadership
  • Financial and business acumen
  • Risk management and governance expertise
  • Stakeholder engagement and partnership building
  • Operational excellence and results delivery
  • Strong communication and influencing skills

Personal Characteristics

  • An intellectually curious but humble leader with a high degree of compassion, able to engage, enable and inspire.
  • A hands-on approach to all activities with real passion and high levels of energy. Agile and comfortable adapting to different environments.
  • Creative and resourceful in overcoming barriers and unexpected roadblocks. Courageous in spirit, driving change through innovation.
  • An authentic leader who intuitively engenders an inclusive environment, enabling program to reach its ambitious goals.
  • Possesses high personal standards of ethics and integrity towards employees, stakeholders, and beneficiaries.
  • Servant leadership mentality, deeply committed to serving and listening to others. Natural ability to build strong relationships and enable collaboration through empathy and authenticity.

Duration and Compensation

  • The contract is for a period of three years, to be extended based on performance and availability of funds.
  • The African Capacity Building Foundation offers competitive compensation commensurate with experience.

About the African Capacity Building Foundation

The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) is the African Union’s specialized agency for capacity development. Since 1991, ACBF has empowered over 100,000 professionals across the public and private sectors, civil society, and academia, while building institutions in more than 40 member states. Through strategic partnerships and impactful programs, the Foundation builds human and institutional capacity and generates and disseminates knowledge to advance Africa’s sustainable development in line with Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

ACBF’s current strategic plan focuses on key impact areas such as Climate Change and Energy for productive use, Agribusiness and Food Sovereignty, Trade as an engine for economic development, and Economic and Social Governance. The Foundation is headquartered in Harare, with regional offices in Accra and Nairobi and a Liaison Office at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa.

To apply for this position please submit in confidence a resume and a cover letter that details why you are a good fit for this position to with the subject Director Business Services and Operations on or before 7 August 2026.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The African Capacity Building Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.