Website Shining Hope For Communities
Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) is a non-profit organization based in Nairobi, Kenya and New York, NY that combats urban poverty and gender inequity in the slums of Nairobi. Kennedy Odede, who grew up in the Kibera slum, founded SHOFCO in 2004 with a focus on youth and gender empowerment. SHOF… read moreCO has four initiative areas: education, health, economic and community empowerment, and water and sanitation. The organization is currently active in the Kibera and Mathare slums of Nairobi.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Leadership
Lead all budgeting, forecasting, and short/medium/long-term financial planning.
Establish and maintain strong financial controls and reporting systems including quarterly reports to the Board of Trustees.
Prepare for, attend and inform all Board and Board Committee meetings as the lead representative of the Senior Leadership Team.
Manage cash flow, cost structures, and financial sustainability
Provide clear, timely financial insights to support leadership decisions
Ensure financial discipline across all functions
Identify and manage risks to the schoolʼs financial sustainability.
Operations & School Infrastructure
Ensure the school is fully registered with the Ministry of Education and meets all necessary requirements
Oversee all day-to-day school operations, including facilities, transport, security, extra curricular vendors, and campus services – this includes from establishment to ongoing maintenance
Ensure the school environment is safe, functional, and consistently high-quality
Anticipate and resolve operational issues proactively
Support infrastructure planning as the school grows
Procurement & Vendor Management
Design and implement procurement systems and policies in tandem with the existing SHOFCO team
Identify, negotiate, and manage suppliers and service providers
Ensure strong cost control, transparency, and value for money
Oversee asset and inventory management
Human Resources (Non-Academic)
Recruit, manage, and develop administrative and support staff including performance expectations
Oversee contracts, payroll, and HR compliance, in tandem with existing SHOFCO team
Build a culture of accountability and professionalism across support functions
Compliance, Risk & Governance
Ensure full compliance with Kenyan regulatory requirements and school standards
Lead health, safety, and risk management systems
Manage audits, insurance, and statutory obligations
Maintain strong governance and reporting practices
Systems Building & Institutional Development
Design and implement core systems across finance, HR, procurement, and operations, in partnership with existing SHOFCO team
Develop policies, processes, and tools required for a high-functioning school
Build structures that will scale as the school grows
Translate leadership priorities into operational execution
Team Leadership
Directly manage a small but growing operations team (2–5 associates initially)
Build team capacity and structure as the school expands
Ensure strong performance, accountability, and clarity across all roles
Candidate Profile
Required Experience
5–10+ years in operations, finance, or general management roles
Prior experience in a top private or international school in Kenya is required
Prior experience in launching a new school is strongly preferred
Demonstrated experience building systems, processes, and teams—not just managing them
Experience operating in complex, multi-function environments (finance, HR, operations, procurement)
Strong familiarity with Kenyan regulatory, vendor, and operational contexts
Core Capabilities
Strong financial management and analytical capability (non-negotiable)
Ability to build systems from the ground up and make them work in practice
Decisive operator who can prioritize and execute in a fast-moving environment
Strong procurement and commercial judgment
Ability to manage people and hold teams accountable
High attention to detail without losing sight of the bigger picture
Profile We Are Targeting
We are looking for someone who:
Has operated at a senior level within a high-performing school in Kenya
Has been involved in the launching of / early stages of a new school in Kenya
Is comfortable owning outcomes end-to-end, not just coordinating tasks
Can make decisions quickly and confidently with incomplete information
Thrives in a startup environment where structure is being built, not inherited
Brings both financial discipline and operational rigor
What Will Not Succeed in this Role
Candidates whose experience is primarily administrative or coordination-focused
Individuals who rely on established systems but have not built them
Individuals who have not navigated government registration processes
Those who require highly structured environments to operate effectively
Slow or overly cautious decision-makers
Personal Attributes
High ownership and accountability
Exceptionally organized and structured in thinking
Calm, decisive, and solutions-oriented under pressure
High integrity and professionalism
Resourceful, pragmatic, and results-driven
What Success Looks Like
The school opens and operates smoothly from day one
Financial systems are robust, transparent, and forward-looking
Operational issues are anticipated and resolved quickly
Staff are well-managed and accountable
Systems are in place to support growth without constant reinvention
To apply, please email your CV and cover letter including responses to the below questions to recruitment@sankoreinternational.com The subject of your email should be: Your name, Business Manager Application.Deadline for application: Thursday 30th April 2026.
Apply Through:
recruitment@sankoreinternational.com
To apply for this job please visit sankoreinternational.com.