Executive Director

Job description

Job Purpose The Executive Director (ED) is responsible for the overall leadership, strategy execution, stakeholder engagement and organization stewardship. The ED ensures the effective execution of the organization’s mission, strategy, and values while maintaining strong relationships with donors, partners, government, and other stakeholders. Core Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Organizational Direction Provide visionary leadership and translate the organization’s mission and strategic plan into measurable outcomes. Lead the execution of board-approved strategies, ensuring alignment across programmes, operations, and partnerships. Continuously assess external trends (policy, donor priorities, development landscape) and reposition the organization accordingly. Drive organizational values, ethics, and culture across all levels of the organization Stakeholder Engagement, External Representation and Board Engagement Develop and maintain high-level relationships with private sector actors, donors, development partners, agencies of agencies, and civil society. Act as the principal representative and spokesperson of the organization Drive strategic advocacy and positioning efforts to enhance the organization’s visibility, credibility, and influence Represent the organization at national, regional, and international forums. Serve as the primary liaison between management and the Board of Directors Support the Board in governance, compliance, and strategic oversight responsibilities. Organizational Accountability, Leadership and Performance Ensure strong systems for accountability, risk management, compliance, and internal controls. Oversee organizational performance across programmes, finance, operations, and people. Ensure safeguarding, ethics, and compliance standards are upheld at all times. Promote leadership development, succession planning, and talent retention. Promote a results-driven culture focused on learning, impact, and continuous improvement. Foster an inclusive, high-performance, and mission-driven organizational culture. Provide leadership for fundraising, donor engagement, and partnership development. Drive proposal development and donor negotiations for major funding opportunities. First degree in Business Administration, Public Policy, Management, International Relations, or related field. MBA would be an added advantage 10+ years of senior leadership experience in non-profit organization, development organizations, or related sectors. Proven experience engaging donors, boards, and high-level stakeholders. Strong strategic, financial, and people leadership capabilities. Experience with Strategic planning initiatives, and implementation scenarios Strong networking skills with a commitment to building community relationships Proven track record of fundraising and partnership development Excellent organization, project management, and time-management skills, with attention to detail and follow-through. Demonstrated leadership skills in inspiring, empowering, motivating, and developing current and future staff to achieve strategic organizational goals Excellent written and oral communication skills, and a track record of successful public speaking and community engagement Must demonstrate a high level of intelligence and intellectual curiosity and a desire to explore new ideas and innovative approaches to solving problems. Interested candidates should attach a cover letter, along with their CV when applying for the role. Applications Close: February 12, 2026 United Way Greater Nigeria (UWGN), an affiliate of United Way Worldwide (UWW) is a nonprofit organization that strives to improve the health, education, and financial security of everyone in every community. United Way Worldwide is one of the largest charities in the world, with 1,800 local affiliates in over 40 countries and territories raising $5.2 billion annually. United Way Worldwide provides services to a network of member United Ways, donors and partner organizations around the world. At the global, national and local level, it has long-standing partnerships with Fortune 500 corporations, non-profit and voluntary sector leaders and mayors, governors and other elected officials. To effectively deliver on its local strategic plan, United Way Nigeria is seeking to fill the critical role of Executive Director.