Business Manager at 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. SHOFCO has four initiative areas: education, health, economic an...

 

Business Manager

  • Job TypeFull Time
  • QualificationBA/BSc/HND
  • Experience5 - 10 years
  • LocationNairobi
  • Job FieldProject Management 

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

Check how your CV aligns with this job

Method of Application

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.

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