Primary Responsibilities and Key Capabilities

The CEO’s responsibilities are organized around six core leadership capabilities:

Strategic Thinking & Transformation

• Lead iDE in refining and executing our impact strategy
• Anticipate external trends and challenges in international development, social enterprise, and impact investment; position iDE to adapt and thrive.
• Ensure alignment of global programs, social enterprises, and innovation initiatives with strategic goals.
• Lead the design and implementation of strategies that merge human-centered design with transformative thinking to create sustainable programmatic impact.

Stakeholder Engagement & Fund Development

• Serve as iDE’s chief ambassador with donors, investors, governments, and partners.
• Strengthen and diversify iDE’s funding base, with an emphasis on cultivating major individual and corporate donors, bilateral and multilateral partners, foundations & institutions, and private-sector collaborations.
• Champion the impact of iDE’s work through storytelling, thought leadership, and public speaking at high-profile events.

Change Leadership & Organizational Resilience

• Lead iDE through ongoing transformation, including financial challenges, staffing shifts, and structural changes.
• Balance iDE’s entrepreneurial spirit with sound governance, risk management, and compliance practices.
• Foster agility, innovation, and collaboration across global teams.

Financial Acumen & Resource Stewardship

• Ensure the organization’s financial sustainability and transparency.
• Oversee global budgeting, risk management, and alignment of resources to strategy.
• Partner with the Board Finance Committee and VP of Finance to maintain strong fiscal health, including navigating donor requirements and currency complexities.

People & Culture Leadership

• Inspire and motivate a global workforce of over 1,000 employees and social enterprise staff.
• Champion diversity, inclusion, and belonging across all offices.
• Partner with the Headquarters Executive Team and Country Directors to build leadership succession planning across the organization, nurture talent, and ensure staff engagement and trust during a period of change.
• Uphold iDE’s culture of humility, empathy, and entrepreneurial drive.

Governance & Board Partnership

• Partner closely with the Board of Directors, ensuring transparency, accountability, and alignment on mission and strategy.
• Provide regular updates on organizational performance, risks, and opportunities.
• Engage the Board as strategic thought partners while ensuring management retains operational accountability.

Supervisory Responsibilities

The CEO directly supervises members of the Headquarters Executive Team, including but not limited to:

• Vice President of Administration (HR, IT, Compliance, Executive Office)
• Vice President of Fund Development & Business Development
• Vice President of Finance
• Vice President of Strategy, Delivery, and Impact
• Country Directors (dotted-line accountability)
• Other senior leaders as assigned

Experience

• Minimum 15 years of progressive leadership experience, with at least 10 years in senior executive roles.
• Proven success leading international NGOs, social enterprises, or global organizations of comparable size and complexity.
• Demonstrated success in fund development and donor engagement, including bilateral/multilateral donors, foundations, and private sector partnerships.
• Track record of leading organizational transformation, change management, and strategic repositioning.
• Financial management expertise, including experience with multi-country budgets and donor compliance.
• International experience required; significant time living/working in iDE’s regions of operation strongly preferred. (This includes Central America, Africa, and Asia)