Maternity Foundation is looking for a new Regional Head for Sub-Saharan Africa

 Are you a proactive and strategic leader who wants to join a global team solving one of the world’s most pressing issues? We are looking for a Regional Head for Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) to help us take our impact to the next level. 

Maternity Foundation (MF) is an international non-profit organisation that works to ensure safer births for women and new-borns through innovative programs and digital solutions. From 2025 MF will accelerate the impact of the Safe Delivery+ Programme, a comprehensive, evidence based micro-learning universe with the Safe Delivery App, a free, evidence-based job aid, learning and training tool designed to support predominantly midwives, at the centre. The programme is aimed at holistically addressing maternal and newborn healthcare challenges through a multitude of activities including a new SSA flagship initiative. The Safe Delivery+ Programme takes a lighthouse approach, where exemplary cutting-edge practices and solutions using the Safe Delivery+ Programme, act as frontrunners for innovative change which other countries can subsequently follow. Read more here: About Maternity Foundation  

Together, we work from a shared vision that it should not cost life to give life! 

Position summary:   

Our new Regional Head SSA will lead the acceleration of our work in the region and report directly to the Global Programme Director.  S/he will strategically build and manage the regional team and network in close collaboration with the MF’s global and national teams and support the roll-out and advocacy of the Safe Delivery+ Programme. This will entail being responsible for garnering old and new regional and national relationships as well as to strategically develop and implement MF’s Safe Delivery+ Programme across SSA in collaboration with partners.  The role is broad and will require an experienced leader who can proactively maintain and lead the connection and development in and between national teams, programme, advocacy, and development. It is a position that is still to be shaped, and the right candidate will have the opportunity to form, adapt and grow into the position.   

 Key responsibilities:   

 Strategy & Leadership   

• Strategically design and implement the SSA portfolio.  

• Build and lead national and regional teams within a dynamic context.  

• Guide and support country operations and strategic plans  

Stakeholder management and advocacy  

• Build and maintain relationships with current partners and donors.  

• Identify new regional and national funding opportunities.  

• Resource mobilisation, donor engagement and external representation  

Programme oversight and development    

• Management of current and upcoming regional activities.   

• Support national project planning and training activities.  

• Oversee national budgets and reporting.  

The profile we are looking for:  

We are looking for a proactive person with a teamwork and ‘go-for-it’ attitude, who is willing to lead and learn. A strong strategic leader and communicator with a commitment to Maternity Foundations vision regarding impact, advocacy, digital solutions, Public Health and midwifery.   

 Qualifications and experience required: 

• Minimum 5 years from a similar leadership role within SRHR.  

• Field experience in SSA.   

• Proven experience of project management, program implementation, monitoring and evaluation.  

• Experience from the donor landscape, including foundations, government agencies, and public and private partnerships.  

• Proven leadership skills and competence in people management.  

• Working experience with proposal development, budget development and oversight.  

• A master’s degree in Global Health or other relevant area.  

• Professional proficiency in English.  

• Residence and working permit in a country within SSA.  

 Attributes, Competencies & skills needed:  

• An extensive active MNH/SRHR network   

• Demonstrable stakeholder relations and networking skills.  

• Proactive and strategic advocacy and communication skills.  

• Strong co-ordination skills between diverse national and regional teams/ projects.  

• Knowledge of the SSA stakeholder/donor playing field.  

 Terms and conditions:  

The position is full-time position and based remotely in SSA at the place of residence of the successful candidate. Regular travel within the SSA Region as well as to Maternity Foundation’s hubs in Addis Ababa and Copenhagen is expected. Salary will be negotiated based on qualifications and national NGO salary scale guidelines.   

We value equal opportunity and encourage candidates regardless of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, disability, or age to apply.  

Please submit your application and CV to application@maternity.dk 

Application deadline 15th February 2025.  

The recruitment will be done on a rolling basis, so apply now. 

About Maternity Foundations workplace:  

We are a team of roughly 40 colleagues working across our three global hubs in Ethiopia, Denmark, and India. We come from various backgrounds – global health, midwifery, anthropology, IT, and business – and take pride in an entrepreneurial spirit and a can-do attitude.  Together, we are an ambitious and purpose-driven team working in a welcoming and informal atmosphere.