Group Chief Operations & People Officer at African Management Institute (AMI)

Job Description

As we move rapidly into new markets, work with larger clients and take on more complex projects, we’re looking for a Group COPO to help move AMI to the next level of scale. We’re looking for a seasoned entrepreneurial leader to lead internal operations and shape a ‘one AMI’ culture across offices.

We’re open to shaping the exact job profile in line with the passions and specific talents of the right candidate and to building a team around you. We’ve shared some ideas below but are open to a variety of experience. What we do know is that you’ll have that rare combination of flawless execution and great people instincts. And you will share our passion for – and obsession with - enabling ambitious businesses across Africa to thrive.

Responsibilities:

• People & Culture: People come first at AMI, and people's skills sit at the core of this role. Beyond HR, you will be a culture shaper, experienced in building and retaining winning teams. You’ll lead rapid recruitment, shape our ‘One AMI’ culture across markets and drive our focus on employee development – a key strategic pillar as we scale. Our Ops and People teams will report to you, but your influence will reach across the company.
• Org-building: We have 100+ staff in 5 offices and expect both numbers to double (at minimum) in the next 3 years. You will be a natural creator of processes and playbooks that ensure consistent quality and efficiency while stimulating innovation and will have the vision and experience to design and implement the right company-wide operating system to support growth.

• Systems: You will review and optimise our systems across the company, collaborating with different teams to drive integration, lead change management and get the company working as a well-oiled machine.
• Strategy execution & leadership: Reporting to the CEO, you will drive planning across the business units, functions and country offices, ensuring top-team cohesion and supporting other leaders as we translate our company strategy into results.
• Back-end support: You’ll have a handle on everything that keeps the company ticking, overseeing teams that manage governance, compliance, legal and admin/office management, and ensuring our multi-country teams have the resources and environment needed to thrive.

Requirements

Skills & attributes

• A people person. Culturally adept. Ability to communicate effectively across different levels, with local and international teams and stakeholders
• Proven ability to build and lead a team, motivate staff, manage performance and drive delivery. Ability to work as part of a collaborative cross-border leadership team.
• Ability to think strategically and creatively, and to execute methodically.
• Ability to create order from chaos. Thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment but able to design and implement effective structures and policies.
• Unflinching attention to detail. Outstanding organizational and administrative skills. Are you the most organised person you know?
• Organisational & management maturity – you understand what makes people tick, how to motivate teams, and how to build organisations where people thrive
• Digitally savvy, experience implementing large organisation-level systems, able to quickly master and assess new systems, and map process flows to ensure that systems serve people – not the other way around
• Commitment to AMI’s vision of becoming the champion for Africa’s business champions, through practical, evidence-based learning.
• Willingness to engage in robust debate alongside deep respect for others
• Rock-solid integrity. Team before ego.

Education and Experience

• Minimum 12 years work experience, with at least 5 at a senior level with strategic influence
• P&L experience (country or business line) strongly preferred
• No sector experience, but you’ll have worked in an entrepreneurial and operational environment in an African market.
• Masters degree or equivalent experience
• AMI will consider candidates from any country, but preference will be given to African nationals. Candidates must be willing to live in Nairobi and free to travel across Africa.