CEO (Chief Executive Officer)

Background

iDE is an international non-profit dedicated to combating poverty, not through handouts but by helping rural households access the tools and knowledge they need to increase their income and improve their health and well-being. Since its founding more than 40 years ago, iDE has increased the incomes and improved the livelihoods of more than 41.9 million people across last-mile communities.

Using market-based approaches across a variety of sectors, iDE creates ecosystems of opportunity with families and businesses. With a robust monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) framework, iDE measures progress, centers client voices, and ensures both rigor and inclusivity in our work.

iDE currently operates across Africa, Asia, and Central America. Our vision—to catalyze the power of entrepreneurship to enable millions of people to lift themselves out of poverty—is ambitious and bold. We have embarked on a 10-year impact strategy focused on powering women entrepreneurs and last-mile communities to thrive on their own terms.

Our next CEO will guide iDE through this period of transformation and renewal, ensuring strong leadership, sustainable funding, and global impact.

Job Summary

The Chief Executive Officer of iDE is responsible for the overall vision, leadership, and management of the organization. Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the CEO ensures iDE achieves its mission, advances its strategy, and sustains its financial health and organizational culture.

The CEO will lead strategic transformation, strengthen stakeholder and donor relationships, foster organizational resilience in a changing global environment, and ensure iDE remains at the forefront of market-based development.

This individual will be a visible ambassador for iDE, representing the organization externally with donors, governments, private sector partners, and peer organizations, while also serving as a trusted partner to the Board and a supportive leader for staff across geographies.

Requirements

Primary Responsibilities and Key Capabilities

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

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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 opera