Chief of Staff

Job description

ABOUT HEALTHY LEARNERS

Millions of school-aged children fall through the cracks of healthcare systems. They don’t receive regular check-ups, and when they get sick, they often go untreated—leading to avoidable illness, school absences, and long-term setbacks. Despite this, public health efforts have largely overlooked school-aged children.

Healthy Learners is changing that. We’ve partnered with the Zambian Government to transform schools into entry points for healthcare. This simple but powerful model means kids get the care they need, when they need it, without missing school. What started as a small initiative has grown into a nationwide movement.

With a dedicated team of 200+ and an annual budget of $10M, we’ve built a high-impact model that reaches nearly 1 million students today—and we’re just getting started. With the Zambian government as a full partner, we’re on track to scale nationally to 2.5 million children by 2028. Our work has been backed by some of the world’s leading philanthropic institutions, fueling strong, sustained growth in funding and partnerships.

But this is about more than just scaling a program—we’re working to embed school health into national policies and set a new standard for how governments prioritize children’s health. With momentum on our side, now is the time to build a model that can shape the future of school health across Africa.

If you’re driven by bold, practical solutions that change lives, join us.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Healthy Learners is looking for a Chief of Staff to work closely with the CEO and senior leadership team to drive strategic priorities, improve execution, and ensure alignment across departments. This is a high-impact, high-visibility role for a leader who thrives in fast-paced environments and is passionate about scaling innovative health solutions.

The Chief of Staff will serve as the CEO’s strategic right hand, ensuring that high-priority initiatives, stakeholder engagement, and cross-functional projects move forward efficiently. This role is designed to free up the CEO’s bandwidth by managing initiatives that do not fall under a single department and ensuring organizational priorities are executed effectively.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Planning & CEO Support

Work closely with the CEO to develop and drive execution of strategic priorities, ensuring organizational alignment.
Establish systems to track progress on key organizational goals, ensuring leadership remains accountable for measurable outcomes.
Identify and mitigate risks that could impact strategic execution, escalating only major issues when necessary.
Provide strategic insights and recommendations, supporting the CEO in high-stakes decision-making.

Leadership Team Coordination & Execution Oversight

Facilitate leadership team meetings, ensuring clear agendas, structured decision-making, and follow-through on key priorities.
Coordinate mission-critical projects spanning multiple departments (e.g., national scale-up, high-value grants, government integration), ensuring timelines are met and department heads remain accountable for deliverables.
Act as a bridge between teams, ensuring leaders have the information and resources needed to execute without bottlenecks.
Proactively flag and escalate only major roadblocks to the CEO, empowering department heads to resolve routine issues.
Track and drive execution on high-priority initiatives, helping resolve roadblocks and ensuring timely completion.

CEO Representation & Board Engagement

Prepare briefing materials for the CEO, ensuring they are fully prepared for high-stakes meetings with funders, government partners, and board members.
Support board engagement by ensuring materials are well-prepared, key decisions are tracked, and leadership follow-ups are coordinated.
Represent the CEO in select leadership meetings and external engagements, ensuring strategic alignment while filtering non-critical issues.

Internal Communication & Organizational Alignment

Ensure executive decisions translate into action, improving internal communication and leadership alignment.
Strengthen organizational efficiency by improving coordination between senior leaders, reducing unnecessary CEO involvement.
Foster a culture of accountability & collaboration, ensuring department heads are empowered while maintaining organizational discipline.
Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, ensuring alignment with CEO priorities and reinforcing a collaborative culture.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Required:

8–12 years of experience in strategy, operations, or leadership roles in nonprofits, consulting, social enterprises, or government.
Minimum 5 years in a senior leadership position, preferably in a scaling or multi-stakeholder organization.
Proven experience in cross-functional project execution, process optimization, and stakeholder management.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience preparing high-level reports, presentations, and strategic documents.
Ability to manage competing priorities, work under pressure, and drive results in a fast-paced setting.
High emotional intelligence (EQ), adaptability, and resilience—a must for working in dynamic, multicultural teams.
Preferred:

Background in public health, education, or international development is a strong plus.
Familiarity with board governance, fundraising, or donor relations.
Master’s degree (MBA, MPA, MPH, or equivalent) is strongly preferred.

WHY JOIN HEALTHY LEARNERS?

Impact at Scale – Be part of a pioneering effort to transform school-based healthcare, reaching millions of children.
High-Visibility Leadership Role – Work directly with the CEO and senior team on mission-critical projects.
Dynamic, Mission-Driven Culture – Join an award winning team that values collaboration, innovation, and deep commitment to children’s health.
Growth & Learning – Lead in a fast-growing, international organization with opportunities for career advancement.