Role Overview
The Business Manager is a senior leadership role responsible for building and running the operational backbone of Sankoré.

This role has full ownership of all non-academic functions including finance, operations, procurement, human resources, and compliance, and is accountable for ensuring the school runs efficiently, reliably, at a high standard, and is fully registered and in compliance with Ministry of Education standards.

As a pre-launch institution, this role requires both strategic thinking and hands-on execution. The Business Manager will ensure the school is fully registered and meets all necessary requirements, design systems from the ground up while also ensuring day-to-day operations are delivered effectively. Must be technologically ambitious and excited about running a lean team in tandem with latest software and back end management systems.

This is not a coordination role. It is a leadership role for a school operator who can build, decide, and deliver. The Sankoré Business Manager will provide both sound and generative financial leadership and management in the context of a learning-focused organization e.g not only ‘do the books balance?ʼ (management) but also ‘are we using our resources in ways that have the greatest learning impact?ʼ (leadership).

Key Responsibilities
Financial Leadership
Lead all budgeting, forecasting, and short/medium/long-term financial planning.
Establish and maintain strong financial controls and reporting systems including quarterly reports to the Board of Trustees.
Prepare for, attend and inform all Board and Board Committee meetings as the lead representative of the Senior Leadership Team.
Manage cash flow, cost structures, and financial sustainability
Provide clear, timely financial insights to support leadership decisions
Ensure financial discipline across all functions
Identify and manage risks to the schoolʼs financial sustainability.
2. Operations & School Infrastructure

Ensure the school is fully registered with the Ministry of Education and meets all necessary requirements
Oversee all day-to-day school operations, including facilities, transport, security, extra curricular vendors, and campus services - this includes from establishment to ongoing maintenance
Ensure the school environment is safe, functional, and consistently high-quality
Anticipate and resolve operational issues proactively
Support infrastructure planning as the school grows
3. Procurement & Vendor Management

Design and implement procurement systems and policies in tandem with the existing SHOFCO team
Identify, negotiate, and manage suppliers and service providers
Ensure strong cost control, transparency, and value for money
Oversee asset and inventory management
4. Human Resources (Non-Academic)

Recruit, manage, and develop administrative and support staff including performance expectations
Oversee contracts, payroll, and HR compliance, in tandem with existing SHOFCO team
Build a culture of accountability and professionalism across support functions
5. Compliance, Risk & Governance

Ensure full compliance with Kenyan regulatory requirements and school standards
Lead health, safety, and risk management systems
Manage audits, insurance, and statutory obligations
Maintain strong governance and reporting practices
6. Systems Building & Institutional Development

Design and implement core systems across finance, HR, procurement, and operations, in partnership with existing SHOFCO team
Develop policies, processes, and tools required for a high-functioning school
Build structures that will scale as the school grows
Translate leadership priorities into operational execution
7. Team Leadership

Directly manage a small but growing operations team (2–5 associates initially)
Build team capacity and structure as the school expands
Ensure strong performance, accountability, and clarity across all roles
Candidate Profile
Required Experience
5–10+ years in operations, finance, or general management roles
Prior experience in a top private or international school in Kenya is required
Prior experience in launching a new school is strongly preferred
Demonstrated experience building systems, processes, and teams—not just managing them
Experience operating in complex, multi-function environments (finance, HR, operations, procurement)
Strong familiarity with Kenyan regulatory, vendor, and operational contexts
Core Capabilities
Strong financial management and analytical capability (non-negotiable)
Ability to build systems from the ground up and make them work in practice
Decisive operator who can prioritize and execute in a fast-moving environment
Strong procurement and commercial judgment
Ability to manage people and hold teams accountable
High attention to detail without losing sight of the bigger picture
Profile We Are Targeting
We are looking for someone who:
Has operated at a senior level within a high-performing school in Kenya
Has been involved in the launching of / early stages of a new school in Kenya
Is comfortable owning outcomes end-to-end, not just coordinating tasks
Can make decisions quickly and confidently with incomplete information
Thrives in a startup environment where structure is being built, not inherited
Brings both financial discipline and operational rigor
What Will Not Succeed in this Role
Candidates whose experience is primarily administrative or coordination-focused
Individuals who rely on established systems but have not built them
Individuals who have not navigated government registration processes
Those who require highly structured environments to operate effectively
Slow or overly cautious decision-makers
Personal Attributes
High ownership and accountability
Exceptionally organized and structured in thinking
Calm, decisive, and solutions-oriented under pressure
High integrity and professionalism
Resourceful, pragmatic, and results-driven
What Success Looks Like
The school opens and operates smoothly from day one
Financial systems are robust, transparent, and forward-looking
Operational issues are anticipated and resolved quickly
Staff are well-managed and accountable
Systems are in place to support growth without constant reinvention

Please email your CV and cover letter including responses to the below questions. The subject of your email should be: Your name, Business Manager Application.