Ethiopia Chief of Staff

The Chief of Staff acts as a strategic and execution partner to the Country Director, ensuring strong people operations, internal systems, and cross-functional initiatives that enable the country program to deliver on its strategy.

The role combines line management of enabling functions (People Operations, HSS, Communications) with leadership of high-priority, cross-functional initiatives at the country level.

The Chief of Staff ensures clarity of priorities, clarity of execution, and effective coordination across teams, allowing the Country Director to focus on strategy, external relationships, and organizational leadership.

As Chief of Staff, you will work at the intersection of people systems, internal operations, and inter-departmental coordination:

• You will lead the People Division by managing the People Operations, Finance admin, and Corporate Operations team, as well as the Communication and Health, Safety, and Security (HSS) teams.
• You will lead implementation on important initiatives related to risk, compliance, team culture, and communication, as well as other cross-functional initiatives.
• You will support the Country Director with briefs and internal reviews.

This role does not replace specialized HR technical functions; it focuses on leadership, integration, prioritization, and culture, with technical execution led by the People Operations team and global support functions.

Responsibilities

People Operations, HSS, and Communications Leadership

• Manage the People Operations Lead (managing HR admin, Finance admin, compliance, and Corporate Operations), HSS team, and Communication team, ensuring:
• Clear goals, accountability, and performance management
• Strong delivery on core administrative, compliance, and support functions
• High-quality HR administration, policies, and compliance
• Continuous improvement of systems, processes, and staff experience
• Support the People Operations Lead in driving improvement projects within the people function (e.g., onboarding, performance management, staff engagement)
• Provide senior oversight of HR risk and employee relations
• Act as country-level owner for organizational culture and people experience, including:
• Strengthening a healthy, inclusive, and high-performance culture
• Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) priorities at the country level
• Monitor staff satisfaction and strengthen the use of data to drive HR performance
• Act as country-level coordinator for talent and development priorities, including:
• Overseeing country-level learning and development (L&D) priorities and annual plans
• Partnering with department heads to support long-term staff development and career pathways
• Ensure HSS systems effectively support staff safety, risk management, and duty of care
• Ensure Communications supports country priorities, internal alignment, and external messaging, including planning staff retreats and internal events; managing company-wide communication

Cross-Functional Initiative Leadership (Country Priorities)

• Lead high-priority cross-functional initiatives on behalf of the Country Director, such as regulatory or policy studies, Innovation or pilot projects, organizational change and improvement efforts.
• For each initiative: Define scope, objectives, timelines, and success metrics, coordinate across teams and manage external partners or consultants, drive execution, unblock constraints, and ensure delivery of high-quality outputs

Country Execution, Governance & Leadership Support

• Support the Country Director in driving country-level execution:
• Co-lead OKR cycles, business reviews, monthly staff meetings, and cross-team planning
• Draft clear options memos and internal briefs for decision-making
• Keep leadership focused on the right conversations at the right time
• Act as a trusted advisor and representative of the Country Director in internal forums when appropriate

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning, and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

[general qualifications we look for](https://oneacrefund.org/work-with-us/application-process/qualifications/). For this role specifically, you will have:

• 7+ years in strategy, People Management, Human Resource business partner - including 3+ years managing teams
• Fluency in English, Amharic preferred
• Experience leading cross-team workstreams or systems (e.g., performance, compliance, OKR setting)
• Familiarity with Ethiopia labor laws and donor-facing compliance expectations
• Financial fluency: budgets, salary modeling, interpreting performance dashboards
• Cross-functional project management experience
• Preferred: 2+ year experience managing Health, Safety, and Security

Preferred Start Date

As soon as possible

Job Location

Addis Ababa or Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.

Travel requirement: 25%

Benefits

Health insurance, housing, and comprehensive benefits

Contract Duration

2 years

Eligibility

One Acre Fund can support a work permit for this role. However, nationals of (or those with an extensive professional background and work history in) our countries of operation are preferred.