Overview
Chief Executive Officer Jobs in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa at ExecutivePlacements.com
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Company: ExecutivePlacements.com
Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Recruiter:
Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation Trust
Job Ref:
Cyril Ramaphosa Foun..
Date posted:
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Location:
Johannesburg, South Africa
Salary:
Market Related
SUMMARY:
The CEO is responsible for the organisation’s strategic direction, operational delivery, financial sustainability, and reputation. This role provides ethical, inspiring, and results-driven leadership, driving long-term strategy, sustainability, and impact. Ensure strong alignment and collaboration across the Foundation and its partner entities.
POSITION INFO:
Key Performance Areas:
Leadership and Vision
- Provide inspiring, ethical, and results-focused leadership, embodying the Foundation’s values.
- Develop and drive implementation of the Foundation’s strategy with a focus on creating value for all stakeholders.
- Provide strategic direction, lead, grow, and manage the Foundation in a sustainable, values-driven manner, fostering a culture of high performance, accountability, and innovation.
- Ensure seamless strategic alignment and collaborative execution between the Foundation and its partner entities.
- Identify local and international forums to participate in.
Strategic Management and Impact
- Define, champion, and rigorously measure the Foundation''s social and financial impact across all initiatives.
- Provide oversight to ensure programs across the Foundation deliver tangible, high-value outcomes aligned with the mission.
- Drive the development and implementation of a 3-5 year strategic plan focused on sustainable growth and maximised societal value.
- Identify and mitigate strategic risks to the Foundation''s mandate and reputation.
Fundraising, Resource Mobilisation and Sustainable Growth
- Lead the design and execution of a robust, multi-year fundraising and resource mobilisation strategy to significantly grow the Foundation''s capital base and diversify revenue streams.
- Cultivate, solicit, and steward high-value relationships with major donors, institutional partners, corporate sponsors, and high-net-worth individuals to secure large-scale, multi-year, sustainable funding commitments as well as once-off or single instance funding opportunities.
- Actively identify, evaluate, and pursue new revenue streams and investment opportunities consistent with the Foundation''s financial and ethical values.
- Serve as the Foundation''s primary, compelling advocate, effectively articulating its mission and impact to secure the financial resources required to scale its activities.
Operational Oversight
- Oversee the efficient and compliant day-to-day operation of the Foundation and all partner entities, ensuring strict accordance with Board-approved plans and relevant legal/regulatory frameworks.
- Guide and mentor the CEOs of the partner entities, supporting them in scaling and steering their respective business units toward financial and operational excellence and ensuring alignment with the overall Foundation vision.
Finance Oversight
- Oversee the implementation of the investment strategy to ensure sustainable growth of the Foundation’s net asset value.
- Ensure expenditure is strictly within the authorised annual budget and financial parameters.
- Guide the Foundation in exploring emerging and alternative investment and funding strategies for the philanthropic sector.
- Ensure strict adherence to annual business plans and budgets, demanding high-fidelity execution, accountability, and timely delivery across the Foundation and its partner entities.
Stakeholder Relationship & External Advocacy
- Effectively manage and nurture the critical relationship with the Board Chair and Board members, as well as Committee Chairs and members, ensuring optimal governance and strategic alignment.
- Proactively manage and expand strategic partnerships with key external stakeholders (Funders, Government, Regulatory Bodies, NGOs) to amplify the Foundation''s reach and impact, leveraging the positive relationships and goodwill built previously.
- Serve as the principal external representative, promoting the Foundation''s mission and measurable impact across all relevant platforms and high-profile forums.
- Ensure the absolute integrity and transparency of all public disclosures by the Foundation.
People Management & Team Leadership
- Provide leadership and clear direction to the overall Foundation team.
- Drive talent management, including proactive succession planning for pivotal roles.
- Set rigorous, measurable performance expectations for all direct reports, conducting regular reviews and dealing decisively with non-performance.
- Champion a culture of continuous professional development, mentorship, and empowerment, ensuring the team is equipped to deliver high-impact results.
Education, Skills and Experience:
- A postgraduate qualification in a relevant field such as Business Administration, Management, Finance, Economics, Development Studies, Law, Public Policy or a related discipline.
- A Master’s degree (e.g. MBA or equivalent) will be a strong advantage.
- Relevant executive leadership or governance training will be beneficial.
- At least 10–15 years’ senior leadership experience, with a minimum of 5 years at executive or CEO level, preferably within the non-profit, philanthropic, development, social impact or related sectors.
- Proven experience in strategic leadership, including the development and execution of medium to long-term organisational strategies (3–5 years).
- A strong and demonstrable track record in fundraising, donor engagement and resource mobilisation, including securing large‑scale, multi‑year funding commitments from institutional funders, corporates and high‑net‑worth individuals.
- Experience in managing complex organisations or group structures, including oversight of subsidiaries, partner entities or business units.
- Sound experience in financial oversight, including budget management, investment strategy oversight and ensuring financial sustainability within a values‑driven organisation.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a Board of Trustees and Board Committees, maintaining strong governance, accountability and strategic alignment.
- Extensive experience in stakeholder management and external advocacy, including engagement with funders, regulators, government, civil society and other strategic partners.
- A proven people‑leadership track record, including executive team leadership, talent development, succession planning and performance management.
- Experience representing an organisation in high‑profile national and international forums will be advantageous.
Interested applicants who meet the above requirements must submit their CV and a cover letter motivating their application for the role.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.
No late applications will be accepted.
