Chief Operating Officer

Inkomoko is dedicated to empowering micro and small entrepreneurs across Africa, including refugees, to create jobs, improve livelihoods, and build thriving communities. Since its inception in 2012, Inkomoko has supported nearly 100,000 entrepreneurs across East and Central Africa, providing a combination of training, consulting, access to finance, and market-level systems change. Notably, Inkomoko is the largest lender to refugee entrepreneurs in Africa, offering affordable financing to fuel business growth and economic development. In 2025, it was listed as Financial Times 8th fastest growing company in Africa, the fastest in East Africa.

With a team of more than 700 employees across 40 offices in Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Sudan, Inkomoko is committed to expanding its impact. Through its 2030 strategic plan, the organisation aims to extend its services to three additional countries, reaching over 550,000 entrepreneurs and growing its $30 million loan fund to impact 7 million lives. Inkomoko's vision is an Africa with thriving communities where young people and refugees are engaged, communities have access to relevant innovations for self-determination, and African solutions are unleashed to solve African problems. The organisation's core values guide its work: Purpose:

Be solutions-oriented, produce high-quality work, and lead globally. Achievement: Push beyond previous limits and strive for excellence. Improvement: Stay humble, embrace continuous learning, and welcome open feedback. Bravery: Take risks, foster inclusivity, and create safe spaces for all. We Eat Goat: Celebrate success and support one another, embodying unity—turikumwe, tuko pamoja, abren nen, kula na sawa, on est ensemble.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITYAs Inkomoko enters a phase of accelerated growth and geographic expansion, we are seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead a multi-year transformation to integrate and scale Inkomoko’s internal and external operational systems to meet its 2030 growth targets. The Chief Operating Officer will be a part of a five-person C-suite team, responsible for developing key strategies to execute the organization’s impact vision. This role stewards the enterprise-wide operating model, ensuring that Inkomoko’s systems, people, and infrastructure scale with integrity, impact, and values.

The COO will report directly to the CEO and serve as a strategic partner across the executive team while managing the VP of Operations, VP of Digital Transformation, General Counsel, and security/safeguarding teams. This role will lead the development of systems and governance that enable Inkomoko to scale effectively while maintaining strong standards for risk management, safety and security, and safeguarding.

You will define and implement Inkomoko’s enterprise operating model—a blueprint for delivering our mission at scale—by integrating operations, legal, safeguarding, and aligning them to the full value chain, from entrepreneur capacity building to financing and private sector adoption and advocacy. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Operating Model for ScaleLead the development of an enterprise operating model that links Inkomoko’s strategy and long-term vision to execution across people, process, governance, and technology, ensuring scalable systems that endure beyond individual leaders.

Establish operating principles and core standards across procurement, compliance, logistics, infrastructure, digital and IT that are consistent across geographies and functions. Design and reinforce enterprise systems that enable leaders across the organization to drive aligned execution toward shared strategic and impact goals – embed Inkomoko’s values and culture into daily operations. Define and implement cross-country governance systems, including decision rights, escalation pathways, and performance standards. Lead operational outcomes management, ensuring that execution aligns with strategic goals and impact metrics.

Monitor delivery across countries and departments, introducing improvements that enhance alignment, effectiveness, and efficiency – balancing localization with organizational cohesion and quality standardsDesign interconnected operational platforms that support both internal execution and external delivery, including client onboarding, partner systems, and scalable support for programs and finance. Systems Integration & Digital LeadershipCoach and equip senior leaders to adopt cohesive operational strategies for constant improvement and scale in all areas of work; create alignment across departments for cohesion.

Work with the VP of Digital Transformation to set governance frameworks and strategy, and embed technology into all areas of operations for efficiency and growth; ensuring procedures and systems are disseminated and utilized widely. Develop and oversee the strategy for enterprise-wide platforms that drive efficiency, transparency, and real-time decision-making. Legal, Compliance, and GovernanceLead the legal and compliance processes for opening up new countries of operations, and setting up relevant processes, licenses, and legal operating procedures. Supervise and support the General Counsel to oversee legal risk management, contracts, regulatory compliance, and internal policies across all countries.

Provide regular governance updates to the Board, ensuring that risk exposure, legal obligations, and compliance matters are addressed at the highest level. Strengthen enterprise-wide governance systems, supporting clear decision-making, compliance accountability, and risk mitigation across departments and geographies. Safety, Security, and Organisational ResilienceStrengthen Inkomoko’s risk management, safeguarding, and compliance infrastructure to keep staff and clients safe in all areas of operation.

Lead teams to effectively prepare and implement Crisis Management Plans, including business continuity planning in an emergency or crisis situationIn a time of crisis, lead the company’s response in a decisive and thoughtful manner that accounts for the contextual operating environment and our “people first” approachEmbody core safeguarding principles that prioritize the well-being of our colleagues and clients, fostering a culture of safety, implementing robust policies and strategies, and ensuring accountability at the governance levelPartner with Finance, People & Culture, Programs, and IT/Digital to lead enterprise planning, budgeting, and resource allocation processes for organizational growth.

Use performance and delivery data from operations to coach senior leaders, strengthen shared accountability, and support continuous improvement across teams. Lead the design and implementation of transformative shifts to Inkomoko’s operating model, ensuring it is fit-for-purpose for growth, digital delivery, and Continental expansion. Provide steady, values-driven leadership that supports teams through complexity and change, modelling consistency and vulnerability to foster trust and psychological safety. WHO YOU AREA strategic operator with 15+ years of leadership experience, including 5+ years at the executive level in Africa with rapidly scaling organisations, ideally including multi-country growth.

A proven architect of operating models that balance centralised systems with decentralised execution, enabling autonomy without sacrificing coherence. Brings a clear and compelling vision for how systems enable impact, and communicates this across internal and external stakeholders. Be a role model for systems leadership: enabling others through clarity, structure, and support. Highly digitally fluent, with a track record of driving enterprise-wide transformation in partnership with tech and data teams. Adept at building governance structures and cross-functional systems that support complex delivery across diverse contexts.

Experience in culturally sensitive change management processes that maintain morale and quality through change - preference for work in rapidly scaling environments. Grounded in values-based leadership, with experience operating in fragile or logistically complex environments. Coaches leaders to develop their own solutions, creating a ripple effect of accountability and distributed leadership. Delegates authority while providing the clarity, structure, and support needed for high-impact execution at every level. Recognised as a culture carrier who uplifts the contributions of diverse teams. Operates with curiosity and humility, actively listening and learning across cultural and functional boundaries.

Demonstrates a strong personal commitment to safeguarding, and ensures that policies and practices for safety, dignity, and protection are upheld at all levels of the organisation, including senior leadership. Travel: Up to 30% travel expected across Inkomoko countries and for other international engagements as needed. Location & Eligibility: This role is open to candidates based in—or willing to relocate to—any Inkomoko office in Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Chad, or South Sudan. WHY JOIN INKOMOKOWith a decade of impact-driven growth, Inkomoko is at the forefront of economic transformation in East Africa.

Our commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and fostering financial inclusion has positioned the organisation as a leader in social enterprise and innovation in private sector solutions that up-end traditional humanitarian aid. As the COO, you will have a unique opportunity to shape the growth of a rapidly scaling organisation by building world-class systems dedicated to creating lasting economic impact. Join us in building the operational foundation that will power Inkomoko’s vision of inclusive growth and resilience for underserved communities of women, youth, and refugees.