Director Of MAAK Impact

Organization OverviewMAAK Impact is a Utah-based nonprofit. It empowers entrepreneurs in poverty—particularly refugee entrepreneurs in places like Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya—through human-centered design (HCD), education, innovation, funding, and mentoring.The name "MAAK" comes from Afrikaans, meaning "make," "change," or "render." The organization partners with nonprofits, social ventures, entrepreneurs, and donors to design better solutions, evaluate real impact, and create sustainable economic opportunities. Key initiatives include the "1000 Jobs in 1000 Days" campaign, providing business loans, training, and support to help refugees start and grow businesses, lift communities out of poverty, and foster self-reliance.Position SummaryThe Director of MAAK Impact (often referred to as Executive Director) provides visionary leadership for the organization. This role oversees strategy, programs, fundraising, partnerships, and impact measurement. The Director ensures alignment with the mission of using human-centered design to drive transformative social and economic change, particularly in refugee and poverty contexts.This is a hands-on leadership position in a small, dynamic nonprofit that blends design consulting, entrepreneurship development, and direct impact work in East Africa.Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Leadership: Develop and execute the organization's long-term vision, including initiatives like job creation targets in refugee camps. Guide the use of human-centered design methodologies across all projects.Program Oversight: Lead education, mentoring, loan-making, and entrepreneurship support programs. Ensure effective implementation on the ground (e.g., in Kakuma, Kenya) and measure real impact on individuals and communities.Fundraising & Development: Drive donor engagement, grant writing, and fundraising efforts to sustain and scale operations. Build relationships with individual donors, foundations, corporations, and impact investors.Partnerships & Collaboration: Cultivate partnerships with nonprofits, social enterprises, governments, and local stakeholders. Represent MAAK Impact globally and locally.Team & Operations Management: Lead and mentor a small team (including program facilitators). Oversee day-to-day operations, budgeting, compliance, and organizational growth.Impact Evaluation: Establish tools and processes to evaluate the effectiveness of solutions, track metrics (e.g., jobs created, entrepreneurs funded, people lifted out of poverty), and communicate results transparently.Advocacy & Storytelling: Promote the organization's work through media, social channels, events, and storytelling to inspire support and awareness.Qualifications & SkillsExperience: Held leadership roles in social enterprise, or related fields. Experience with international development, entrepreneurship programs, or human-centered design/innovation is highly desirable. Experience working in or with refugee/African contexts is a strong plus.Education: Bachelor's degree required; Master's in Nonprofit Management, Social Innovation, International Development, Business, or Design preferred.Skills:Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving using HCD principles.Excellent fundraising, networking, and communication skills.Financial acumen and experience managing budgets in resource-constrained environments.Cultural sensitivity and adaptability for work across US and East Africa contexts.Ability to lead small teams and collaborate with boards/volunteers.Personal Attributes: Passion for poverty alleviation and entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurial mindset, resilience, empathy, and commitment to measurable impact.Reporting & LocationReports to the Board of Directors.Location: Primarily based in/near American Fork, Utah (HQ), with potential travel to Kenya/East Africa and other partner sites. Hybrid/remote elements possible depending on candidate.Compensation & Benefits(These vary by organization stage and funding; typically competitive for nonprofits, often including benefits and performance-based incentives tied to impact goals.)This role suits a mission-driven leader excited about blending design innovation with direct economic empowerment in challenging environments. Current leadership includes Executive Director Skyler Meine, supported by program facilitators and a board that includes Mike Linton and others.