Independent Non-Executive Director (Operational & Transformation Focus)

Department: Strategy

Employment Type: Contract / Temp

Location: Africa

Reporting To: Board Chairperson

Allied Talent Partners (ATP), a Three Cairns Group initiative, is a mission-driven, not-for-profit talent marketplace focused on solving the human capital bottlenecks slowing down sustainable development efforts in emerging economies, with an initial focus on Africa. ATP connects vetted, experienced, context-relevant professionals to high-impact opportunities in energy access and sustainable development - strengthening local capacity and fuelling economic vitality. We specialize in fixed-term, deliverable-driven engagements - from interim leadership and generalist projects to niche technical expertise - handling project scoping, talent vetting and matching, contracting, payroll, and compliance so that our clients can focus on impact.

High-Level Overview

The client is seeking an Independent Non-Executive Director to join the board of a regulated, multi-country financial services platform operating across insurance brokerage, pension administration, and actuarial services.

The appointment is intended to strengthen independent oversight across strategy, operational scalability, risk governance, and disciplined growth. The selected director will provide constructive challenge and sector expertise as the business enters its next phase of expansion, including digital modernization and selective bolt-on acquisitions.

This is a governance-driven mandate, requiring strong independent judgment, regulatory awareness, and a clear focus on long-term value creation within a regulated environment.

Role: Independent Non-Executive Director (Operational & Transformation Focus) Direct Report: Board Chairperson Candidates Required: 1

Key Deliverables: Board-Level Strategic Oversight

• Serve as an independent Non-Executive Director, providing constructive challenge and sector expertise to the board.
• Contribute to the formulation, review, and disciplined execution oversight of group strategy, growth priorities, and capital allocation decisions.
• Provide independent judgment on major strategic initiatives, expansion plans, and material transactions.
• Participate actively in board and relevant committee meetings, ensuring disciplined decision-making and action tracking.

Operational & Transformation Oversight

• Provide board-level oversight of operational scale-up initiatives across multiple markets.
• Challenge and support management on operating model evolution, scalability, and execution readiness.
• Review and stress-test digital transformation, automation, and technology modernization roadmaps.

Monitor execution against agreed transformation milestones, KPIs, and value creation targets.

Post-Acquisition & Integration Governance

• Provide independent oversight of post-acquisition integration strategy and execution risks.
• Challenge management on integration planning, sequencing, and value capture assumptions.
• Monitor alignment of governance, systems, processes, and organizational structures across the platform.
• Ensure integration initiatives remain consistent with regulatory requirements and risk appetite.

Risk, Regulatory & Governance Oversight

• Provide oversight of enterprise risk management frameworks, including operational, regulatory, conduct, cyber, and third-party risks.
• Challenge management on adequacy of internal controls, compliance culture, and regulatory readiness across jurisdictions.
• Contribute to board effectiveness through strong governance discipline, information quality review, and independent judgment.
• Uphold high standards of integrity, independence, and conflict management in line with regulatory expectations.

Experience Required:

• 15+ years of senior leadership and/or board experience within regulated financial services, including insurance brokerage, pension administration, actuarial services, or closely related sectors.
• Demonstrated experience operating at board or executive level within multi-entity and/or multi-country platforms.
• Proven oversight of operational scale-up and transformation within regulated environments.
• Experience reviewing and challenging digital transformation and technology modernization initiatives at governance level.
• Experience with private equity-backed businesses and value creation frameworks strongly preferred.
• Experience in emerging markets; Africa experience strongly preferred.
• Prior Non-Executive Director, independent board member, or committee experience highly desirable.

Technical Requirements:

• Deep understanding of insurance brokerage and pension administration operating models.
• Strong grasp of regulatory and compliance dynamics within financial services.
• Experience scaling multi-country platforms and navigating cross-border operational complexity.
• Familiarity with post-acquisition integration in regulated environments.
• Ability to interrogate and stress-test management's transformation roadmaps and execution assumptions.

Other Skills:

• Strong board presence and credibility as a sector authority.
• Independent thinker capable of constructively challenging management while remaining collaborative.
• Strategic, commercially astute, and disciplined in governance approach.
• High integrity, sound judgment, and strong ethical standards.
• Comfortable operating in high-growth, multi-jurisdiction environments with evolving complexity.

Working Arrangement Location: Primarily remote, with in person attendance expected for scheduled board meetings. Travel: Periodic travel to Kenya and East Africa for board meetings and, where relevant, special project engagements. Board meetings are typically held in Nairobi.

Terms of agreement: Start Date: April 2026 Contracting Period: 12 Months, renewable