Overview 

The Pharo Foundation (“the Foundation”) is a pioneering, mission-driven organization working to build a vibrant, productive, and self-reliant Africa. Founded and fully funded by Pharo Management, an emerging markets hedge fund, the Foundation represents a new model of philanthro capitalism: a private endowment using its own capital to design, fund, and operate development programmes with private-sector discipline and long-term commitment. 

Over the next decade, the Foundation’s ambition is to deliver lasting impact across three interdependent missions: 

1. Empowering the next generation through affordable, high-quality education. 
2. Solving water scarcity by building and operating sustainable water infrastructure. 
3. Driving economic productivity by unlocking jobs, investment, and innovation through both non-profit and for-profit ventures. 

Pharo Ventures, which is the Foundation’s for profit- arm, is building commercially sustainable businesses across East Africa to create thousands of jobs and generate inclusive economic growth. We complement the development work above by running for-profit ventures with our current interest being in agri-business and healthcare sectors. 

Pharo Health 

Pharo Health is establishing a portfolio of companies under the Pharo Ventures Group, to drive its healthcare strategy across the region. We intend to transform the healthcare landscape in the Horn of Africa region by providing access to a network of premium diagnostic centers. Pharo Health Somaliland will be a portfolio company of Pharo Ventures Group.  

The first healthcare venture in the portfolio is currently being established in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Building on this foundation, the organization is now launching a flagship diagnostic and healthcare services business in Somaliland, with ambitions to expand nationally and across the wider region.

The Somaliland business will operate as part of a growing regional healthcare network, benefiting from cross-border collaboration, shared expertise, and operational synergies.

Position summary

In order to achieve the vision of Pharo Health, Pharo Foundation seeks to recruit a self-driven and highly capable General Manager for Somaliland (based in Hargeisa) with significant global healthcare experience, requisite academic qualification as well as relevant working experience at senior management level. The General Manager will commit to the opportunity for a minimum of 5 years and be leading the setup of the Diagnostic Centre, start up the operation and lead it towards important business milestones: (1) post-revenue and (2) financial break even. 

Key Relationships 

Role:                                               General Manager – Pharo Health, Somaliland (SL)

Location:                                       Hargeisa, Somaliland

Reporting to:                                Country Director Pharo Foundation SL and Global Director of Health

Direct Reports:                             Pharo Health Management team, SL

Functional Relationships:          Pharo Health Steering Committee (CEO, CFO, COO)

Duties and Responsibilities 

Strategic Vision, Management and Leadership 

• The GM serves as a strategic visionary and influential leader with the skills, passion and commitment to advance transformative leadership in development of the Pharo Health Somaliland strategy. 
• The GM will have a deep commitment to a consumer-focused service culture including but not limited to insurance/institutional clients as well as individual cash-paying patients. 
• Considering the significant market opportunities in Somaliland the GM needs to have an innovative spirit, a collaborative orientation, excellent conceptual abilities, superior management skills, and the financial expertise to ensure a self-sustaining entity. 
• Brand leadership: the GM will participate in various internal and external activities to build the Pharo Health brand within the region.
• Oversee the financial management of the organisation, including long and short-range financial planning to assure sustainability.  
• Marketing and business development: increase revenue from diverse service offerings, contracting corporates and insurance companies, developing and running marketing campaigns. 
• Ensure compliance of the business with organizational and regulatory standards to achieve highest levels of financial control and compliance. 
• Lead the annual budgeting process and ongoing steering and fiscal management of the business. 
• Lead the design and implementation of cross-border initiatives/synergies with the Pharo Health, Ethiopia business and any other portfolio companies

    Human Resource

• As a greenfield project, the GM will be tasked to develop a skilled, knowledgeable, and diverse senior management team. Together with the senior management team, the GM will build a workforce capable of delivering global standards of healthcare services and thereby attaining short and long-term strategies. 
• Provide organizational leadership and guide senior managers responsible for departmental activities toward attainment of strategic goals and objectives.
• The GM will support and motivate the staff; facilitate cross-department collaboration and strengthen internal communications with staff throughout the organization. By so doing the GM will create a positive work environment that supports a consistent high-performance culture throughout the organization’s operations. 
• Increase and encourage employee opportunities for development and advancement, to attract and retain great talent.
• Ensure the development and continuous review of various quality assurance and risk management policies including but not limited to clinical care policies, financial management policies etc. 

Strengthening Infrastructure and Operations 

Ensure the development and continuous review of various quality assurance and risk management policies including but not limited to clinical care policies, financial management policies etc.

Programme Development

Within the course of business, there will be various business expansion programs required to be developed and implemented. The GM will: 

• Ensure well-planned and timely delivery of programs through new and existing staff and external partnerships. 
• Develop and implement standardized policies, procedures, and plans to provide consistent guidance to staff. 
• Develop and maintain positive relationships and active communication with key stakeholders and partners. This includes but is not limited to regulatory authorities, national and regional governments, industry bodies such as insurance, health workers associations, medical training institutions etc. 
• Compliance with all relevant rules and regulations in the jurisdiction of operation.
• Serve as the main spokesperson for the organisation through media releases, conference presentations, town hall meetings, seminars and conferences and other opportunities for communicating the activities, goals, and successes of Pharo Health locally, nationwide and globally. 
• Promote awareness of the need for healthcare and healthcare insurance to build a more educated public.

Stakeholder Management

• Develop and maintain positive relationships and active communication with key stakeholders and partners. This includes but is not limited to regulatory authorities, national and regional governments, industry bodies such as insurance, health workers associations, medical training institutions etc. 
• Compliance with all relevant rules and regulations in the jurisdiction of operation.
• Serve as the main spokesperson for the organisation through media releases, conference presentations, town hall meetings, seminars and conferences and other opportunities for communicating the activities, goals, and successes of Pharo Health locally, nationwide and globally. 
• Promote awareness of the need for healthcare and healthcare insurance to build a more educated public.