Application Guide

How to Apply for Founding Director / Director of Operations

at First Embrace

🏢 About First Embrace

First Embrace is a global charity uniquely focused on scaling WHO-recommended neonatal hospital care, specifically Kangaroo Mother Care, to save newborn lives in resource-limited settings. Working here means directly implementing evidence-based interventions that have proven impact, with the opportunity to build systems that could be adopted by governments across Africa.

About This Role

As Founding Director/Director of Operations, you'll co-lead a life-saving Kangaroo Mother Care pilot in Nigeria, making critical operational decisions that directly impact neonatal survival rates. You'll be responsible for ensuring hospital wards are properly equipped and staffed, while building scalable systems that could transform government healthcare partnerships across the region.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day might start with reviewing neonatal ward metrics from partner hospitals, then meeting with hospital administrators to address equipment or staffing gaps. Afternoon could involve designing scalable training systems for nurses, followed by coordinating with government health officials on partnership frameworks. You'll constantly balance immediate pilot execution with long-term system building for scale.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who First Embrace Is Looking For

  • Has 5+ years of hands-on operational delivery experience in African healthcare or development contexts, preferably with maternal/child health programs
  • Demonstrated ability to coordinate complex stakeholder relationships including hospital administrators, government officials, and clinical staff in Nigeria or similar contexts
  • Proven track record of building scalable operational systems from pilot phase to government partnership readiness
  • Experience making rapid, evidence-based decisions in pilot programs with limited resources and high stakes

📝 Tips for Applying to First Embrace

1

Quantify your experience with Nigerian or similar healthcare systems - mention specific hospitals, government agencies, or partners you've worked with

2

Highlight any Kangaroo Mother Care or neonatal health experience, even if observational - show you understand the specific intervention

3

Provide concrete examples of building scalable systems from pilot phase, not just maintaining existing operations

4

Demonstrate your understanding of WHO neonatal care guidelines and how they apply in resource-limited settings

5

Show evidence of successful stakeholder coordination in complex environments - name specific roles and outcomes

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience with healthcare operations in Nigeria or similar African contexts', 'Examples of building scalable systems from pilot programs to government partnerships', 'Understanding of Kangaroo Mother Care implementation challenges and solutions', 'Ability to make rapid operational decisions with limited data in high-stakes environments']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → WHO's Kangaroo Mother Care implementation guidelines and their adaptation in African contexts
  • → First Embrace's existing programs and partnerships (check their UK website and any Nigerian presence)
  • → Nigeria's current neonatal mortality rates and government healthcare priorities
  • → Similar neonatal care programs in West Africa and their operational challenges
Visit First Embrace's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you had to rapidly iterate a pilot program based on emerging evidence - what data did you use and how did you pivot?
2 How would you approach building trust and coordination between hospital staff, government officials, and charity partners in Nigeria?
3 What specific metrics would you track to measure the success of this Kangaroo Mother Care pilot beyond survival rates?
4 Walk us through how you would scale a successful pilot to government partnership - what systems would need to be in place?
5 How would you handle resistance from hospital staff to implementing new Kangaroo Mother Care protocols?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Generic operational experience without specific healthcare or development context in Africa
  • Focusing only on maintaining systems rather than building scalable ones from pilot phase
  • Inability to discuss specific stakeholder management challenges in Nigerian healthcare settings

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to First Embrace!

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