Deputy Director, Pathways to Scale (P2S) at at World University Service of Canada (WUSC)

Job Description

Position Title:          Deputy Director, Pathways to Scale (P2S)

Position Location:   Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda or Ethiopia, with a strong preference for Rwanda

Reports to:               Project Director, Pathways to Scale

Contract term:         Full-time, 1 year renewable

Salary Scale:               According to local salary scale depending on the final position location

Likely start date:    July 2025

Application deadline: June 10, 2025

Languages: Fluency in English is required

Background

WUSC is a Canadian global development organization working to catalyze positive education and economic outcomes for young people. We bring together and collaborate with a diverse network of partners (including students, volunteers, schools, governments, not-for-profits, and businesses) who share this mission. Together, we influence systems change, and foster inclusive, youth-centered solutions that enable young people to thrive and belong. We work with all young people, with a focus on women and displaced populations.  WUSC currently operates in 28 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as in Canada, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $65 million. Our global team includes over 100 staff in Canada and more than 250 staff internationally, implementing a diverse portfolio of development projects in collaboration with numerous multilateral and bilateral donors, and philanthropic foundations.

WUSC is currently recruiting a dynamic Deputy Director who will provide senior-level technical and strategic leadership to support the start-up and delivery of a large five year multi-country project supporting the growth of women led enterprises, particularly those led by young rural women. Funded by Mastercard Foundation, the project will deploy a combination of targeted business development and capital to support the sustainable growth of MSMEs led or owned by women. Businesses targeted will primarily be micro businesses in rural areas, however a subset of larger women-led businesses will also be supported to assess potential for impact on young rural women. The project will operate in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Ghana and Nigeria with a broad range of partners. WUSC will work in close partnership with an access to finance partner responsible for capital deployment, with WUSC coordinating business development services delivered in partnership with local Enterprise Support Organisations (ESOs). WUSC will lead a strong learning strategy which will assess various use cases for the deployment of both finance and BDS and the impact on the traditionally underserved segment of young rural women. WUSC has the overall management responsibility of the project.

General Responsibilities

The Deputy Project Director (DPD) supports the Project Director (PD) in ensuring that the P2S project reaches its stated results and objectives. The DPD assists with strategy and work planning, coordination and management of project technical staff, and overall management and administration of the project at the regional level. In the absence of the Project Director (PD), the DPD will oversee the management of the regional office and represent the project in official forums.

Under the supervision of the PD, the DPD will work closely with and supervise the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Manager. The DPD will also work closely with the Access to Finance partner and WUSC global team in providing technical support for the capital structures  across the four countries.

The DPD will further provide technical expertise in MSME business growth,  development and microfinance, and lead on convening and managing the investment committee. The DPD will lead on the learning agenda, working collaboratively with the project team and partners in its design.

Key responsibilities include:

Project Management and Technical leadership

• Support the Project Director in their role to oversee the effective and efficient implementation of Pathways to Scale, including support with project strategy, report writing and annual work planning.
• Provide subject-matter expertise in MSME business growth and fund management which includes fund governance, financial products and loan disbursement.
• Collaborate with the Access to Finance partner and WUSC global team to design and optimize capital structures across four countries.
• Convene and manage the Investment Committee, ensuring sound governance and decision-making processes.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and innovations to inform programmatic strategies and approaches.
• Participate in relevant WUSC technical working groups and communities of practice.

Learning Agenda & Knowledge Management

• Lead the co-creation and implementation of the project’s learning agenda in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop behaviour change strategies linked to the learning outcomes.
• Ensure learning objectives are embedded in the project design and implementation cycles
• Work with the PD to ensure there is project-wide learning both internally and with partners.
• Promote evidence-based decision-making through coordination with the MERL Manager and program staff.
• Work with the MERL Manager and Communications Specialist on developing the right knowledge products and disseminating them to relevant internal and external audiences.

Partnership Engagement & Coordination

• Under the leadership of the PD, build and maintain strong relationships with project stakeholders, including the donor, access to finance partner, enterprise support organizations and relevant government authorities.
• Represent the project in official forums such as high-level meetings, conferences as needed.
• Participates in coordination and planning meetings with project stakeholders.

Human Resource Management

• Support the PD in the recruitment of project staff across the countries of operation.
• Directly supervise and provide guidance to the MERL Manager.

Work environment

• Ability to contribute to WUSC’s organizational culture that respects differences, including sex, age, ability, refugee or migration status, race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and other identity factors.
• Support a working environment is free from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH) and adheres to the corresponding WUSC safeguarding policies.
• Understand own responsibilities towards ensuring high standards of prevention and response measures for SEAH.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education

• A university degree in a relevant field such as International Development, Economics, Business Administration, Finance, or MERL. A Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• Additional training or certification in enterprise development, microfinance, investment management, entrepreneurship support, financial inclusion, women’s and/or youth economic empowerment or project management is an added advantage.

Experience

• Minimum of 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience in international development, with at least 6 years in a senior technical or managerial role.
• Proven experience in managing multi-country or regional programs focused on MSME growth and development, access to finance and programs with an investment component.
• Experience supervising technical teams and managing cross-functional and regional collaboration.
• Track record of designing and implementing learning agendas or adaptive management frameworks.
• Experience engaging with investment committees, managing governance processes, or overseeing capital structures.
• Familiarity with donor-funded projects and compliance requirements, preferably in Sub Saharan Africa.
• Proven experience of adaptability to a challenging and constantly changing environment requiring iterative planning on a regular basis
• Proven knowledge of and commitment to the concepts of Gender Equality

Assets

• Experience working with or in partnership with local financial institutions, accelerators, ESOs or impact investors.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and inclusion principles in development programming.
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills across diverse cultural contexts.
• Experience with digital tools for remote collaboration, project management, or MEL (e.g., Salesforce, Power BI, DevResults).
• Ability to work with a flexible schedule across multiple time zones.
• Ability to travel frequently for both domestic and international travels as required.

WHY WORK WITH WUSC?

Join Us. Our work is important, cutting-edge, and rewarding. We encourage curiosity, innovation, and flexibility.

WUSC offers a dynamic international work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce. We offer employees exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference in the lives of youth around the world. Employees at WUSC work hard to create lasting change in education, economic opportunities and empowerment.

APPLICATIONS

WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion, sexual exploitation or abuse of any form.

WUSC is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and abilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please note that only the candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.