Location: Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda
Deadline: Sep 7, 2023
Job Description
ABOUT MASTERCARD FOUNDATION
Mastercard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper. Through its Young Africa Works strategy and Canadian EleV program, the Foundation works with partners to ensure that millions of young people, especially young women, access quality education, financial services and dignified work. Mastercard Foundation was established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. The Foundation is independent with its own Board of Directors and CEO.
THE WORK AT THE FOUNDATION
We are currently in an exciting period at the Mastercard Foundation as we intensify the implementation of the Young Africa Works strategy, aiming to empower 30 million young people throughout Africa to access dignified and fulfilling employment.
To ensure the Foundation’s accessibility to our partners and program participants, we have established offices in Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Uganda. These offices provide strong in-country support for the implementation of Young Africa Works. We collaborate with governments, the private sector, educators, and other funders to enhance the quality of education and vocational training, equip young individuals with the necessary skills for the workforce, expand access to financial services for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and facilitate connections between job seekers and meaningful employment opportunities.
Our values serve as our guiding principles, transcending and surpassing all other considerations. We wholeheartedly encourage you to bring your bold ideas, curiosity, and expertise to your work.
If you are an experienced Scholars leader looking to increase your impact, read on!
THE OPPORTUNITY
Reporting to the Executive Director, Education & Transitions, the Senior Director, Scholars Program will champion the building of the Scholars Program brand and lead its translation into action lead delivery and expansion to grow a global network of higher education institutional partners across Africa while maintaining the Program’s global and regional focus. S/he will lead the identification and development of new partnerships, ensuring inclusion, and incorporating robust mechanisms to enable the Developing Africa’s next generation of leaders through the provision of financial social, and academic support to Scholars.
The successful candidate will be based in any of our offices in Africa (Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, or Uganda).
WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE
- Develop and execute strategies for expanding the program’s reach and impact globally while maintaining a strong focus on Africa.
- Lead the delivery of the program’s objectives, working closely with higher education institutional partners across the continent.
- Take charge of building and promoting the Scholars Program brand, ensuring its recognition and impact in the field.
- Drive brand awareness and establish the program’s reputation as a leading force in developing Africa’s next generation of leaders.
- Continuously assess and improve the program’s effectiveness and impact.
- Identify opportunities for innovation, research, and programmatic enhancements that align with the evolving needs of Scholars and higher education institutions.
- Scale reach and depth through program expansion and driving cross-program collaboration.
- Set goals and targets, monitor to ensure their attainment.
- Ensure effective linkage between the Scholars Program and country programs.
- Champion Program quality and branding, working in close collaboration with senior leadership of implementing partner institutions.
- Design programs and plans to ensure that the right deserving individuals join the Program, that they get a quality education and effective leadership development, and that they are supported to transition successfully to their next stage in life.
- Ensure successful transition of Scholars into the world of work or further education.
- Ensure that learnings and research findings are continually integrated into program design and implementation.
- Ensure that the program actively promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion across all aspects of its operations.
- Implement robust mechanisms and policies to create an inclusive environment that empowers Scholars from diverse backgrounds.
- Lead the identification, cultivation, and development of strategic partnerships with higher education institutions and other relevant stakeholders.
- Foster collaborations that enable the provision of comprehensive support to Scholars, incorporating financial, social, and academic assistance.
- Build and nurture strong relationships with senior leadership of higher education institutions within the Scholars Program partner network.
- Establish and manage linkages and effective relationships with senior leadership in priority countries in Africa, and relevant stakeholders externally.
- Influence institutions, funders and policymakers to effect the sea of change in education and future of work.
- Create and oversee programs that build a bridge to dignified and fulfilling work for Scholars.
- Develop placement service platform for Scholars Program, working in collaboration with similar initiatives in Africa and globally.
- Provide support to partner institutions with implementation of transition support mechanisms and effective transformative leadership programs.
- Build alumni networks, including graduates of the Scholars Program and other Foundation programs and leverage it to advance Scholar’s transition.
- Effectively lead, mentor and coach staff within the function, ensuring high quality of work and alignment with Foundation values.
- Serve as a member of the enterprise-wide General Management Team
- Developing, building, and maintaining relationships with the team across Africa and in the Toronto office for stronger collaboration and to ensure overall success.
- Representing the Foundation at relevant events
WHO YOU ARE
- Master’s/MBA or PhD in a relevant field such as international development, education, public policy, or another related field.
- At least Fifteen (15) years’ experience in the private sector, passionate about education and Africa who has demonstrated experience in building a new initiative or transformed an existing initiative into something even more impactful.
- Extensive leadership experience in managing complex programs or initiatives, preferably in the field of education or youth development.
- Proven ability to think in a strategic, transformative way, able to conceptualize initiatives/processes that will drive large scale change.
- Proven experience effectively engaging with technical experts to build communities of practice.
- French language and/or local language skills are an asset.
- Proven track record of building and managing strategic partnerships.
- Strong understanding of higher education systems, particularly in Africa.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Innovative and entrepreneurial individual who can develop new or creative approaches to problems while inspiring others on the team.
- Drive to continually experiment and innovate, building and leveraging best-in-class expertise and learnings.
- Commitment to the value of co-creation, employing deep listening and authentically inclusive approach.
- Demonstrated success in building and managing high performing teams.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and inspire others.
- Exceptional organizational and project management abilities.
- Expertise working with development, political and social issues across Africa.
- Demonstrated financial management experience including preparation and management of budgets and contracts.
- Ability to build and engage teams. Effectively develop, lead, and provide strategic direction to a diverse team of leaders across multiple countries. Commitment to equality, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Fosters a positive spirit of collaboration in a complex environment.
- Results Orientation, innovative and entrepreneurial.
- Flexible, adaptable, agile, and able to execute a range of job duties with multiple deadlines and changing priorities.
- Proven excellence in verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures and to distill complex information and data into accessible conversation and written pieces.
- Possess professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values.
- You have a commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision.
Deadline for Applications is September 7, 2023
Mastercard Foundation (the “Foundation”) values and respects your privacy. By submitting an application for this opportunity, you hereby agree to the Foundation’s collection, use and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with its Privacy Policy (available at https://mastercardfdn.org/privacy/). Please note that the Foundation may share your personal information with third-party agencies that support the Foundation’s recruitment activities, and such third-party agencies may contact you directly regarding this opportunity. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Foundation’s Privacy Officer at the address indicated in its Privacy Policy.
The Mastercard Foundation values the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the organization and we are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone.
Completion of satisfactory business references and background checks are essential conditions of employment.
For more information and to sign up for the Foundation’s newsletter, please visit http://www.mastercardfdn.org/
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