Executive Director, Education and Transitions

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 Education and Transitions professional looking to increase your impact, read on!

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, the Executive Director, Education and Transitions will be responsible for driving systematic change across the continent through the delivery of Education and Skills Training that provides young people with the skills, knowledge, and competencies they need to succeed in work and in life.  S/he will be responsible for conceptualizing and providing executive leadership to pan-African, regional, multi-country and non-priority country education and skills programming and technical support to country-level education and skills initiatives.

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

• Direct strategic programmatic leadership through providing input, identifying opportunities, and driving cross-organizational programmatic agenda.
• Provide strategic guidance and oversight for the Scholars Program, Transitions, Secondary/Higher Education Initiatives and Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) as thematic program areas.
• Ensure alignment of all thematic areas and programs in relevant domains and work with others to establish, review and maintain the regional strategy, goals and KPIs for country and regional programs, with a clear measurement framework.
• Ensure the Foundation’s work is strategic, continuously relevant, and technically excellent, and delivers on our mission, vision, and values.
• Direct through working with others in roadmap design and delivery for programs and ensuring roadmap design for Scholars Program and Education as an economic sector.
• Set the enterprise vision and long-term strategy roadmap for thematic areas.  
• Develop enterprise-wide roadmaps for thematic areas.
• Engage EXCO and key stakeholders to advocate for/sell the vision and strategy for the thematic areas.
• Proactively remove obstacles and pave the way towards successful outcomes.
• Cultivate best-in-class product/program management culture and practices.
• Lead collaboration and integration across programs and thematic areas within the Education and Transitions portfolio and Country Programs), sharing of best practices, and facilitating use of shared resources across the region.
• Facilitate integration and collaboration across countries, integrated teams, and stakeholders.
• Contribute to the Foundation’s role as a thought leader through its work in the region.
• Represent the Foundation to all parties and stakeholders in the regions and thematic areas including governments, regional decision-making bodies and other organizations.
• Lead regional stakeholder engagement through building and managing relationships with regional bodies and overseeing country-level stakeholder relationship management.
• Create and build productive partnerships with senior officials in government, key contacts in the private sector and other major funders in the region.
• Develop and maintain relationships with Foundation teams across countries for stronger collaboration and to ensure overall success of the mission.
• Cultivate and manage key stakeholder relationships and serve as an ambassador, internally and externally.
• Lead the development of budgets and allocation of resources.
• Manage and be accountable for the budgets in relevant program areas. Ensure expenditure is robustly managed and accountability established.
• Ensure all necessary risk, legal and financial processes are in place for the successful delivery of work and safety and security of employees and Foundation resources.
• Manage workforce needs and ensure the effective planning and implementation of talent management strategies.
• Build and grow committed and talented regional and country leadership teams. Partner with People & Culture on talent and staffing, culture, and change management.  
• Lead the growth of a high-performing culture, drive oneness, build a supportive & collaborative work environment.
• Act as a thought partner to EXCO and Senior Leadership Teams to provide innovative solutions for the Foundation’s programs and leadership challenges including safeguarding and alignment with Foundation values.
• Lead, oversee and manage performance of regional teams within a matrixed environment.
• Provide a safe, secure and productive work environment, ensuring compliance with laws and Foundation policies.

WHO YOU ARE

• Advanced degree in Global Development, Education, Public Policy, or another related field is preferred.
• Fifteen (15+) years of experience of significant senior level experience driving strategy and program success with organizations across multiple countries in Africa.
• Ten (10+) years leadership and management experience of which at least seven years was gained in a multi-country environment in Africa, with a preference for private sector experience.
• Experience in education, development and/or public policy within nonprofit organizations, international NGO’s and/or learning institutions is also helpful.
• Experience in at least one of the thematic areas (Digital, Access to Finance, Education, Gender).
• Experience leading major transformative programmatic change involving multiple stakeholders and rapid growth.
• A track record of success in generating new business and developing an organization.
• Proven experience effectively engaging with senior government officials, key partners, media, business leaders and other influential individuals.
• Expertise working with development, political and social issues across Africa.
• Demonstrated financial management experience including preparation and management of budgets and contracts.
• Skilled communicator and influencer, from executive through to technical levels and external constituencies, know how to navigate ambiguous environments and are comfortable at managing up and beyond hierarchy.
• 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.

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Deadline for Applications is September 30, 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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