This role is responsible for shaping and driving the strategic direction, programmatic execution, and operational excellence of the Pan-African Program platform. It oversees three key functional areas—Strategy & Planning, Program Design & Development, and Program Delivery & Operations—ensuring alignment with organizational goals and fostering innovation, impact, and coherence across thematic areas and delivery platforms. The Director also promotes collaboration across Pan-African platforms, while modelling and championing the Foundation’s values and culture.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
Lead the development and execution of the organization’s strategic plan across all programmatic areas.
Provide thought leadership on scaling impact and drive exponential change through innovative approaches.
Support the Executive Director in identifying synergies across sector strategies and co-creating new Pan-African initiatives.
Prepare strategic materials for presentation to the Board and the Executive Committee.
Program Design & Delivery
Drive excellence in program design and delivery through Pods, integrated team approaches and cross-functional resource mobilization.
Ensure effective co-creation with partners and stakeholders, prioritizing exceptional partner and youth experiences.
Codify and adapt program models for diverse partnership archetypes.
Program Operations
Oversee planning, coordination, monitoring, reporting, learning, and quality assurance across Pan-African programs.
Resolve operational bottlenecks escalated by the Head of Program Delivery and Operations.
Ensure enterprise-wide coordination and a holistic view of program operations.
Strategy & Innovation Planning
Collaborate with sector teams to embed innovation into program design and delivery.
Partner with the Impact team to develop and apply a Theory of Change and impact measurement framework.
Contribute to thought leadership in collaboration with the PAC team.
Stakeholder Engagement
Identify and cultivate strategic relationships to enhance the Foundation’s Pan-African work.
Leadership & Culture
Lead the Strategic Delivery team.
Promote collaboration, accountability, and professional growth across the Pan-African program team.
Champion the Foundation’s values and culture across all programmatic engagements.
Qualifications and Experience
Advanced degree in Public Policy, International Development, agrifood systems, life sciences or a related field.
Finance and management education background and experience in digital strategies will be an asset.
Minimum 10 years of senior leadership experience in strategy, programming, or program operations within a mission-driven organization.
Proven expertise in strategic planning, program design, and organizational development.
Proven track record in strategy development at a regional or continental level.
Experience with Design for Scale and exponential change methodologies.
Strong understanding of performance management and risk mitigation.
Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
Strong Project Management skills and experience: ability to manage multiple high-profile projects and effectively leverage all resources to achieve results.
Experience in coordinating diverse programs and functions for a very diverse department.
Well-honed written, verbal, and creative communication skills, including the ability to translate insight into content and create professional presentations.
Professional maturity, sensitivity to different cultures, and impeccable integrity.
Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
Knowledge of the non-profit sector and the context in which non-profit organizations operate.
Strong functionality with computers and software, particularly Microsoft Office Suite (Access, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and specialized PM&E software.
Strong facilitation and organizational skills.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply online via the Mastercard Foundation career portal on Workday. You can access the application link here: Apply Now
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply through the Mastercard Foundation Workday portal. Use the following link to access the application page: https://www.myjobmag.co.ke/apply-now/1204196.
