Job Vacancies at Mastercard Foundation

Mastercard Foundation is a global foundation based across four hubs in Kigali, Rwanda, Nairobi, Kenya, Accra, Ghana and Toronto, Canada. Our programs promote financial inclusion and advance education and learning in Africa, primarily for young people, and in Canada for Indigenous youth. The Foundation was established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. From inception, the Foundation was designed to be a separate entity and independent from Mastercard. Our policies, operations, and funding decisions are made by our President and Board of Directors.

The Foundation believes that youth employment is key to unlocking prosperity, both for youth and their societies. Enabling young women and men from disadvantaged communities to secure dignified and fulfilling work will ensure inclusive development and economic growth in Africa.

We are recruiting to fill the following positions below:

1.) Program Partner

Job Location: Lagos
Employment Type: Full-time

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, Nigeria, 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 Program Partner professional looking to increase your impact, read on!

The Opportunity

• Reporting to the Program Lead, the Program Partner will be responsible for supporting design and implementation activities related to program delivery in Nigeria.
• The role will provide expertise and interact effectively with partner organizations and ecosystem stakeholders to advance the delivery of the Young Africa Works strategy at the country level.

Ways You Can Contribute

• Provide support to the Program Lead in diagnosing and contributing to expertise on the financing environment and policy to inform country strategy design, partnership development, and monitoring processes.
• Collaborate with Program Leads / Partners to review proposals, develop strategic outcomes and program roadmaps.
• Contribute to evolution in thinking and new approaches needed to get to scale.
• Integrate impact considerations to ensure the needs of young women and young people, in general, are addressed within the program design.
• Support the delivery of appropriate mechanisms to monitor effectiveness and impact of Financing interventions in collaboration with Impact staff.
• Communicate progress and learnings from projects to colleagues and the wider development community.
• Identify challenges and opportunities facing the creatives sector that can be unlocked through education, skills, business development services, market, regulatory support, and financial systems to drive job growth.
• Contribute insights to the Foundation’s thought leadership on youth employment in Africa.
• Support the adaptation of the Foundation’s programming and learning related to MSME/Financing to specific country contexts, leveraging country diagnostics and learning from our portfolio of partners.
• Manage current and future financing programs, implement partner coordination, review narrative and financial reporting, undertake regular partner/site visits and distill learnings.
• Build relationships with partner organizations, communities of practice, and relevant support systems.
• Serve as a local point of contact and collaborator across a range of interested parties on issues of common concern to leverage positive impact toward common goals.
• Represent the Foundation and collaborate with key internal and external stakeholders.

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Business and Development Economics or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in a similar organization.
• Relevant professional qualification and a member of a relevant professional body.
• Experience and expertise and ability in designing and managing relevant and appropriate solutions for MSMEs in various sectors and various stages of development.
• Experience working on MSME support programs in Nigeria and knowledge of Nigerian and West African social, economic, regulatory, business, and political contexts.
• Demonstrate experience in project design and management with focus on enterprise development and MSME support.
• 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.
• Excellent understanding of MSME segments (from early-stage start-ups to growth-stage SMEs) in Africa and the systemic challenges constraining their growth, with a particularly understanding of the Nigeria context.
• Excellent understanding of the role MSMEs can play in economic transformation and job creation.
• Excellent budgeting skills with the ability to manage a portfolio of commitments.
• Excellent project management skills, including multi-stakeholder projects.
• You have a commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision.

Application Closing Date: 24th November, 2023.

Click here to apply online

2.) Consultant, Executive Recruitment and Sourcing

Job Location: Remote
Employment Type: Contract
Duration: 6 months

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 Talent Acquisition professional looking to increase your impact, read on!

The Opportunity

• Reporting to the Director Talent, this role is responsible for identifying, sourcing, and recruiting for leadership roles for the Foundation’s business needs, now and for the future.

Ways You Can Contribute

• Partner and support the Director Talent and Head Talent Acquisition for leadership recruitment.
• Act as Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Executive level sourcing, candidate relationship management and onboarding.
• Conduct pro-active research and market mapping and generate talent insights.
• Develop detailed recruitment plans and follow them through to successful completion, adjusting as needed. Maintain meticulous tracking to enable reporting and continuous improvement.
• Successfully source, pipeline and fill assigned roles and determine use of and relationship with external Executive Search vendors to deliver on sourcing and recruitment activity. Manage interfaces ensuring that value is delivered to the Foundation. 
• Create proactive pipeline development strategies for future talent needs and vacancies.

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or related field.
• Relevant professional qualification.
• Extensive international recruitment expertise with a focus on Africa and global talent sourcing.
• Experience in managing end-to-end executive recruitment of roles with varying degrees of complexity.
• Experience in a global role within a best practice environment, well-versed in industry trends, and the evolving competitive talent landscape.
• Experience with direct sourcing strategies including referral generation, online social networking, resume database mining, and search engine sourcing to actively build candidate pipelines.
• Experience in delivery of enterprise-wide recruitment, pipelining and onboarding programs.
• Commitment to high quality outcomes and maintaining The Foundation's reputation.
• Strong communication, negotiation and relationship management skills. 
• Strong problem-solving abilities and the ability to work independently.
• Hands-on experience with Applicant Tracking Systems, resume databases and sourcing tools.
• Strategic sourcing capabilities including experience with data mining and sourcing for passive candidates, particularly for more specialized roles up to executive level.
• Proven experience in executive recruitment or a related field, demonstrating a deep understanding of the executive search process.
• Ability to exercise skills in diplomacy, tact and discretion.

Application Closing Date: 30th November, 2023.

Click here to apply online

3.) Chief of Staff

Job Location: Nigeria
Employment Type: Full-time

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, Nigeria, 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 Program Partner professional looking to increase your impact, read on!

The Opportunity

• Reporting to the President and CEO, the Chief of Staff enables and assists the CEO to advance the Mastercard Foundation’s priorities and goals. Serving as a trusted advisor, the Chief of Staff provides strategic analysis and sound judgment on enterprise matters.
• S/he plays a pivotal role in coordinating, organizing, and prioritizing key issues.
• In addition, the Chief of Staff collaborates with all levels of the organization, leads meetings, and oversees the planning and execution of tasks ensuring that the CEO can make timely decisions in a dynamic environment.
• The successful candidate will be based in any of our offices in Canada or Africa (Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, or Uganda).

Ways You Can Contribute

• Works with CEO to shape and articulate the Foundation’s long- and short-term strategic objectives.
• Advances objectives and enables alignment of enterprise initiatives through oversight and coordination of workstreams, regular feedback, and information cascade from the CEO’s office.
• Prepares and/or coordinates development of briefing materials for CEO for meetings, events, or decisions.
• Produces the Quarterly updates for the Executive Committee (ExCo) and Board on progress towards annual goals/KPIs.
• Coordinates with ExCo on agenda topics for Board meetings. Summarizes decisions and guidance from each meeting and debriefs teams on follow-up actions.  Tracks these actions in advance of next Board meeting.  
• Participates in ExCo and leadership reviews of key topics (e.g., programs, operations, policies, etc.) and follows up to ensure decisions are communicated clearly and implemented in a timely manner.
• Synthesizes information, including critical information, perspectives of others, factual material, and recommendations for decision-making on particular topics being led by the CEO.
• Develops presentation materials, as required, aimed at high level stakeholder engagements of CEO.
• Works with CEO and Senior Director, Board Governance to provide input and coordinate on Board agendas, support development of Board materials, and follow-up.
• Coordinates with ExCo members to develop agendas for ExCo/leadership retreats, General Management Team retreats, and staff updates. This includes direction for these retreats and follow up with accountable parties on agreed outcomes, decisions, and actions.
• Systematically structures and ranks critical matters and avail essential data to facilitate the CEO in making prompt decisions and executing suitable measures.

Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination:

• Supports the CEO in high-level meetings (e.g., with Heads of State, senior government officials, business leaders, etc.) and if needed, represents CEO at such meetings (internal and external meetings).
• Builds trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders to advance Foundation's objectives.
• Provides a strategic view or recommendation on activities/requests for CEO's time. This includes events, speaking engagements, media interviews, and interactions with staff and external parties. This ensures the CEO's preparedness and timely completion of follow-up actions from her engagements.
• Coordinates and engages with functional and program leaders to facilitate completion of strategic initiatives.

Communication & Leadership:

• Works closely with Policy and Thought Leadership on key messages for speeches, presentations, and other engagements to ensure consistency of voice, values, and vision.
• Plays a leadership role in partnership with the Public Affairs and Communications team, during crises or high-pressure situations, coordinating responses, and ensuring the CEO is informed and able to make timely decisions.
• Provides leadership for strategic and operational planning to ensure efficient running of the office of the CEO.
• Demonstrates effective and trustworthy leadership for leading and planning meetings, determining business requirements, and guiding teams towards success.
• Provide leadership for strategic and operational planning to ensure efficient running of the office of the CEO.

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field from a recognized university.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in leadership, staffing, and supporting Senior Executives or a CEO.
• A minimum of 8 years of experience as a Chief of Staff in similar contexts.
• Brings in-depth knowledge and experience in international affairs or international development.
• Relevant professional qualifications and member of a relevant professional body.
• Demonstrates a high degree of emotional intelligence and ability to make decisions.
• Strategic mindset with deep understanding of operations with bias for responsive plan of action.
• Strong collaborative skills and comfortable working with individuals at various levels of the organization.
• Experience in delivering results in a dynamic environment with time-sensitive demands.
• Excellent written and verbal communications.
• Experience working in various cultural contexts, and with diverse teams.
• Able to be entrusted with delegated power and approach this work with humility.
• A service mindset and works to enable the success of the CEO and team.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills and capable of providing clear feedback diplomatically.
• A natural problem-solver with a strong bias towards achieving results.
• Consummate professional who embodies integrity, discretion, trust, humility, and deep listening.
• You have a commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision.
• You can accommodate a high level of travel.

Application Closing Date: 7th December, 2023.

Click here to apply online