Entrepreneurship Development Manager: Kigali

Do you possess a deep passion for entrepreneurship? Does the prospect of supporting innovative startups  excite you? Have you designed or run a tech startup program before? Are you comfortable building or maintaining partnerships with forward-thinking corporates? Are you ready to plan and host pitch events and demo days? Are you adept at juggling multiple priorities? Would you describe yourself as a highly structured individual with fast learning abilities? Are you a systems thinker and experienced in building systems and processes to support the growth of an ecosystem?

Well, this might just be the job for you!

ABOUT US

ALX Africa, a non-profit organisation under the ALX Foundation, is dedicated to unlocking the potential of Africa's digital future. Formerly part of Sand Tech Holdings, we've embarked on an independent journey to provide world-class tech skills training and career acceleration programmes. Our mission is to bridge the digital divide, upskill and reskill talent, and create a generation of innovative leaders. By 2030, we aim to empower 2 million Africans to secure sustainable tech careers.

With hubs in 8 cities across Africa and counting, we provide safe access to quality learning and a dedicated network of expert instructors. Our innovative programmes equip learners with the practical skills and knowledge needed to succeed in today's rapidly evolving tech industry. Through a combination of rigorous coursework, industry partnerships, and hands-on projects, we prepare our students for in-demand roles in software engineering, data science, and cybersecurity.

We achieve this by:

• Providing young professionals with access to the most in-demand tech skills that will power the future.
• Empowering the next generation of technology innovators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders through challenging, real-world coursework.
• Building a lifelong, impactful community of tech professionals that support them at all stages of their career journey. 

 Visit our website www.alxafrica.com to learn more about our digital revolution.

ABOUT THE CITY TEAM

Do you enjoy creating something out of nothing? The City Teams are startups within a larger startup. Each City Team is like a standalone business that is blazing a new path for ALX, but is supported by the history, reputation and global network of ALX’s wider ecosystem of companies and initiatives. In pursuit of our mission, we encourage autonomy, creativity, and experimentation. We embrace risks and failure. We seek those that have a beginners’ mindset, are lifelong learners, thrive in uncertain circumstances and uncharted territory, and have a deep passion for youth engagement.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Entrepreneurship Development Manager will be instrumental in nurturing and expanding the entrepreneurial ecosystem within the country market. This dynamic role offers a unique opportunity to drive both operational excellence and strategic vision as a core member of a City Team. The Manager will report directly to the City General Manager for day-to-day operational leadership and program implementation, while also maintaining a strategic reporting line to the Entrepreneurship Director to ensure alignment with our global entrepreneurial efforts, in particular with our flagship ALX Ventures program. In this capacity, the Manager will integrate practices and perspectives from both city-specific and global contexts to advance our collective mission.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the primary champion for entrepreneurship within the country market, innovating and executing strategies to foster entrepreneurial initiatives within the ALX community
• Host monthly in-person fireside chats with local entrepreneurs and investors to bolster community engagement
• Organize and oversee quarterly in-person events such demo day and product launch events at ALX Tech Hubs to highlight promising startups from our Incubator and Accelerator programs to the local investment community
• Manage and execute weekly entrepreneurship-related events, such as pitch competitions, hackathons, meetups and networking events, enhancing our brand’s local presence
• Ensure high levels of compliance for self-reporting and quarterly updates by entrepreneurs, maintaining a high standard of accountability and progress tracking
• Position ALX Ventures prominently within the local ecosystem as the premier hub for innovative startups and entrepreneurs, including securing recognitions, awards and grants where eligible
• Supervise and mentor community-led entrepreneurial initiatives, ensuring they are in line with our global strategy
• Engage in planning activities and retrospective assessment to foster continuous learning and improvement of our programs

PROGRAM SPECIFIC DUTIES

FOUNDER ACADEMY

• Direct recruitment and enrollment efforts, collaborating with the central team to meet and exceed local market targets
• Facilitate a smooth registration and onboarding process for new entrants, offering weekly office hours for ongoing support
• Deliver constructive feedback on submissions, fostering a culture of excellence and growth

INCUBATOR PROGRAM

• Work closely with the ALX Ventures Incubator Lead to deliver a market-specific, quarterly Incubator program
• Screen and select potential candidates from Founder Academy graduates for the Incubator program, offering both virtual and in-person facilitation sessions
• Launch and oversee an in-person Entrepreneur-in-Residence program, enhancing mentorship and support for incubated startups

ACCELERATOR PROGRAM

• Work closely with the ALX Accelerator Lead to deliver a market-specific, quarterly accelerator program.
• Facilitate connections for startups, such as intern placemen, and identify growth opportunities
• Engage with local investment communities to support our startups and select contenders for local pitch events and an annual pan-African ALX Ventures competition.

REQUIREMENTS 

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in entrepreneurship operations, team management, program and project management.
• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in any field (Master’s degree advantaged).
• Proven track record in a startup environment, with hands-on experience scaling ventures from inception
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, both verbal and written, with an emphasis on clarity and engagement
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and relationship-building abilities, with track record of maintaining an ongoing level of engagement with stakeholders at all levels
• Strong project management skills, capable of leading initiatives from concept to fruition
• Innate problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and a self-starter mentality
• Flexible and adaptable, with the capacity to thrive in a dynamic and evolving environment
• Capable of learning from experiences and applying this knowledge to future challenges
• Experience with remote team management across multiple time zones and exposure to international experiences
•  Previous entrepreneurial experience or teaching in the field highly desirable
• Lead fundraising initiatives to secure financial support from donors, sponsors, and other funding sources for entrepreneurship programs.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with investors, corporates, and industry stakeholders to enhance program impact and reach.
• Drive ecosystem development by fostering collaboration among key players, including startups, investors, accelerators, and government institutions.

 

This role is a non-people manager role. The successful candidate must be based in Kigali, Rwanda, and possess a valid work permit authorizing employment within the Republic of Rwanda.