Lead, Program Operations

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 professional in program operations looking to increase your impact, read on!

THE OPPORTUNITY 

Reporting to the Head, Operations – Country Programs, the Lead, Program Operations will support a Country Programs Team by driving program planning, pipeline management, and operational efficiency. This role oversees program implementation processes, policies, and guidelines while enhancing capacity building across platforms. It also ensures rigorous monitoring and acceleration of program execution for effective delivery.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE 

• Manage the country’s program-wide 24-month rolling calendar of priorities and activities.
• Lead the coordination of country program activities, ensuring effective prioritization and execution.
• Work with the Country Director, Program Leads, and Finance to oversee all programs forecast planning, budgeting, and the annual planning cycle.
• Track and collate program-wide portfolio implementation plans, progress, and status reports.
• Organize and lead the country review and planning retreats, coordinating with committees across functional units to develop annual operational delivery plans and trackers linked to budgets.
• Develop, implement, and govern programming guidelines, tools, policies, and processes to ensure standardization, quality assurance, and efficiency.
• Manage revisions to the Country Integrated Team's programmatic processes, policies, and guidelines.
• Implement process improvements and drive efficiencies in program delivery.
• Maintain and report on turnaround time (TAT) trackers for partnership development and pipeline acceleration.
• Drive process excellence and capacity building within program teams through training, workshops, and learning initiatives in coordination with Research, Knowledge Management, and Foundation Academy.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and strategic cohesion among Country Directors and program operations teams.
• Accelerate program execution and delivery through active monitoring, tracking, and status reviews.
• Develop and manage integrated plans, tracking progress and milestones through regular status updates.
• Lead the execution of complex country initiatives and enterprise-wide projects involving country team members and external stakeholders.

WHO YOU ARE

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Economics, Statistics, or a related field; a master’s or postgraduate degree is an asset.
• Relevant professional qualifications in program management and planning. Certifications in Project Management, Change Management, and Process Management are added advantages.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in project and program management across both private and public sectors.
• Proven ability to develop and operationalize tools for planning, monitoring performance indicators, and ensuring operational excellence.
• Expertise in developing, implementing, and tracking strategic, portfolio, and operational plans, including roadmaps and partnerships.
• Experience in process design and improvement using globally recognized frameworks such as Lean Six Sigma.
• Familiarity with diverse planning frameworks, particularly those emphasizing inclusion (youth, marginalized groups, and women).
• Experience in capacity building and stakeholder engagement to enhance skills and competencies.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills to define root causes, evaluate alternatives, and implement effective solutions.
• Detail-oriented, methodical, and process-driven approach to delivering high-quality results under pressure.
• Strong prioritization and organizational skills to manage multiple tasks effectively.
• Ability to listen actively, provide and receive constructive feedback, and build strong, collaborative relationships.
• Tech-savvy with an aptitude for learning new information design and communication technologies.
• Agile, adaptable, and comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced, and ambiguous environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal, written, and presentation), with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders across cultures.
• Professional maturity, cultural sensitivity, and integrity in all interactions.
• Demonstrate a commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision.

Deadline for Applications is March 12, 2025.

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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