Head of Pan African Programs

THE OPPORTUNITY

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE:

• Serve as a senior advisor and thought partner to the Executive Director of PANA, providing strategic counsel and support across key initiatives.
• Drive alignment between the strategic priorities and program implementation, ensuring consistent progress tracking and the ability to pivot strategically when required.
• Provide analytical and strategic input to support decision-making, program development, and long-term planning.
• Monitor and support the performance tracking of Pan African programs, maintaining systems, tools, and templates that align with organizational priorities.
• Prepare high-level briefing notes, talking points, and strategic documents for the ED’s internal and external engagements.
• Support the preparation of management reports, presentations, and strategic recommendations, grounded in data and insights from internal and external sources.
• Lead the planning, coordination, and follow-through of leadership team meetings, strategic retreats, and cross-functional reviews.
• Maintain and oversee governance processes related to planning and performance management tools.
• Identify, document, assess, and monitor key risks, dependencies, and decisions related to program execution, escalating issues as appropriate.
• Manage relationships with high-level internal and external stakeholders on behalf of the ED, ensuring consistent, strategic engagement.
• Regularly report on program performance, including status updates and performance against targets.
• Collate, analyse, and present business intelligence data to inform strategy and improve execution outcomes.

WHO YOU ARE:

• A master’s degree and above in public policy, International Development, Business Management, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum of 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic advisory, executive support, program management, or related roles within large-scale development programs or international institutions.
• Demonstrated experience working closely with senior executives, providing high-level strategic, analytical, and operational support.
• Proven track record of driving cross-functional alignment, managing complex initiatives, and supporting organizational leadership in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Strong experience in stakeholder engagement, particularly with high-level partners, donors, and government or multilateral institutions.
• Experience in the African development context, with a sound understanding of regional socio-economic and political dynamics, is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in managing complex projects and initiatives, including planning, tracking performance, and ensuring timely delivery.
• Ability to interpret complex data, generate actionable insights, and support decision-making through evidence-based recommendations.
• Understanding of governance processes, risk identification, and issue escalation frameworks within a PANA programmatic setting.
• Strong skills in managing diverse, high-level stakeholder relationships and facilitating effective collaboration across functions and organizations.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and persuasively to executive stakeholders, cross-functional teams, and external partners.
• Works effectively with others, building trusted relationships and influencing without direct authority.
• Focused on outcomes and accountability, with a strong drive to deliver high-quality work under pressure.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and change; able to pivot and manage shifting priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Maintains high ethical standards, exercises sound judgment, and handles confidential information with utmost professionalism.
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
• Possess excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures.
• Possess professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity.

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.

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