THE OPPORTUNITY

The Director of Partnerships will lead efforts to identify, cultivate, and secure strategic partnerships with governments and philanthropic organizations, bilateral and multilateral agencies, corporate foundations, and other funders. This role is critical to expanding the organization’s resource base and fostering collaborations that amplify impact across programs. The Director will work closely with internal teams to align partnership strategies with organizational priorities and ensure seamless integration of partner contributions. This role is not focused on direct fundraising, but rather on building coalitions, aligning resources, and creating co-funding opportunities that amplify systemic change. The Director will serve as a strategic connector, fostering trust and alignment among diverse stakeholders to achieve common goals in areas such as education, health, climate resilience, and social equity.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

Strategic Partnership Development

  • Identify, cultivate, and manage relationships with government entities, foundations, and other donors to develop joint funding strategies and collaborative initiatives.

  • Convene and facilitate multi-stakeholder discussions to align priorities and resources for collective impact.

  • Serve as the primary liaison for strategic partnerships, ensuring clear communication and mutual accountability.

Coalition Building & Co-Funding

  • Design and implement frameworks for public-private partnerships and philanthropic collaboratives.

  • Develop shared governance models and agreements for co-funded projects.

  • Monitor and evaluate partnership outcomes to demonstrate impact and inform future strategies.

  • Influences stakeholders to champion the Mastercard Foundation mission and values in support of young people

Policy & Systems Alignment

  • Work with internal teams and external partners to align initiatives with government priorities and philanthropic trends.

  • Provide thought leadership on emerging opportunities for collaborative funding and systems change.

Stakeholder Engagement & Representation

  • Represent the organization in high-level meetings, conferences, and working groups with government and donor partners.

  • Prepare and deliver presentations, proposals, and reports that articulate the value of collaboration.

Internal Coordination

  • Collaborate with program leads to identify opportunities for joint funding and partnership development.

  • Maintain accurate records of partnership activities and agreements in CRM systems.

  • Coordinate and support partnerships with other donors and governments across the enterprise

 

Strategic Leadership

  • Conduct self and lead the team in a manner coherent with the Leadership Signature of the Foundation

  • Adjust resources, roles, job structures, accountabilities, processes, systems, etc. to ensure organizational alignment.

  • Make decisions and take action to achieve challenging goals

  • Oversee all the financial accountabilities for the cluster as per DOA including program proposal approvals to board level; opex budgeting and management etc.

Knowledge and expertise

  • Develop the Foundation’s knowledge and expertise on government and donor relations.

  • Develop and share Foundation-wide frameworks, tools, and best practices.

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Policy and Thought Leadership

  • Support the shaping of policy and participate in influencing decision makers across the ecosystem, drawing on our expertise and insights, with a particular focus on strategic priorities and target groups as necessary.

People leadership

  • Maintain high levels of engagement amongst team driving oneness and deepening the culture of the Foundation and growing team members.

  • Embedding and clarifying the Foundation’s performance management system, rewards, capacity and career management.

  • Foster an inclusive work environment that values diversity and promotes equal opportunities

  • Create strategic insights for action

WHO YOU ARE

  • 15+ years of experience in philanthropy, government relations, or strategic partnerships.
  • Proven track record of building cross-sector collaborations and managing multi-million-dollar initiatives.
  • Familiarity with public funding mechanisms, grantmaking processes, and philanthropic networks.
  • Possess excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures.
  • Experience in coalition building with multiple stakeholders.
  • French language and/or local language skills are an asset.
  • Proven track record of building and managing strategic partnerships.
  • Strong understanding of higher education systems or health systems, particularly in Africa.
  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Innovative and entrepreneurial individual who can develop new or creative approaches to problems while inspiring others on the team.
  • Drive to continually experiment and innovate, building and leveraging best-in-class expertise and learnings.
  • Commitment to the value of co-creation, employing deep listening and authentically inclusive approach.
  • Demonstrated success in building and managing high performing teams.
  • Knowledge of philanthropic trends, major foundation practices, and donor engagement strategies.
  • Expertise working with development, political and social issues across Africa.
  • Demonstrated financial management experience including preparation and management of budgets and contracts.
  • Skilled communicator and influencer, from executive through to technical levels and external constituencies, know how to navigate ambiguous environments and are comfortable at managing up and beyond hierarchy.  
  • Ability to build and engage teams. Effectively develop, lead, and provide strategic direction to a diverse team of leaders across multiple countries. Commitment to equality, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Fosters a positive spirit of collaboration in a complex environment.
  • Results Orientation, innovative and entrepreneurial. 
  • Exceptional organizational and project management abilities.

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/
Follow the Foundation on Twitter at @MastercardFdn

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.