Country Director at MasterCard

Reporting to the Executive Director, Country Programs, the role will be responsible for overseeing the design and implementation of Country programs to advance the Foundation’s programmatic priorities.  The role will also be responsible for delivering the impact targets set for the country and providing in-country leadership to all co-located and integrated teams with the responsibility for driving oneness and represent the Foundation at the highest levels of government, private sector, civil society/community forums and their stakeholders. 

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

• Lead the origination and design of the country road map across all relevant economic sectors and cross cutting themes.
• Integrate impact considerations to ensure the needs of young women and young people in general are addressed within the program design.
• Collaborate with Country Program team in development of strategies relevant to Young Africa Works in Rwanda/Uganda and their interlinkages to entrepreneurship ecosystem support interventions.
• Ensure success and impact from country programs, through supporting partners with implementation, collaboration, integration, and innovation across strategic priorities / thematic areas.
• Build monitoring framework to assess impact and synthesize learning.
• Establish shared learning venues for organizational wide learning.
• Develop and manage the budgets and ensure spending adjustments or budget modifications are done as necessary.
• Provide perspective and expertise on emerging issues and trends in the Country relevant the Young Africa Works strategy/goals.
• Identify challenges and opportunities facing the Country that can be unlocked through education, labour and financial systems to mobilize Young Africa Works interventions.
• Manage leadership trips, learning, engagement opportunities and other appropriate activities to Foundation staff and the Board of Directors relative to visits to Africa.
• Build relationships with relevant stakeholders to scope new ideas, seek counsel, and support programming efforts.
• Lead matrixed/cross functional team in myriad of activities related to co-design and implementation phase.
• Effectively lead country teams, ensuring high quality of work, safeguarding and alignment with Foundation values, drive oneness at country level, building a supportive and collaborative work environment.
• Partner with People & Culture on talent and staffing, culture and change management, performance management of the team.
• Oversee and manage office needs to ensure a safe, secure and productive and compliant work environment.

WHO YOU ARE

• Master’s degree in a global development, education, public policy or related field is required.
• Relevant professional qualification.
• Member of a relevant professional body.
• Minimum of twelve (12) years overall experience and out of which at least five (5) yeas should be at supervisory level.
• Experience in financial management including preparation and management of budgets, contracts, etc. Senior level experience in Africa and with exposure to international issues ideally is crucial. Private sector experience would be an asset.
• Experience and advanced expertise in country experience working with Nigeria government, development, political and social issues of the Country.
• Experience and demonstrated success at facilitating organizational change as well as building and managing high performing teams in a growing office with proven success.
• Experience effectively engaging with high-level government officials, key partners, media, business leaders and other influential personalities.
• Excellent solution-based approach while demonstrating innovation, integrity, quality, creativity, flexibility and resilience. 
• Excellent fluency in languages relevant to the country and work. 
• Excellent strategic planning skills with the ability to merge technical and operational demands of the program into a cohesive structure. 
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to express facts and ideas in a clear, convincing and organized manner.
• 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 that exemplify the Foundation’s values.
• Demonstrate a commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision.