Job Purpose
The Director of External Affairs and Innovation Partnerships is a member of the organisation’s senior leadership team, providing strategic and executive oversight, alignment, and leadership across CcHUB’s external-facing functions, including community and ecosystem engagement, Communications, Innovation Hub Strengthening, and Public Sector Relations.
The role ensures that these functions work cohesively to amplify CcHUB’s visibility, deepen ecosystem impact, and unlock new opportunities for growth and partnerships across Africa. A key responsibility is to strengthen engagement with public sector actors and position CcHUB as a trusted partner in driving innovation, creative economy growth, and workforce development on the continent.
This is a leadership role focused on driving alignment across teams, growing Pan-African partnerships, and enabling a vibrant, well-connected innovation ecosystem that advances CcHUB’s sector priorities.
Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Oversight & Alignment
- Provide strategic leadership and alignment across the Community & Ecosystems, Communications, and Innovation Hub Strengthening functions, working through the respective Heads of each function.
- Ensure that these functions are fully aligned with CcHUB’s sector priorities (Education, Health, and Creative Industries) and cross-cutting goals (Emerging Tech, Green Tech, and Workforce Development).
- Lead cross-functional planning and delivery to strengthen ecosystem visibility, engagement, and partnership development.
Public Sector & Policy Engagement
- Lead and coordinate public sector engagement strategies across Africa to unlock enabling policies, foster public-private partnerships, and enhance the innovation ecosystem’s public sector engagement.
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with ministries, agencies, and regulators across CcHUB’s geographies and sectors of focus.
- Represent CcHUB in key public sector platforms, dialogues, and forums to shape the innovation and creative economy agenda.
Pan-African Strategic Partnerships
- Lead high-level engagement with strategic partners (corporates, multilaterals, foundations, innovation networks) to grow CcHUB’s ecosystem influence and unlock multi-country opportunities.
- Identify and pursue ecosystem-building collaborations in new markets aligned to CcHUB’s Pan-African growth plans.
- Support the expansion and sustainability of partner hubs across the continent.
Strategic Communications & Thought Leadership
- Guide the Communications team’s strategic priorities and campaigns to amplify CcHUB’s impact and influence.
- Champion thought leadership efforts positioning CcHUB as a Pan-African leader in innovation, creativity, and sectoral transformation.
Leadership & People Management
- Lead, mentor, and support the Heads of Community & Ecosystems, Communications, and Innovation Hub Strengthening, enabling them to deliver against organizational goals.
- Foster cross-team collaboration, shared accountability, and continuous learning across functions.
Key Performance Indicators will include:
- Cross-Functional Alignment
- Public Sector Engagement
- Pan-African Partnerships
- Visibility & Thought Leadership
- Team Leadership
Qualifications
Essential
- Exceptional leadership and strategic alignment skills.
- Proven stakeholder engagement and partnership development skills.
- Strong understanding of public sector operations, particularly in innovation and creative industries.
- High-level influencing and negotiation capability across diverse stakeholder groups.
- Strategic communications and ecosystem-building mindset.
- Experience managing and aligning cross-functional teams and leaders.
Experience
- Minimum 12 years of leadership experience in ecosystem development, public affairs, partnerships, or external relations.
- Demonstrated success in driving public sector collaboration and ecosystem strengthening initiatives.
- Experience leading Pan-African or multi-country initiatives.
- Experience in or exposure to innovation, technology, or creative industries.
- Previous C Suite experience is an added advantage
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, International Development, Business, or a related field. A Master’s degree is preferred.
- Professional development or certifications in public affairs, ecosystem development, or partnerships are an advantage.
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