Director - Policy & Partnerships, Africa at NewGlobe

About the Role

• The Director, Policy & Partnerships, Africa will work closely with the Vice President Policy and Partnerships Africa as well as the rest of the P&P team to identify, engage and close new statewide and nationwide partnerships across Africa.
• These multi-year, contracted partnerships for complete system transformation become the signature reform of our government partners to deliver on their state’s critical education, development, and economic objectives.
• The Director of Partnerships Africa should be prepared to work with the highest levels of government, from generating leads all the way through successful contract negotiations.
• Throughout this complex partnership development cycle, you will leverage and be supported by other key leaders and groups within the organization (including from Academics, Technology, Executive Leadership).
• In this role, you will be an execution focused, result oriented contributor who will work collaboratively with other team members across the continent, and will be ultimately responsible for expanding this life-changing work to millions of additional students across Anglophone Africa.

What You Will Do
Manage the full cycle of new partnership development:

• You will generate interest from new potential government partners at the highest levels of government (chief executives of state and national governments across Africa).  
• You will use existing and new relationships and networks, conferences and events, along with data-driven approaches to identify key potential partners for whom this type of transformation will resonate and become a priority for their administration.
• You will become a compelling expert in presenting the potential white-labeled partnership to implement this system-wide transformation.  This includes your ability to communicate both the big picture political / economic / education vision as well as dive into the details of how each aspect of the transformation is delivered and fits with the specific nuances of the local education system.
• In addition to presentations, demonstrations, and deep dives, you will need to learn the local context, priorities, politics and challenges, to articulate how this transformation will fulfill each government’s needs, goals and vision.
• While ultimately championed by the chief executive of a government, concluding a new partnership requires identifying and deeply engaging relevant decision makers, supporters, all the way up and down both the bureaucratic and political chains.
• Large, multi-year contracts that will transform an entire statewide education system need to be carefully negotiated, and you will be leading that effort. 
• Once a new partnership is closed, you work carefully to transition relationships and oversight to operational implementation leaders and teams.

What You Should Have:

• Deep experience across multiple countries in Africa in business development / sales for large-scale government contracts / partnerships.
• Experience working with national and regional governments in general as well as demonstrated ability to work across the full spectrum of  bureaucracies.
• Experience in large, consultative sales for complex services or products.
• Experience in leading through the entire business development process, from "door opening" through to contract negotiations.
• Politically-savvy and ability to understand how partnerships intersect with existing political situations and dynamics.
• Strong presentation skills.

Other preferable but not key requirements:

• Exposure to Development Agencies and Partners already working with governments across the Continent (e.g. World Bank, USAID, FCDO). 
• Experience in primary/secondary education is a bonus. But regardless, you have the demonstrated ability to learn a new area or industry.