Programme Manager (Innovation and Ecosystem Support) at The People Practice

Our client, a public service institution, is looking for a Programme Manager (Innovation and Ecosystem Support) who will be responsible for driving the growth, connectivity, and sustainability of Nigeria\'s digital innovation ecosystem in alignment with the organization\'s vision to make Nigeria the foremost technology and innovation ecosystem in Africa. This role leads flagship programmes and hub development initiatives while strengthening relationships with startups, incubators, accelerators, investors, academic institutions, and development partners.

This role requires strategic ecosystem thinking, strong programme delivery capabilities, and a deep understanding of Nigeria\'s innovation landscape.

The Programme Manager ensures that the organization\'s ecosystem interventions increase the number of Innovation-Driven Enterprises (IDEs), foster indigenous technology development, and create pathways for startups to achieve market traction and investment readiness.

This role is essential to the organization\'s mandate of integrating indigenous technology and innovations in all facets of Nigerian society while building the \"Innovation Command Centre\" that positions Nigeria as a continental leader.

Responsibilities

Programme Design, Planning & Delivery

• Lead the end-to-end design, planning, and delivery of innovation and ecosystem support programmes from conception through implementation and evaluation
• Develop programme theories of change, logical frameworks, and implementation roadmaps that align with the organization\'s strategic objectives and national digital transformation priorities
• Design programme curricula, training content, and learning resources covering areas such as MVP development, business model refinement, legal incorporation, go-to-market strategies, investment readiness, and scaling
• Manage programme lifecycles, including stakeholder consultation, beneficiary recruitment, selection processes, onboarding, delivery, graduation, and post-programme support
• Coordinate programme logistics, including venue arrangements, facilitator engagement, materials development, and participant management
• Ensure programmes are inclusive, reaching underserved regions, demographics, and sectors while maintaining quality and impact
• Continuously improve programme design based on feedback, evaluation findings, and emerging best practices

Target: 95%+ on-time programme delivery; 90%+ participant satisfaction; programme designs documented and continuously improved.

Innovation Hub & Ecosystem Support Organisation Development

• Design and implement capacity building programmes that strengthen innovation hubs, accelerators, incubators, and other ecosystem support organisations (ESOs) across Nigeria
• Develop training programmes for hub managers and ESO leaders covering incubation methodologies, ecosystem development, community building, partnership development, and sustainability planning
• Coordinate international exchange and exposure programmes that connect Nigerian ESOs with global best practices and peer networks
• Establish quality frameworks, accreditation standards, and performance benchmarks for ecosystem support organisations
• Facilitate peer learning networks, communities of practice, and knowledge sharing platforms among Nigerian ESOs
• Provide ongoing technical assistance, mentorship, and advisory support to strengthen ESO capabilities
• Support ESO infrastructure development and sustainability planning in collaboration with state governments, development partners, and private sector stakeholders

Target: ESOs equipped across all states; 90%+ satisfaction with capacity building support; 50%+ establishing sustainable partnerships.

Startup Incubation, Acceleration & Entrepreneurship Support

• Lead flagship incubation and acceleration programmes supporting early-stage and growth-stage startups across priority sectors, including fintech, agritech, healthtech, edtech, cleantech, civic tech, and emerging technology domains
• Oversee large-scale cohort-based programmes, ensuring geographic coverage across all 36 states and FCT while maintaining programme quality
• Design and coordinate mentorship programmes connecting entrepreneurs with industry experts, successful founders, technical specialists, and functional advisors
• Facilitate startup access to proof-of-concept opportunities, pilot programmes, early customers, and market validation channels
• Organise showcase events, demo days, and investor engagement sessions that connect startups with funding, partnerships, and visibility opportunities
• Provide post-programme support, including alumni engagement, follow-on mentorship, advanced programme pathways, and continued ecosystem integration
• Track startup progress and outcomes, including product development milestones, revenue growth, customer acquisition, investment raised, and jobs created

Target: Hundreds of startups supported annually; 70%+ achieving key milestones; 30%+ securing funding or strategic partnerships.

Innovation Challenges, Competitions & Talent Mobilisation

• Design and implement innovation challenges, hackathons, competitions, and ideation programmes that mobilise Nigerian talent to address national priorities
• Develop challenge frameworks, including problem definition, sector focus, selection criteria, judging processes, mentorship components, and prize/support structures
• Coordinate sector-specific innovation initiatives addressing challenges in health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, public service delivery, and emerging domains
• Lead programmes promoting inclusion in innovation, including initiatives supporting women entrepreneurs, youth innovators, and underrepresented groups
• Facilitate partnerships with government agencies, corporates, and development partners to source challenge themes, co-fund initiatives, and provide market access for winning solutions
• Coordinate regulatory innovation initiatives, including sandbox programmes that enable startups to test solutions in controlled environments
• Support technology-specific programmes in emerging areas such as blockchain, AI, hardware, and cleantech

Target: Multiple innovation challenges launched annually; broad national participation; solutions piloted with government or corporate partners.

Ecosystem Partnership, Stakeholder Engagement & Advocacy

• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with startups, investors, accelerators, incubators, universities, research institutions, corporate innovation labs, and development partners
• Develop and manage partnership frameworks, including MOUs, collaboration agreements, co-funding arrangements, and joint initiative structures
• Coordinate ecosystem convenings, innovation summits, roundtables, and stakeholder engagement forums that foster collaboration and knowledge exchange
• Build relationships with state governments, regulatory bodies, and MDAs to support policy implementation and local ecosystem development
• Create platforms for dialogue between innovation ecosystem actors, policymakers, and the investment community
• Represent the organization at ecosystem events, conferences, international forums, and partner engagements
• Advocate for innovation-friendly policies and support the implementation of relevant legislation and incentive frameworks

Target: Active ecosystem partnerships across stakeholder categories; 90%+ partner satisfaction; presence across all geopolitical zones.

Beneficiary Management, Monitoring & Knowledge Capture

• Maintain comprehensive databases tracking programme beneficiaries, alumni, ecosystem partners, and stakeholder engagement
• Monitor programme performance and ecosystem health indicators, including startup formation, funding flows, job creation, and innovation outputs
• Track beneficiary progress and outcomes over time, maintaining engagement with alumni networks beyond programme completion
• Document success stories, case studies, and lessons learned from ecosystem interventions for internal learning and external communication
• Produce programme reports, ecosystem briefings, and impact narratives for leadership, partners, and external stakeholders
• Contribute to the organization\'s knowledge management and institutional memory on ecosystem development best practices

Target: 100% of beneficiaries tracked; alumni engagement-maintained 12+ months post-programme; quarterly ecosystem insights delivered.

Key Deliverables

Regular Reporting

• Monthly programme activity and milestone reports
• Quarterly ecosystem and startup portfolio performance reviews
• Bi-annual programme cohort impact assessments
• Annual ecosystem development report with innovation outcome metrics
• Partner and stakeholder engagement reports

Programme Outputs

• Programme implementation plans, curricula, and training materials
• ESO/hub training programmes and accreditation frameworks
• Innovation challenge and competition design documents
• Showcase and demo day event plans and investor engagement strategies
• Mentorship programme frameworks and mentor management systems
• Post-programme support and alumni engagement protocols
• Beneficiary selection criteria and evaluation rubrics

Strategic Products

• Ecosystem partnership strategy and engagement protocols
• ESO/hub capacity assessment and development roadmaps
• Innovation programme pipeline and prioritisation framework
• Success story documentation and impact narratives for communications
• Ecosystem stakeholder mapping and segmentation analysis

Qualifications

• Bachelor\'s degree in Business, Innovation Management, Entrepreneurship, Engineering, or related field; Master\'s degree preferred
• 7–10 years of professional experience in ecosystem development, startup incubation/acceleration, innovation programme management, or entrepreneurship support
• Demonstrated experience designing and managing multi-stakeholder programmes with 100+ beneficiaries
• Track record of delivering innovation programmes that produce measurable outcomes (startup growth, jobs, investment)
• Experience building the capacity of ecosystem support organisations, hubs, or incubators
• Experience working with development partners, government agencies, or international organisations
• Strong network within Nigeria\'s technology and innovation ecosystem across multiple states
• Experience with cohort-based programme delivery and managing geographically distributed initiatives
• Deep understanding of innovation ecosystems, startup lifecycle, incubation/acceleration methodologies, and venture financing
• Experience designing and delivering cohort-based startup support programmes at scale
• Proficiency in Monday.com, Slack, and Microsoft Office Suite
• Knowledge of investment readiness, pitch development, and startup legal/regulatory requirements
• Familiarity with innovation policy frameworks and startup legislation
• Experience with beneficiary management, CRM systems, and programme tracking tools

Must have skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for diverse audiences
• Collaborative leadership with the ability to coordinate across internal teams and external partners
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a genuine understanding of founder challenges and startup dynamics
• Strong programme management with attention to quality, timelines, and beneficiary experience
• Outstanding facilitation, convening, and event management abilities
• Exceptional relationship building across diverse stakeholders (startups, government, investors, development partners, academia)
• Strategic thinking with the ability to design programmes that achieve ecosystem-level impact
• Cultural sensitivity for nationwide engagement across all Nigerian states and diverse demographics