Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or equivalent experience in Finance, Business

• Minimum 10 years’ experience with MFIs, banks or investment companies operational in Africa to finance SMEs, with special focus on Kenya, with five (5) years of management experience.

• Deep understanding of the Kenyan entrepreneurship landscape, including rural, agricultural, and informal sectors.

• Experience working with or managing implementation partners.

• Demonstrated Knowledge of systems change approaches and an adaptive learning mindset.

• Excellent analytical skills, the ability to think strategically and contribute as a thought partner in the Foundation’s strategy development.   

• Excellent budgeting skills with the ability to manage a large portfolio of assets.   

• Excellent command of quantitative and qualitative business analytics.   

• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures.   

• Excellent project management skills, including multi-stakeholder projects.  

• Excellent knowledge of digital inclusion policy is an asset.  

• Support the development of the country strategy through technical insights on entrepreneurship and employment systems.

• Manage assigned programs related to entrepreneurship and financial inclusion, particularly those focused on rural and agricultural finance.

• Support the adaptation and implementation of program strategies to the country context, ensuring responsiveness to local needs and opportunities.

• Collaborate with implementation partners to ensure effective delivery of program activities, providing technical input where required.

• Maintain and strengthen relationships with partner organizations and stakeholders to support successful program outcomes.

• Support the design and execution of initiatives that drive innovation and scale in entrepreneurship.

• Contribute to learning and evidence-building by capturing lessons learned, documenting success stories, and participating in internal reviews.

• Share insights and learnings with internal teams and external stakeholders to inform thought leadership on youth employment in Africa.

• Participate in due diligence and review processes for potential new programs and partnerships.

• Monitor program performance and report on key metrics and progress toward outcomes.

• Ensure alignment of programs with the Foundation’s values, principles, and country-level objectives.

• Support the coordination of internal working groups and cross-functional collaboration related to entrepreneurship.

• Engage in activities to continuously build subject matter expertise in entrepreneurship and the broader ecosystem.