The Mastercard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper. Through its Young Africa Works strategy and Canadian EleV program, the Foundation works with partners to ensure that millions of young people, especially young women, access quality education, financial services, and dignified work. Mastercard Foundation was established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. The Foundation is independent with its own Board of Directors and CEO.

The Work At The Foundation
We are currently in an exciting period at the Mastercard Foundation as we intensify the implementation of the Young Africa Works strategy, aiming to empower 30 million young people throughout Africa to access dignified and fulfilling employment.
To ensure the Foundation’s accessibility to our partners and program participants, we have established offices in Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Uganda. These offices provide strong in-country support for the implementation of Young Africa Works. We collaborate with governments, the private sector, educators, and other funders to enhance the quality of education and vocational training, equip young individuals with the necessary skills for the workforce, expand access to financial services for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and facilitate connections between job seekers and meaningful employment opportunities.

About this Role
Reporting to the Head of Technology Business Partnering & Value Management (Programs), this role will support the implementation of technology initiatives that enable value and impact for Partners and Participants. Acting as a key interface between the Programs team and the Technology function, the Lead will assist in executing strategies, frameworks, and processes to ensure technology solutions meet the Foundation’s programmatic needs across Africa and Canada.

Key Responsibilities
• Serve as a liaison for the Programs team, assisting in engagements, meetings, and ceremonies to ensure alignment with the Foundation’s technology strategy.
• Provide operational support to the Head in fostering collaboration with Chief Program Officer (CPO), Executive Directors, and other key stakeholders.

• Support the implementation of technology initiatives that address the Programs team’s needs, identifying gaps and recommending improvements.
  • Facilitate the involvement of relevant Programs stakeholders in the co-creation and design of technology solutions.
  • Track and report on the status of Programs technology initiatives, ensuring progress aligns with defined goals and timelines.
  • Provide regular updates to the Head and relevant stakeholders.
  • Support the establishment of governance processes and frameworks to streamline collaboration between the Programs team and the Technology function.
  • Ensure adherence to agreed decision-making processes.
  • Conduct business analysis to identify opportunities for leveraging technology to enhance program outcomes.
  • Stay informed about emerging technologies and assist in their application to drive efficiency and impact.

  Who you are:
  • Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, Business Administration or Management, or a related field. A master’s degree or MBA is an asset.
  • Relevant professional qualification.
  • Member of a relevant professional body.
  • Proven experience (7+ years) in Technology, Program Management, Business Relationship Management, Business Partnering, or a similar role, with previous leadership roles held.
  • Familiarity working with enterprise SaaS platforms such as Workday, Salesforce, ServiceNow.
  • Experience in sectors such as international development, philanthropy, or emerging markets is an asset.

  Technical Competencies:
  • Solid understanding of how technology enables business process execution and improvement and the ability to recommend appropriate and relevant technology solutions to business problems.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate complex digital concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze data, identify trends and insights, and make data-driven recommendations.
  • Understands how emerging technologies and service providers can be utilized to improve existing processes and increase operational efficiency.
  • Demonstrates strong negotiation skills in complex environments with an aptitude for diplomacy.
  • Possess excellent communication (written & verbal) and presentation- skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures.

  Other competencies (Leadership, Behavioural):
  • Intellectually curious and flexible, is comfortable with ambiguity, receptive to new ideas and open to change, when presented with best options.
  • Possesses a global mind-set and professional maturity and demonstrates sensitivity to working within different cultures.
  • A team player who can work in a fast paced, ever-changing environment.
  • Possess professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build consensus, influence stakeholders, and communicate effectively across all levels of the foundation.
  • Demonstrated commitment to the Foundation’s equity, inclusion, and social impact values, with a passion for driving positive change and empowering underserved communities globally.