Program Lead, Refugees & Displaced Persons at Mastercard Foundation

THE OPPORTUNITY 

Reporting to the Program Head, Refugees and Displaced Persons, the Program Lead will support portfolio development and engage partners for successful program design and implementation. S/he will be responsible for supporting the implementation of the Foundation’s program strategies and the development of initiatives and interventions that advance the delivery of Refugees & Displaced Persons (RDP) strategy.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE 

• Contribute to the implementation of Refugees & Displaced Persons (RDP) strategy and design of sector interventions.
• Contribute and seek new ideas and evidence on the strategic framing of RDP strategy implementation.
• Build-out and co-create partnerships aligned to RDP strategy and provide thorough guidance and analysis during program design, partnership development, implementation and monitoring and learning.
• Manage, monitor, and coordinate a portfolio of partners, including reviewing financial and narrative reporting from partners.
• Manage workshops and meetings through agenda development, logistics and delivery.
• Support RDP team on day-to-day inquiries, calls and meetings.
• Support communication, progress, and learnings from RDP projects to colleagues and partners within and beyond the Foundation.
• Identify and make connections to RDP intersections across the Foundation and manage mobilization of focal point team members.
• Collaborate with team members in various functional areas including Program, Impact and Measurement, Research and Communications to ensure integration of RDP approaches.
• Support the Foundation team members and partners to feature RDP at events, either as participants or speakers.
• Engage with partners/grantees to review opportunities, challenges and advances interventions through collaboration, learning, exchange, and strategic partnerships.
• Recommend and participate in evaluation and learning activities to guide the evolution of RDP programmatic work.
• Develop and lead new partnerships, including identifying and working with prospective partners to design proposals, undertaking due diligence of potential partners and projects.
• Capture and document insights and learnings to ensure that we are adapting consistently to create sustainable and guided RDP programs and approaches.
• Provide perspective on emerging issues and trends in refugee and displaced context.
• Manage research projects that are building evidence for RDP interventions or partnerships.
• Build networks with RDP youth and African-based organizations to advance the interventions of RDP.
• Collaborate with leads and partners in various functional areas including Program, Impact and Measurement, Research and Communications to ensure integration.
• Manage and/or provide mentorship to junior staff.
• Work collaboratively and provide guidance to RDP focal points at the Foundation.

WHO YOU ARE

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Policy, International Development, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience engaging with senior staff in government, private sector, UN bodies and humanitarian agencies etc., as well as young people.
• Contributing to new initiatives or transforming an existing one into something more impactful, in a multi-cultural environment.
• Building and managing teams, coaching, and mentoring colleagues.
• Strong understanding of global, national, and local contexts that influence and inform opportunities for refugees, displaced youth, and young people with disabilities.
• Exceptional analytical skills, the ability to think strategically and contribute as a thought partner in the Foundation’s strategy development.
• Exceptional interpersonal and listening skills with the ability to build effective partnerships across all levels of the Foundation.
• Passionate about youth education and employment in Africa.
• Commitment to engaging and empowering young people, particularly women, and other marginalized groups such as refugees and displaced youth, and young people with disabilities.
• Ability to plan and act strategically over long timeframes, patience, and persistence to achieve goals; and ability to balance immediate executional needs with longer term visioning.
• A team-player with a high degree of emotional intelligence.
• Entrepreneurial mindset to build a new function in a dynamic environment.
• Service Mindset and striving towards becoming a trusted business partner to drive common Foundation goals.
• Results-driven and motivated by a high sense of performance excellence and urgency.
• Drive to continually experiment and innovate, building and leveraging best-in-class expertise and learnings.
• Experience living and working in Africa is required.
• Candidates who are refugees are encouraged to apply.
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
• Excellent communication; both verbal and written skills and presentation skills in English. Fluency in English required and other languages relevant to the work, particularly French is desirable.
• Possess professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values.
• Demonstrate a commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision.