The Opportunity

Reporting to the Head of Operations, Country Programs, the Lead, Program Operations will play a key role in driving program planning, operational excellence, and project management for our Country Program Team. You will collaborate with the Country Director and integrated teams to ensure effective program delivery, process improvement, and capacity building—all in support of the Foundation’s mission and impact across Africa.

Ways You Can Contribute

• Lead the development and management of a 24-month rolling calendar of program priorities and activities.
• Collaborate with Country Director, Program Heads & Leads, and Finance to drive annual planning, forecasting, and budgeting cycles.
• Track and report on program implementation and progress aligned with strategic goals.
• Oversee partnership development processes, using Turnaround Time Trackers to improve efficiency.
• Develop programming guidelines, tools, and policies to ensure process excellence.
• Facilitate revisions and continuous improvement in country-level programmatic processes.
• Deliver training, workshops, and learning initiatives in collaboration with internal teams.
• Coordinate program activities and drive the execution of key initiatives.
• Organize review and planning retreats; produce operational plans and trackers.
• Foster collaboration across teams and stakeholders to support knowledge sharing.
• Deliver enterprise projects involving both internal and external partners.
• Monitor project milestones and support continuous improvement.

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Economics, Statistics, or a related field (Master’s degree or postgraduate qualification is an asset).
• At least 10 years of experience in project and program management across sectors, with a strong delivery track record.
• Certified in project, change, or process management (PMP, PRINCE2, etc.).
• Experienced in developing and implementing strategic and operational plans.
• Skilled in training, capacity building, and partnership management.
• Knowledgeable in inclusive planning frameworks for youth, women, and marginalized groups.
• Familiar with Lean Six Sigma or similar methodologies focused on quality and efficiency.
• Strong communicator and collaborator with cultural sensitivity and alignment with the Foundation’s mission.

Our Commitment

The Mastercard Foundation values the unique skills and experiences each individual brings and is committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible, and diverse environment.

All employment is subject to satisfactory business references and background checks.

Learn More

For more details and to sign up for the Foundation’s newsletter, visit: www.mastercardfdn.org

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