Head of Workforce Development at Mastercard Foundation

Mastercard Foundation is a global foundation based across four hubs in Kigali, Rwanda, Nairobi, Kenya, Accra, Ghana and Toronto, Canada. Our programs promote financial inclusion and advance education and learning in Africa, primarily for young people, and in Canada for Indigenous youth. The Foundation was established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. From inception, the Foundation was designed to be a separate entity and independent from Mastercard. Our policies, operations, and funding decisions are made by our President and Board of Directors.

The Foundation believes that youth employment is key to unlocking prosperity, both for youth and their societies. Enabling young women and men from disadvantaged communities to secure dignified and fulfilling work will ensure inclusive development and economic growth in Africa.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head of Workforce Development

Location: Lagos

The Opportunity

• Reporting to the Country Director, the Head of Workforce Development will take the lead in shaping and executing the workforce development strategy.
• This role is instrumental in driving capacity development and upskilling initiatives for the education and health sectors, with a primary focus on enhancing employment opportunities within these fields.
• The responsibilities extend to the strategic development of programs that address the specific workforce needs within healthcare. This includes initiatives aimed at improving the skills, training, and capacity of healthcare professionals in Nigeria, thus contributing to a stronger and more resilient healthcare system.

Responsibilities
Ways you can Contribute:

• Define and implement a comprehensive workforce development strategy for Nigeria, focusing on the education and healthcare sectors.
• Provide strategic direction for workforce development programs, ensuring they are in line with the Foundation's mission and vision.
• Align the strategy with the Foundation's objectives and priorities in education and health workforce development.
• Oversee the design and delivery of education and health workforce development initiatives.
• Champion a culture of innovation and agility to facilitate the creation of new programs.
• Manage risks associated with the workforce development portfolio and propose mitigation plans.
• Enable team members and partner organizations to execute and implement programs effectively.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with key partner institutions, peer funders, thematic advisors, directors, and Country Directors within the education and healthcare workforce development space.
• Facilitate engagements with external thought leaders and forums to enhance the Foundation's reputation as a thought leader in Nigeria.
• Build strong relationships with educational and healthcare communities to promote the participation and benefit of young professionals.
• Serve as a focal point for the Foundation in local Workforce Development platforms that can scale and accelerate Mastercard Foundation programs.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration among theme teams both within and outside the organization.
• Enhance the Foundation's presence at local platforms designed to advance excellence in workforce development.
• Participate as a judge, advisor, and panelist in workforce development events across the country.
• Strengthen collaboration among teams focusing on education and skills, health workforce development, and transitions into work.
• Interact with counterparts from other program teams to ensure strategic alignment and keep the Country Director informed about workforce development projects.
• Recruit and build a high-performing workforce development team in Nigeria.
• Model the Foundation's values in team behaviors and interactions.
• Coach and mentor direct reports to ensure the consistent and excellent delivery of program KPIs.

Requirements

• Hold an Advanced Degree in Education, Health, or a related field.
• Possess relevant professional qualifications and a member of a relevant professional body.
• A minimum of 12 years of experience in driving strategy and program success across Nigeria or African countries.
• Have at least 5 years of leadership and management experience, with at least 3 years in a multi-country African environment.
• Demonstrate expertise in education and skills development, health workforce development, or related fields, with healthcare sector experience as an added advantage.
• Experience in educational technology assessment and evaluation, youth and adult learning and development, curriculum development and teacher training strategy will be an added advantage.
• Experience in the health sector will be an added advantage.
• Exhibit strong coordination and project management skills.
• Demonstrate excellent organizational and prioritization skills, with meticulous attention to detail.
• Apply systems thinking to engage with stakeholders and design programs addressing root causes and critical needs.
• Possess substantial knowledge of critical issues, emerging trends, and barriers in workforce development within education and healthcare.
• Excel in multi-stakeholder management with senior colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Ability to build and manage small, agile teams while engaging with a wider network across thematic areas and countries.
• Promote collaboration in a complex and evolving environment.
• Prioritize results, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
• Offer progressive and creative thinking in workforce development.
• Possess a deep understanding of the education and healthcare landscape in Nigeria.
• Show a proven track record of working with and mentoring successful workforce development endeavors.
• Have experience in public policy within nonprofit organizations, international NGOs, or educational institutions.
• Proven experience in effectively engaging with senior government officials, key partners, media, business leaders, and other influential individuals.
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
• Possess excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures.
• 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.

Application Closing Date
22nd February, 2024.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online