Head of Impact Labs 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 Impact Labs

Job Requisition ID: JR-0000000271
Location: Nigeria
Employment type: Full-time
Contract Duration: 1 Year.

The Opportunity

• Reporting to the Director of Innovation & Impact Labs, the Consultant, Head of Impact Labs joins at a pivotal time to strengthen project execution and ensure alignment, consistency, quality, and speed in delivering high-priority work.
• The Consultant will lead project implementation across the Impact Labs innovation cycle, from early-stage intake to full adoption and scaling. This includes driving operational discipline and delivery excellence to ensure practical, integrated, and widely usable solutions across the Foundation and its partners.
• The role will also support the evolution of the Labs’ service delivery model, building structures for consistent, scalable implementation. Additionally, the Consultant will contribute flexibly to strategic initiatives, people management, and operational improvements as needed.
• The successful candidate will be based in one of our listed offices in Africa (Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria).

Ways You Can Contribute
As Head of Impact Labs (Consultant), you will advance the Foundation’s impact-driven innovation agenda by:

• Leading Innovation Initiatives: Manage projects across the Impact Labs innovation cycle, from opportunity discovery to solution scaling, ensuring disciplined execution, relevance, and timely delivery.
• Driving Co-Creation and Adoption: Design and lead collaborative processes with Foundation teams and partners to ensure solutions are user-centred, adopted, and scalable.
• Developing and Scaling Solutions: Oversee the incubation, roll-out, and scale-up of innovations aligned with the Foundation’s Young Africa Works and EleV strategies.
• Strengthening Operational Models: Contribute to the evolution of the Labs’ service delivery model to ensure solutions and processes are standardized, scalable, and sustainable.
• Leading Thematic and Technical Work: Serve as lead in selected innovation domains, shaping methodologies and applying user-centred approaches.
• Fostering Strategic Relationships: Build trusted relationships across the Foundation and with partners to cultivate a strong innovation community of practice.
• Representing the Labs: Contribute to thought leadership and represent Impact Labs in internal and external forums to enhance visibility and strategic alignment.
• Managing and Developing Talent: Lead and support team members, fostering alignment with the Foundation’s mission, culture, and growth objectives.
• Contributing Across the Foundation: Engage in cross-functional initiatives that strengthen the broader Impact, Research & Learning function and organization-wide priorities.

Requirements

• Candidates should possess an Advanced Degree or equivalent experience, preferably in innovation-related fields. Additional background in International Development, Economics, Research, or Social Sciences is an asset.
• Deep experience in international development and/or market-based initiatives relevant to African contexts.
• Proven ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder, impact-driven projects, including operational and financial oversight.
• Skilled in participatory design, youth-led and community-based approaches, and knowledge generation.
• Strong grasp of innovation, technology, and science trends, particularly within Africa.
• Foundational knowledge of impact measurement and learning, with deep expertise in one or more related domains considered a plus.
• Proficient in facilitation, project and product management, and team leadership in innovation-driven environments.
• Experienced in budget development and financial management.
• Fluency in English is required. Proficiency in French is desirable.
• Able to frame, adapt, and execute plans creatively and pragmatically.
• Thrives amid change, emergence, and evolving priorities, balancing action and structure.
• Curious, humble, willing to interrogate conventional wisdom and bridge diverse fields of knowledge.
• Thrives in feedback-driven, co-creative environments with a strong growth mindset.
• Builds lasting, impactful partnerships based on fairness, respect, and trust.
• Demystifies complex ideas and inspires diverse audiences to act.
• Professional maturity and sensitivity to working within different cultures.
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
• Possess professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values.
• You have a commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision. 

Application Closing Date
4th July, 2025.

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