Consultant, Senior Transitions 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: Consultant, Senior Transitions

Job ID: JR-0000000714
Location: Nigeria

Ways you can contribute
As a trusted advisor and ecosystem connector, you will:

• Provide strategic and technical guidance to inform education strategies, program design, and implementation across the SET portfolio.
• Shape innovative initiatives that strengthen secondary education systems and improve transitions into employment and entrepreneurship.
• Advise on partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and government relations to support impact at scale.
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, governance, and learning frameworks that strengthen program effectiveness and sustainability.
• Support thought leadership, research, evidence generation, and policy engagement that influence the education ecosystem.

Success in this role will be measured through

• Delivery of high-quality strategic advice and programmatic recommendations.
• Timely completion of agreed deliverables and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Strong relationships with government and ecosystem partners.
• Contributions that advance systems-level impact, sustainability, and improved outcomes for young people.

Who you are

• You are a mission-driven education and development expert with a passion for transforming opportunities for young people across Africa. You thrive in complex environments, bring credible influence with senior stakeholders, and combine strategic thinking with practical execution.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 15 years of experience in education, international development, or related sectors.
• Deep understanding of education systems, policy reform, and youth transitions to work.
• Demonstrated experience working with Ministries of Education, governments, development partners, NGOs, and other key stakeholders.
• Strong track record in strategy development, program design, proposal development, and project leadership.

Key Competencies:

• Strategic and systems thinking.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and influencing capability.
• Sound judgment, diplomacy, and political acumen.
• Ability to navigate complex, multi-stakeholder environments and drive alignment toward shared impact.

Application Closing Date
7th August, 2026. 

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