Strategic Operations Lead

ABOUT MASTERCARD FOUNDATION  

Mastercard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper. Through its Young Africa Works strategy and Canadian EleV program, the Foundation works with partners to ensure that millions of young people, especially young women, access quality education, financial services and dignified work. Mastercard Foundation was established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. The Foundation is independent with its own Board of Directors and CEO. 

THE WORK AT THE FOUNDATION  

We have entered a very exciting time at the Foundation as we scale up our operations across Africa to realize our Young Africa Works strategy. Our role at the Mastercard Foundation is to be a catalyst. Our Young Africa Works strategy focuses on working with others to spur systemic change so young people have the opportunity to find work that is dignified and fulfilling.  

The Foundation has opened offices in Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Uganda, building a broader leadership presence in Africa to develop specific strategies that support youth employment.  Within a country, we work with governments, the private sector, educators and other funders to improve the quality of education and vocational training, prepare young people for the work force, expand access to financial services for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and connect job seekers to dignified and fulfilling work. 

We are ambitious and driven. Our values transcend and rise above everything else as our guide. We encourage you to bring your bold ideas, curiosity, and expertise to your work. We laugh at ourselves and with each other. We are a team. Our journey together makes our impact even more meaningful. 

If you are a Strategic Operations professional ready to build something new and increase your impact, read on! 

THE OPPORTUNITY  

The Strategic Operations Lead will report to the Head of Strategic Operations and will anchor a versatile and agile “in-house strategy consulting” unit that senior leadership will engage to tackle a portfolio of cross-functional projects through problem-scoping, problem-solving, facilitation, work planning and complex stakeholder management. This role is integral to the on-the-ground implementation of the organization’s new operating model and will also engage with the Head of Strategic Operations on key enterprise initiatives as required.   

This role is open to candidates in any of our country offices in Africa (Canada, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal)

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE  

• Manage full life cycle of engagements from problem-scoping to solutioning to implementation.
• Leverage comprehensive toolkit of facilitation, problem-solving, structuring, framing and process management to tackle strategic, enterprise-level, typically cross-functional challenges through on-going engagement with senior leadership. 
• Translate solutions into well-scoped, concrete and efficient workplans, milestones, KPIs, or other tools to drive and track progress while also managing complex dependencies. 
• Work closely with Transformation Lead to ensure alignment across portfolio of projects in service of building capability and operationalizing new operating model. 
• Build peer-to-peer relationships with senior Foundation leaders and act as a thought-partner to identify key challenges, gain buy-in on initiatives for sustained impact.  
• Create well-structured top-down documents to drive problem solving sessions, manage workstreams, quantify progress and highlight challenges; develop materials suitable for Executive / Board-level engagement and decision-making. 
• Proactively identify risks /roadblocks to solution execution and design targeted hands-on interventions to address obstacles. 
• Work with Head of Strategic Operations to create and maintain an infrastructure (e.g., processes, approaches, tools) to operate as an in-house strategy consulting group. 
• Work closely with Communications and senior leadership to develop and action communication and change management strategies as required. 
• Engage senior leadership as necessary to maintain execution pace and standards of portfolio of projects. 
• Provide mentorship, coaching and development support to members of the Strategic Operations team, with a focus on developing internal delivery standards and the next generation of Foundation leaders equipped with strong problem-solving and facilitation skills. 

 WHO YOU ARE 

• 10+ years’ experience in leading strategy projects at a top Management Consulting firm or in a Strategy group in a multinational environment.
• Bachelor’s degree; an MBA considered an asset. 
• Demonstrated ability to develop trust-based peer relationships with senior leaders and colleagues across levels; honed overall stakeholder management instincts. 
• Experience facilitating C-suite/Board-level conversations and problem-solving sessions, with ability to synthesize clear deliverables and actions. 
• Proven problem-solving skills, pragmatic (80/20) efficiency, with the ability to prototype approaches to different problem types. 
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing other leaders, across global cultural norms. 
• Possess excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures and at all levels. 
• Expertise in Microsoft Office applications (i.e., Excel, PowerPoint); fluency with project management / planning platforms (e.g., Asana) preferred. 
• Positive and proactive project / process management with an eye for detail and a strong ownership mentality. 
• Possess keen emotional intelligence, polished professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values. 
• Resilient, flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities. 
• Commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision and passion for the development and well-being of youth. 
• French language and/or local language skills are an asset. 

Deadline for Applications is April 27, 2021 

The Mastercard Foundation values the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the organization and we are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone.  

Completion of satisfactory business references and background checks are essential conditions of employment.  

CANANDA ONLY – If you require accommodation during the recruitment and selection process, please contact the People and Culture Department at [email protected]. We will work with you to provide a positive recruitment experience in a confidential manner.  

For more information and to sign up for the Foundation’s newsletter, please visit http://www.mastercardfdn.org/
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