Director of Sector Networks

We are looking for a dynamic Director of Sector Networks to manage 6 of the career networks (health, governance, the Arts, professional services, Infrastructure and Agribusiness), to provide ongoing support to the program managers and strategic guidance in the delivery of their new programs and targets, as well as create alignment with AL for Education. These sectors must be empowered with the necessary resources to not only recruit 8200 Mastercard Foundation Scholars to ACN over the next 5 years but also facilitate job and internship opportunities for them – providing any necessary training and support.

This role has the exciting task of implementing the new Sector success and sector challenge programs on our new platform, developing the necessary relationships and activities with the support of the team and our education consultant, and enabling any new Fellowship programs within the networks. They will be responsible for grant budget management for the sectors, securing additional funding as needed, as well as recruitment of the team, as needed, reporting and any sector marketing requirements.

Position Responsibilities

• You will own the Sector programs within the communities of leadership pillar of our new strategy and be responsible for coaching and guiding our exceptional team members into the programs and designing, managing and then reporting on their work, ensuring they deliver upon grant targets for improved career outcomes. You will resource the team as and when needed with exceptional talent.
• You will drive recruitment of new program participants to grow the networks, within the ALA student and alumni community and Mastercard Foundation scholar and alumni community, as well as any other affiliated leadership programs for African youth like YALI etc, using network theory.
• You will foster community and shared learning among the sectors, while providing policy guidance, ensuring placement targets and youth safeguarding, wellbeing, and DEI targets are met with effective impact data collection as per the new strategy and impact model.
• You will collaborate with our communications, institutional learning and technology teams to create creative campaigns and enable the tracking of performance, leveraging AI.
• You will drive the delivery of the new sector success and sector challenge programs on our new platform to meet the required targets within the relevant budgets.
• You will ensure you and your team have direct and growing relationships with the employer engagement and affiliate teams, as well as partner universities and youth network members or parents, to attract people to and drive this work.
• You will participate directly in program design and delivery, providing coaching, program and event facilitation and coordination as necessary for program success and as a means of engaging network members.
• You will lead your team and role model ALA as a great place to grow by assuming accountability for their work, guiding their performance and success within the wider team, division and organisation. You will own the budget and planning responsibilities for your programs, meeting your reporting requirements on time and with excellence.
• As someone engaging important external stakeholders, you will be an ambassador for ALA and ACN, advocating for the time, treasure, and talent required to build our programs to deliver upon our larger mission for Africa’s prosperity.