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 are currently in an exciting period at the Mastercard Foundation as we intensify the implementation of the Young Africa Works strategy, aiming to empower 30 million young people throughout Africa to access dignified and fulfilling employment.

To ensure the Foundation’s accessibility to our partners and program participants, we have established offices in Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Uganda. These offices provide strong in-country support for the implementation of Young Africa Works. We collaborate with governments, the private sector, educators, and other funders to enhance the quality of education and vocational training, equip young individuals with the necessary skills for the workforce, expand access to financial services for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and facilitate connections between job seekers and meaningful employment opportunities.

Our values serve as our guiding principles, transcending and surpassing all other considerations. We wholeheartedly encourage you to bring your bold ideas, curiosity, and expertise to your work.

If you are an experienced professional in education & skills programs looking to increase your impact, read on!

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the Head, Workforce Development, the Lead, Education & Skills will lead the team in designing and developing education and skills programs that align with nationally identified priorities and the Foundation strategies, with a focus on supporting youth employment, particularly in the agriculture sector.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

• Identify issues and trends affecting the quality of secondary education as part of the Foundation’s country strategy and program development processes.
• Identify skills and workforce development gaps relevant to education and economic development during strategy and program development.
• Lead the development of new education and skills programming under Young Africa Works Ghana, engaging potential implementing partners for Secondary Education interventions.
• Participate in local Secondary Education partner coordination working groups, task forces, and relevant meetings.
• Lead the Education and Skills team, providing guidance and support to Program Partners, Analysts, and Interns to achieve team objectives.
• Manage Ghana’s Education and Skills program portfolio, ensuring objectives are met, facilitating partner coordination, reviewing reports, conducting site visits, and distilling program learning.
• Adapt the Foundation’s programming and learning related to secondary education for specific country contexts using diagnostics and partner portfolio insights.
• Design and deliver mechanisms to monitor the effectiveness and impact of education and skills development interventions.
• Provide education and workforce development expertise to support program design and management in Ghana and other priority countries.
• Build and maintain relationships with partners, senior government representatives, and key stakeholders while contributing to knowledge sharing at the global level.

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s degree in education, economics, or a youth development-related field is required.
• Minimum 7-10 years of relevant experience leading program interventions with partner organizations or grantees, focusing on education and skills development in Africa.
• Strong understanding of challenges, trends, and players in developing and implementing education programs in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly at the secondary level.
• Demonstrated experience in program development and execution in the non-profit or public sectors, focusing on Secondary Education and workforce development training for low-income youth.
• Proven ability to lead diagnostic and analytic work, including project design, partner identification, and implementation.
• Experience managing teams and working with multi-stakeholder projects involving senior government and private sector partners.
• Solid understanding of skills and workforce development issues, particularly in agriculture and adjacent sectors, and for vulnerable groups (e.g., rural young women, refugee or displaced youth, youth with disabilities).
• Command of both quantitative and qualitative education and labour market analysis techniques.
• Strong partnership development and management skills.
• 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.