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Job Description
The Venture Building Program Manager will lead and manage programs that support early-stage social enterprises in Africa, focusing on business and investment readiness to attract capital and drive impactful growth, while collaborating with diverse stakeholders and overseeing program delivery and impact measurement.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage social enterprise acceleration support programs across Africa, including piloting new program structures and iterating based on data.
- Oversee and coordinate a network of technical assistance and delivery partners to ensure program targets, quality, and value for money are met.
- Build and maintain relationships with partner investors to support ventures with capital beyond the program and facilitate investment processes.
- Manage and execute an annual investment readiness program for approximately 20 enterprises in East and West Africa, from pipeline development to due diligence support.
- Assess and analyze social enterprises to enhance their investment readiness and match them with external support and funding opportunities.
- Oversee technical assistance managers in guiding enterprises to optimize the use of technical grants for growth and investment readiness.
- Implement impact measurement frameworks, track program effectiveness, and share insights for continuous improvement.
- Engage stakeholders, including donors and partners, to align program objectives with organizational goals and market trends.
- Manage and coach the program team, developing their skills in investment-readiness delivery and operations.
- Organize ecosystem events such as pitch sessions, demo days, and investor roundtables to connect enterprises with capital providers.
Requirements
- At least 10 years of professional experience, including at least 5 years working directly to facilitate investments in African social entrepreneurs.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Entrepreneurship, International Development, or related programs.
- Proven expertise in supporting early-stage entrepreneurs through various growth phases.
- Strong network of Angel and impact investors across the African continent and a proven direct track record of supporting small-scale ventures to close their first fundraising rounds.
- Specific experience with gender lens investing is desirable.
- Experience in lean startup methods, business modelling and validation, deal structuring, and financial modelling.
- Deep knowledge of the social impact sector and the nuances of building profitable business models that create positive social or environmental impact in East and West Africa.
- Experience managing a team of direct reports and a network of contractors.
- Solid operational skills, including problem-solving and project management skills, and the ability to work and deliver projects independently, proactively, and under pressure.
- Detail-oriented with the ability to effectively coordinate all program components on a schedule and manage direct reports.
- Strategic thinker capable of aggregating and acting on key programmatic and operational insights.
- Effective collaborator able to work with different colleagues and personalities, at all levels both externally and internally, and across a variety of functions and geographies.
- Knowledge of impact measurement frameworks, social innovation, and lean startup approaches.
- Deep networks with funders and direct fundraising experience.
- Ability to thrive in environments with ambiguity, remain cool-headed during challenges, and demonstrate resilience and resolve in a rapidly changing environment.
- Permanent work authorization for either Kenya or Nigeria.
Benefits & Perks
Competitive compensation package commensurate with experience
Work in the office 3 days a week in Nairobi or Lagos
5-year contract basis, subject to available funding
Opportunities to engage with a diverse, global team across Africa, London, New York, and Canada
Participation in high-quality ecosystem gatherings such as pitch sessions, demo days, investor roundtables, and curated deal-room interactions
Opportunities to represent Acumen at relevant conferences and events
Potential for direct fundraising support and impact measurement frameworks
Work with a network of impact investors, technical assistance partners, and stakeholders
Ready to Apply?
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