Head, Entrepreneurship

THE OPPORTUNITY

This role leads the Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development portfolio in alignment with national priorities and the Foundation’s strategy in Kenya to enable access to dignified and fulfilling work for young people. It drives inclusive entrepreneurship and Access to Finance strategies to support MSMEs (young women-led MSMEs in particular), while overseeing program design, delivery, and performance. The role also supports cross-cutting enterprise efforts, fosters strategic partnerships, and leads a high-performing team to scale impact and opportunity for young people across key sectors.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

• Lead the design and execution of the Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development portfolio of the country strategy, ensuring alignment with national priorities and the Foundation’s vision.
• Build out and integrate an inclusive Access to Finance strategy that enhances financial inclusion and MSME growth for youth and women-led enterprises.
• Define short- and long-term goals for the portfolio, guiding strategic direction, programmatic design, and partnership choices.
• Oversee the implementation and performance of entrepreneurship-focused programs and partnerships, ensuring effective delivery, coordination, and continuous improvement.
• Provide support to other strategic pillars on matters access to finance and enterprise development
• Guide the design and implementation of market-driven interventions in access to finance, digital enablement, BDS, and sectoral entrepreneurship (e.g., agriculture and green economy).
• Embed technology as an enabler across the portfolio.
• Manage program risks and develop mitigation strategies to ensure sustainable impact
• Cultivate and manage strategic relationships with partners, government institutions, and entrepreneurship ecosystems to amplify scale and impact.
• Foster knowledge exchange and learning through internal and external convenings, documentation of insights, and active participation in communities of practice.
• Promote innovation, agility, and a results-driven culture to enable impactful partnerships and scalable solutions.
• Coach, mentor, and empower team members to uphold Foundation values and deliver meaningful outcomes for young people.
• Provide leadership and performance management for the Entrepreneurship team and contribute to cross-functional team development.
• Collaborate across countries, functions, and leadership levels to strengthen the Foundation’s entrepreneurship portfolio.

WHO YOU ARE

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Economics, Entrepreneurship, or related field. 
• Minimum of fifteen 15 years of experience in the Entrepreneurship & Enterprise Development /Business Development or related role in the private sector, with seven (7) years of experience leading and managing a team.
• Demonstrated expertise and established networks and relationships in Entrepreneurship & Enterprise Development /Business Development or related sector in Kenya.
• Deep knowledge of the country’s employment, job creation, innovation landscape
• Proven track record of working with and mentoring successful entrepreneurship endeavors 
• Experience in initiating new initiatives, preferable in Enterprise/Business development
• Proven experience effectively engaging and collaborating with high-level government officials, key partners, media, business leaders and other network influencers.
• Experience with entrepreneurship or intrapreneurship.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Kenyan economic, political context, public sector priorities, and evolving nature of private sector
• Exposure to systems thinking with an ability to understand and engage with stakeholders in Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development and design programming that addresses root causes and critical needs.
• Substantive knowledge of key issues and emerging trends and barriers in Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development integration and strong understanding of Country policy, practices, and priorities.
• Strategic thinker, Innovative with strong influencing skills
• Ability to interact with diverse and senior stakeholders
• Demonstrates strong organizational skills with excellent prioritization and attention to detail.
• Excellent leadership and team management skill
• Comfortable and highly effective when faced with ambiguity and/or complexity
• Able to formulate and develop new or creative ideas and approaches

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.

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