Program Lead, Refugees & Displaced Persons

THE OPPORTUNITY 

Reporting to the Program Head, Refugees and Displaced Persons, the Program Lead will support portfolio development and engage partners for successful program design and implementation. S/he will be responsible for supporting the implementation of the Foundation’s program strategies and the development of initiatives and interventions that advance the delivery of Refugees & Displaced Persons (RDP) strategy.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE 

• Contribute to the implementation of Refugees & Displaced Persons (RDP) strategy and design of sector interventions.
• Contribute and seek new ideas and evidence on the strategic framing of RDP strategy implementation.
• Build-out and co-create partnerships aligned to RDP strategy and provide thorough guidance and analysis during program design, partnership development, implementation and monitoring and learning.
• Manage, monitor, and coordinate a portfolio of partners, including reviewing financial and narrative reporting from partners.
• Manage workshops and meetings through agenda development, logistics and delivery.
• Support RDP team on day-to-day inquiries, calls and meetings.
• Support communication, progress, and learnings from RDP projects to colleagues and partners within and beyond the Foundation.
• Identify and make connections to RDP intersections across the Foundation and manage mobilization of focal point team members.
• Collaborate with team members in various functional areas including Program, Impact and Measurement, Research and Communications to ensure integration of RDP approaches.
• Support the Foundation team members and partners to feature RDP at events, either as participants or speakers.
• Engage with partners/grantees to review opportunities, challenges and advances interventions through collaboration, learning, exchange, and strategic partnerships.
• Recommend and participate in evaluation and learning activities to guide the evolution of RDP programmatic work.
• Develop and lead new partnerships, including identifying and working with prospective partners to design proposals, undertaking due diligence of potential partners and projects.
• Capture and document insights and learnings to ensure that we are adapting consistently to create sustainable and guided RDP programs and approaches.
• Provide perspective on emerging issues and trends in refugee and displaced context.
• Manage research projects that are building evidence for RDP interventions or partnerships.
• Build networks with RDP youth and African-based organizations to advance the interventions of RDP.
• Collaborate with leads and partners in various functional areas including Program, Impact and Measurement, Research and Communications to ensure integration.
• Manage and/or provide mentorship to junior staff.
• Work collaboratively and provide guidance to RDP focal points at the Foundation.

WHO YOU ARE

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Policy, International Development, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience engaging with senior staff in government, private sector, UN bodies and humanitarian agencies etc., as well as young people.
• Contributing to new initiatives or transforming an existing one into something more impactful, in a multi-cultural environment.
• Building and managing teams, coaching, and mentoring colleagues.
• Strong understanding of global, national, and local contexts that influence and inform opportunities for refugees, displaced youth, and young people with disabilities.
• Exceptional analytical skills, the ability to think strategically and contribute as a thought partner in the Foundation’s strategy development.
• Exceptional interpersonal and listening skills with the ability to build effective partnerships across all levels of the Foundation.
• Passionate about youth education and employment in Africa.
• Commitment to engaging and empowering young people, particularly women, and other marginalized groups such as refugees and displaced youth, and young people with disabilities.
• Ability to plan and act strategically over long timeframes, patience, and persistence to achieve goals; and ability to balance immediate executional needs with longer term visioning.
• A team-player with a high degree of emotional intelligence.
• Entrepreneurial mindset to build a new function in a dynamic environment.
• Service Mindset and striving towards becoming a trusted business partner to drive common Foundation goals.
• Results-driven and motivated by a high sense of performance excellence and urgency.
• Drive to continually experiment and innovate, building and leveraging best-in-class expertise and learnings.
• Experience living and working in Africa is required.
• Candidates who are refugees are encouraged to apply.
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
• Excellent communication; both verbal and written skills and presentation skills in English. Fluency in English required and other languages relevant to the work, particularly French is desirable.
• 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.