Senior Programs Lead: Digital Policy and Innovations

Job Summary

The Senior Programs Lead will drive implementation on ACET’s work on a broad range of programs to include innovation and digital policy, infrastructure and investment, green industrial transformation and global financial architecture reform – all to support Africa’s economic transformation. S/he will lead these programs under the direction of the Director and in support of project teams.

The Department prides itself on being at the frontier of the development agenda, often leading programs that have never been undertaken anywhere on the globe. It is also a diverse team across multiple continents and many disciplines that is agile while also focusing on world class quality. The Senior Programs Lead will be someone who likes to work hard, but also have fun and is deeply committed to Africa’s economic transformation.

Roles and Responsibilities

While the Director is ultimately responsible for the team, deliverables, strategy, partnerships and corporate, the Senior Programs Lead will support the Director in these areas.

Coordinating Delivery

• Responsible for coordinating delivery across numerous teams and themes to ensure timeliness and world-class quality. This will include managing staff and overseeing work programs, timelines, drafts, convenings, inputs and deliverables.
• Expected to have a “bird’s eye view” of all programs and work closely with project leads and technical coordinators to always know the status of activities.

Strategy and Partnerships

• Play a central role in developing and refining ACET’s strategies and approaches across program areas, including emerging themes, while contributing to departmental and corporate brainstorming with thoughtful strategic inputs.
• Play a critical role in managing partner relations across a wide breadth of organizations from international financial institutions and the United Nations to African policy institutes and government counterparts.

Resource Mobilization

Deeply involved in resource mobilization to raise funds for things that have never been done before or are not usually undertaken by African policy institutes. This includes working closely with the ACET Partnerships team in scanning and identifying opportunities, engaging prospective donors – or networks that lead to donors, writing proposals and presenting funding ideas.

Effective Teamwork

Support the Director in ensuring a strong sense of team, effective collaboration, a positive culture of information sharing, early identification of teamwork challenges and staff wellbeing.

Corporate Stewardship

Collaborate with Operational unit heads to oversee work programming, staff time allocation, procurement/consultant management, internal monitoring and evaluation, budget management, communications, corporate and partner reporting (Board updates/donor reports).

Project Implementation/Support

• Expected to have technical expertise in at least one of the pillars in the department. This will include encouraging innovation/ new approaches and ensuring that ACET’s work reflects world class thinking.
• Lead or support at least one technical project which might include writing a policy brief or organizing a policy dialogue.

Representation

Represent ACET/ Director in a wide range of events and fora, both in-person and virtually.

Communication and Publications

• Contribute to articles, blogs, policy notes and papers for publications by ACET and its partners.
• Responsible for ensuing Departmental portions of the ACET website are updated regularly with events, reports, blogs, etc.
• Maintain an active presence on social media, promoting the Department’s activities.