Regional Director – Africa

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Nigeria, +3 more countries.

📋 Description

• Spearhead the strategic direction, growth, and leadership of IYF across Africa.

• Broaden IYF’s business and partnership network throughout the continent.

• Act as IYF’s senior programmatic representative and executive sponsor for the regional portfolio.

• Cultivate leadership talent and enhance staff capabilities within countries.

• Identify and pursue strategic opportunities for expansion.

• Establish institutional relationships while mitigating operational and programmatic risks.

• Enhance IYF’s reputation for excellence in the field.

• Maintain senior funder relationships, with Project Leads overseeing daily operations and funder interactions.

• Guide the region in developing, promoting, and executing innovative, multi-sectoral programs that align with IYF’s strategic plan and PPAF priorities.

• Define and take ownership of IYF’s growth strategy for Africa, including its operating model, country presence, and portfolio composition.

• Create a new pipeline and go-to-market strategy targeting corporate, foundation, public, and social impact funders.

• Manage ongoing opportunities from qualification to proposal, negotiation, and closure.

• Serve as proposal director or senior technical lead on critical opportunities.

• Act as the primary regional lead for funder stewardship, ensuring donor satisfaction, renewals, extensions, and expansions.

• Develop relationships with funders and create innovative funding models and cross-sector initiatives.

• Represent IYF in high-level negotiations with donors and partners.

• Anticipate opportunities and maintain precise pipeline data in Salesforce.

• Participate in quarterly business reviews and facilitate cross-team learning.

• Establish business development priorities and accountabilities for country and program teams.

• Function as IYF’s senior programmatic face in the region and executive sponsor for the regional portfolio.

• Provide strategic direction to ensure the successful implementation of IYF programs in Africa.

• Ensure program delivery meets outputs and outcomes in line with donor expectations, award agreements, and budgets.

• Confirm that country teams possess robust systems and strong technical, financial, and managerial capacities.

• Lead regional learning, accountability, and risk management processes.

• Represent IYF at significant events, conferences, and roundtables.

• Supervise program leads and country-level teams.

• Guide performance management systems that incorporate the PPAF framework.

• Contribute to institutional direction-setting as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

• Perform additional duties as assigned.

⛳️ Requirements

• At least 12 years of progressively responsible experience in designing and managing youth development, employment, education, or skills programs, or equivalent senior experience in technology, education, philanthropy, or impact sectors, with substantial work experience in Sub-Saharan Africa.

• Familiarity with programs that support youth employment and social services (e.g., education, health) is strongly preferred.

• Exceptional leadership, management, supervisory, analytical, and representational skills; ability to identify and prioritize tasks while managing all details professionally.

• Proven track record in moving opportunities from concept to signed agreement, including discovery, proposal design, negotiation, and relationship management with multi-stakeholder funders in nonprofit or international contexts.

• Experience collaborating with institutional donors, including multi-lateral, bilateral, corporate, and foundation entities is required.

• Significant experience in generating new business from major institutional funders and forming cross-sector partnerships to support programs, including grant-making, providing technical assistance to grantees, and engaging with multilateral and bilateral agencies, businesses, and foundations.

• Demonstrated ability to create innovative funding models or cross-sector initiatives that blend social impact with business or policy outcomes.

• Effective communicator with executive presence who can convey IYF’s mission and outcomes into engaging business cases and narratives across diverse cultures.

• Technologically adept and forward-thinking, utilizing AI, CRM systems, and data tools to research, personalize outreach, and inform partnership strategies.

• A collaborative management style that values both achieving results and working alongside a skilled, multicultural team of professionals.

• Strong skills in coaching, mentoring, and enhancing operational systems/processes.

• Proven interpersonal and presentation skills.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English are essential.

• Proficiency in French, Portuguese, or other regional languages is highly desirable.

• Deep personal commitment to social and economic development, recognizing youth as crucial actors and beneficiaries.

• Excellent computer skills with MS Office products and other software platforms utilized by IYF.

• Willingness to travel frequently within Africa and internationally as required.

• A Master’s degree in Economics, Education, Social Sciences, Business, or a related field is strongly preferred; a Bachelor’s degree with equivalent experience is acceptable.

• Candidates must possess the legal authority to work and reside in the hiring country; IYF will not provide work authorization.

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.

• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.

• Opportunity for professional development and growth.

• Supportive and dynamic work environment.

• Chance to make a significant impact on youth development across Africa.