Academy Program Lead - South Africa About Us Founders Factory Africa (FFA) exists to create a thriving African startup economy that drives prosperity across Africa. We are venture builders dedicated to solving some of Africa's biggest challenges and capitalizing on its incredible potential by leveraging market and tech opportunities. We seek to build an ecosystem that supports authentic innovation and our goal is to be the best growth engine for entrepreneurs across Africa and beyond. We believe by supporting entrepreneurship and innovation, we will unlock employment opportunities and drive inclusive growth across the continent. Since 2019, we have supported 60+ African ventures with investment capital alongside hands-on support backed by 50+, full-time, experts covering engineering, product development, growth, corporate partnerships, and investment. In 2023, we will leverage this experience and expertise to create an internal impact-driven venture that will directly create youth and gender-focused employment opportunities through tech-enabled learning. We are looking for a passionate and experienced Program Lead to take on the responsibility of overseeing the holistic delivery of learning programs in South Africa and neighbouring countries. This position entails managing the entire end-to-end Academy program journey which involves collaborating with an internal team to market, source and screen entrepreneurs, participant and stakeholder engagement, operations management and reporting. The ideal candidate will drive continuous improvement, collaborating with teams to ensure program success through exceptional project management, strategic thinking and partner/stakeholder management. About the Role As the Program Lead for the Academy in South Africa and potentially neighbouring countries, you will play a pivotal role in its successful execution. Reporting to the Program Implementation Manager, you will collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure the seamless management of the program. Your responsibilities encompass sourcing for entrepreneurs in collaboration with the team, managing and delivering academy programs, developing and managing partners, and overseeing all operational aspects of the program. Additionally, you will be instrumental in ensuring streamlined end-to-end user experience for all participants, partners, and stakeholders. Your dedication to delivering successful programs will be a key factor in contributing to the long-term success of the Academy. This is a full-time position in South Africa and potentially neighbouring countries. We operate a hybrid model where you will be required to be in the office at least 3 times a week. Responsibilities Program Management & Delivery: Lead the delivery of academy programs in South Africa, ensuring adherence to set metrics and program goals. Own the end-to-end operations of delivering excellent learning programs, driving the roll-out of Academy programs. Develop comprehensive program project plans, outlining clear timelines and priorities. Take the lead in collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to market, source, and screen quality leads for the program. Lead the program communication efforts with program participants, partners, and stakeholders in collaboration with the Academy team. This involves offering participant engagement and online assistance to both participants and stakeholders. Collaborate with the Impact team to conduct data collection and analysis, informing cohort impact, tracking participant progress, and identifying areas for improvement in the program. Manage budgets and coordinate all program logistics, from securing workshop locations and delivery materials to ensuring materials are ready. Generate program reports, including cohort, participant satisfaction and progress, learning outcomes, and employment outcomes reports. Co-facilitate program kick-offs to set the stage for successful engagements. Program Design and Stakeholder Management: Develop and nurture partnerships and relationships that can support marketing the program, sourcing participants, and providing operational support, including securing pitch judges, facilitators, and thematic experts. Lead efforts to stay in touch with participants, track their progress, and communicate updates on their journey. Adjust engagement plans to offer consistent support throughout the program. Build relationships with internal and external teams, oversee implementation partners, and coordinate efforts. Continuous Program Improvement and Collaboration: Continuously monitor engagement trends and collaborate with the design and Implementation teams to iteratively enhance program design and delivery based on valuable feedback. Implement continuous improvement by working closely with implementing partners to effectively translate program design into engaging learning journeys and participant engagement plans. The ideal candidate/ possesses... Dynamic experience highly preferred, with demonstrated ability to operate well in complex and fast-changing environmentsPreference for candidates that have worked in an accelerator/incubator startup or in an organisation that works with young people. An understanding of the entrepreneurship ecosystem with previous experience planning and executing entrepreneurship programsDemonstrated ability and experience in developing and nurturing partnerships.Proven track record in effective stakeholder engagement and collaboration. Ability to work independently, entrepreneurially, and innovatively. Proven ability to mobilize resources in order to carry out the strategic objectives of an organisation. Must be detail-oriented and possess excellent organisational and analytical skills with the ability to multitask, prioritise, complete work accurately, meet deadlines and follow through. Demonstrate proactive approach to problem-solving. Excellent written/verbal communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively across different levels, with local and international teams and stakeholders. A passion for capacity building in Africa, with a keen interest or experience as an entrepreneur. Experience working with diverse groups and populations is a plus. Minimum requirements: At least 5 years of relevant experience in a program management role. Experience running entrepreneurship programs and a desire to continuously upskill to stay up-to-date with the changing start-up landscape/needs. Proven track record of overseeing end-to-end operations for the successful roll-out of learning programs. Has an understanding of design thinking and entrepreneurial practices. Undergraduate or honours graduate degree in a related discipline Strong collaboration, stakeholder management, and project management skills, demonstrated expertise in cultivating and nurturing partnerships. An interest in empowering young people is a must. Experience working in South Africa. Comfortable with field work. Ability to travel for long periods of time when required e.g. 2-4 weeks.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
