Manager, AI Adoption and Innovation

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Business, Social Sciences, or a related field.
  
• At least 5 years of professional experience in technology, consulting, product development, international development, or related fields.
  
• Demonstrated experience driving adoption of new tools, systems, or ways of working in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
  
• Proven ability to lead projects end-to-end, managing multiple workstreams simultaneously from conception through to delivery and evaluation.
  
• Proven ability to influence without formal authority and build collaborative relationships across organizational levels and geographies.
  
• Strong change management and stakeholder engagement skills, with demonstrated experience driving behaviour change initiatives in complex organizational environments.
  
• Be a quick learner about a range of domains and ability to understand what constitutes a string AI solution for each of the areas we work in.
  
• Working knowledge of AI tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Notebook LLM) with ability to identify practical applications and articulate their value to non-technical audiences. Comfort working with technical departments to translate user needs into implementable solutions.
  
• Proven ability to bridge technical and non-technical teams, translating complex technical concepts into accessible language and organizational requirements into technical specifications.
  
• Demonstrated curiosity about AI/ML developments, with ability to assess emerging tools and techniques for organizational fit without requiring deep technical implementation skills.
  
• Excellent facilitation, presentation, and communication skills, with proven ability to make technical concepts accessible and engaging for non-technical audiences.
  
• Analytical mindset with comfort using data to track progress, identify patterns, and inform decisions.
  
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional change initiatives, influencing diverse stakeholders, and driving adoption in complex organizational environments.
  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
  
• Legal authorization to work in Kenya or Nigeria without sponsorship.
  

AI Strategy and Leadership (20%)

• Develop and own the Africa region AI adoption roadmap, translating global AI strategy into contextually relevant plans across diverse country environments.
  
• In collaboration with technical partners, pressure-test AI/ML ideas and proposals, balancing technical feasibility with organizational ambition and operational constraints.
  
• Provide strategic counsel to regional and country leadership on AI adoption progress, risks, opportunities, and return on investment.
  
• Contribute to global AI strategy discussions and serve as the Africa voice in cross-regional AI communities of practice alongside sharing knowledge and coordinating enterprise-wide progress with peers in India and the US.
  
• Ensure AI initiatives are governed responsibly, with attention to data privacy, ethical AI frameworks, and compliance with relevant regulations across country contexts.
  

Use Case Identification and Prototype Development (30%)

• Drive discovery and prioritization of high-impact AI use cases that address real workflow challenges across programs, MLE, finance, operations, and P&C functions.
  
• Coordinate the design of AI solutions in partnership with departmental teams/ functional experts, defining clear scope, success metrics, and realistic timelines for proof-of-concepts and minimum viable products. Coordinate prototyping efforts rather than building solutions independently. Ensure that functional teams remain owners of use cases while you provide structure, coordination, and support.
  
• Manage the full pilot lifecycle from ideation and testing through evaluation and scaling decisions, ensuring rigorous documentation and learning capture.
  
• Facilitate cross-team learning from pilot successes and failures, creating feedback loops that accelerate organizational learning and position solutions for broader adoption.
  
• Maintain awareness of the AI tool landscape and translate emerging developments into accessible, actionable insights for non-technical audiences.
  

End-to-End Delivery and Partner Management (20%)

• Oversee the delivery of AI projects end-to-end, coordinating the transition of validated prototypes into scalable solutions by working with internal technical teams and external partners
  
• Manage external technical partners and vendors, including selection, contracting, performance oversight, and risk mitigation, ensuring timely delivery to quality standards.
  

Change Management and Capability Building (20%)

• Design and execute a region-wide AI adoption strategy that drives sustained behavior change across diverse country contexts and functions.
  
• Build and steward a network of AI champions across countries and functions to amplify adoption efforts and sustain momentum.
  
• Design and facilitate engaging learning events, including workshops, show-and-tell sessions, and peer learning forums that encourage experimentation and knowledge sharing.
  
• Embed AI learning into onboarding and ongoing professional development for Africa region staff, curating and developing practical materials including guides, prompt libraries, and use case repositories.
  
• Develop communication campaigns that demonstrate AI value propositions, address adoption barriers, and build staff confidence in using AI tools effectively.
  
• Collaborate with IT teams on license optimization, monitoring usage patterns across the region and making evidence-based recommendations for reallocation.
  
• Build internal capability by enabling operations and program teams to sustain and scale AI products post-launch, reducing dependency on external support over time.
  
• This is a core pillar of success for the role.
  

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (10%)

• Establish and maintain dashboards tracking license utilization, user engagement, pilot outcomes, and impact metrics against strategic OKRs.
  
• Conduct regular pulse checks and surveys to assess user satisfaction, adoption barriers, and workflow impact across the region.
  
• Provide monthly progress reports to regional leadership, highlighting trends, surfacing risks, and recommending interventions.
  
• Analyse usage data to identify patterns, bottlenecks, and opportunities for targeted support. This will inform prioritization and resource allocation decisions.