Consultant, Head, Innovation Labs

An advanced degree or equivalent experience is required, preferably in innovation-related disciplines.

Additional training in International Development, Economics, Evaluation, Research Methods, or Social Sciences is an asset.

Extensive experience in international development and/or market-based initiatives, aligned with the Foundation’s priorities in Africa.

Extensive experience in leading impact-driven innovation initiatives (projects/programs/ products, etc.), with a deep understanding of what it means to drive innovation that scales.

Proven track record leading complex, multi-stakeholder, impact-driven projects, including operational and financial management.

Experience with youth-led, community-based, or participatory approaches to design and knowledge generation.

Strong understanding of innovation, technology, and science trends, particularly in African contexts.

Leading Innovation Initiatives: Manage projects across the Innovation Labs experimentation cycle, ensuring disciplined execution, real-world relevance, and timely delivery.

Facilitating Collaboration and Co-Creation: Design and lead collaborative processes with Foundation teams and partners, ensuring that solutions are customer-centric, adopted, and scalable.

Developing and Scaling Solutions: Oversee the incubation, rollout, and scaling of solutions aligned with the Foundation’s Young Africa Works and EleV strategies.

Standardizing and Operationalizing Delivery: Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of the Labs’ service delivery model, ensuring solutions and processes are replicable, scalable, and sustainable.

Surfacing Opportunities: Drive discovery work to identify innovation opportunities that are responsive to the needs of youth, partners, and the ecosystem.

Leading Technical Areas: Act as thematic lead on selected innovation domains and products, shaping protocols, methods, and user-centric approaches.

Strengthening Relationships: Build and sustain trusted relationships across the Foundation and partner networks to foster a strong community of practice.

Representing and Positioning the Innovation Labs: Contribute to thought leadership and represent the Labs in internal and external forums to strengthen strategic partnerships.

Managing and Developing Talent: Manage direct reports as required, supporting performance, growth, and alignment with the Foundation’s mission and culture.

Supporting Cross-Foundation Initiatives: Contribute to cross-functional initiatives across the Impact, Research & Learning function and the broader Foundation.