Partner, Partner Engagement

About the Role

Under the supervision of the Head of Partner Stewardship, this position supports the comprehensive design, coordination, and implementation of the Partner Stewardship and Accompaniment Framework across the Foundation's diverse portfolio. The role acts as a vital operational lead for the Partner Stewardship team by managing multiple components of the Partner Engagement Framework.

The Partner Engagement Coordinator is essential in translating strategy into day-to-day actionable activities. This includes overseeing accompaniment efforts, aiding in partner engagement initiatives, and maintaining consistent, high-quality interactions at all partner touchpoints. Coordinating closely with internal units such as Program Teams, Impact & Evidence, Strategic Insights, Program Performance, and external partners, the role fosters strong collaboration to advance partnership goals.

Primary Responsibilities

• Assist in creating and executing Partner Accompaniment processes, including onboarding, capacity assessments, and developing Capacity Action Plans.
• Manage accompaniment activities with various partner types across regions and thematic areas, ensuring consistency with Foundation values and principles.
• Update and maintain the Marketplace Directory containing vetted capacity enhancement providers available for partners.
• Supervise the monitoring and reporting of all capacity-building activities conducted by Foundation teams, ensuring alignment with the accompaniment framework.
• Support standardization of partner onboarding, engagement, and feedback collection to foster a positive and uniform partner experience.
• Coordinate bi-annual partner surveys by organizing data gathering, analyzing feedback, and tracking responses to improve engagement.
• Address and escalate partner experience issues as necessary and document insights to enhance processes continuously.
• Facilitate open channels for communication to build trust and gather ongoing feedback from partners.
• Develop and manage guidelines, tools, and digital systems underpinning Partner Stewardship, including online platforms such as the Partner Resource Hub and Daraja.
• Introduce efficient and agile processes that promote clarity and creativity in partner management.
• Document learnings and integrate them into improving partner engagement, resource allocation, and program outcomes.
• Support ongoing monitoring and reporting on partner accompaniment outcomes to senior leadership.
• Contribute to evidence generation, capture critical insights, and assist in adapting the Partner Stewardship model based on learnings.
• Encourage a collaborative environment for partners to share experiences and tackle common challenges together.
• Help build internal partner stewardship capacity among Foundation staff for consistent, responsive engagement.
• Coordinate cross-functional collaboration among Program Teams, legal, finance, and other functions to promote cohesive partner management.
• Assist in elevating the Foundation’s profile as a leader in partner engagement through knowledge sharing and relationship management.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in development studies, business administration, social sciences, or a related discipline.
• Certification in program management or organizational development is a plus.
• At least five years of relevant experience in partner management, capacity strengthening, organizational development, or program management, demonstrating career progression.
• Proven skills in designing and deploying capacity-building programs for diverse organizations including non-profits, private sector, academic, and public sectors.
• Experience working within African contexts and organizations, understanding the complexities across the continent's development landscape.
• Expertise in managing partnerships and stakeholder engagement within complex multi-stakeholder environments.
• Knowledge of monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks applied to partner accompaniment or program quality assurance.
• Experience collaborating across multiple regions and adapting approaches to different organizational and cultural settings is advantageous.

Key Competencies

• Exceptional organizational and project management abilities to handle multiple tasks simultaneously with accuracy.
• Strong analytical skills with the capacity to turn data and feedback into practical improvements.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills to engage confidently with diverse audiences, including senior leadership and external partners.
• Critical thinker with an adaptive mindset, navigating ambiguity and change adeptly.
• Proven ability to build and maintain trusted partnerships, aligning diverse stakeholders with shared objectives.
• Ability to innovate within established processes while respecting organizational policies.
• Skilled at facilitating collaboration across technical and operational teams.
• Result-oriented, pragmatic decision-maker attentive to detail.
• Experience managing complex environments involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Capable of influencing without direct authority to coordinate across partners and teams effectively.
• Comfortable with adaptive management and ambiguity.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and digital collaboration tools.
• Exemplifies professional maturity, cultural sensitivity, and integrity aligned with the Foundation’s values.
• Dedicated to supporting the vision and values of the Mastercard Foundation.

Additional Information

The Mastercard Foundation values diversity and inclusivity and is committed to providing an accessible and welcoming workplace for all staff. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of business references and background checks.