Job Openings at 54 Collective

The Role

54 Collective is seeking a full-time Impact Manager to provide operational leadership for the Impact  Initiative delivery within 54 Collective, and ensure we accurately track our progress toward making a meaningful, measurable impact across Africa. The successful candidate will report to the Embedded Impact and Learning (EIL) Director, while working closely with different 54 Collective teams and entrepreneurs to support various aspects of impact measurement and management. The candidate must have a good understanding of impact measurement and management frameworks, processes, methods, and tools and experience in team management. 

Management

• Responsible for the hiring and management of 2-4 EIL team members responsible for direct venture and entrepreneur support, across 54 Collective operations countries.

Venture Impact Support and Quality Control

• Create clear standardized templates for assessing impact, creating impact strategy, workshops, etc. that can be used by the team members managed by the Impact manager. 
• Set systems in place to track the workflow and quality of impact support provided to ventures by the EIL team members. 
• Provide support and quality check the work of impact team members providing end to end venture impact analysis throughout 54 Collective’s investment process (e.g., during due diligence, research in impact potential, crafting impact strategy for ventures, impact reporting etc. )
• Contribute to the design and execution of venture-level impact validation studies to understand how solutions have contributed to specific outcomes for users and other stakeholders

ESG/DE&I/Gender

• Mainstream ESG approaches and practices (especially those related to DE&I and gender lens improvement) in the impact support provided to ventures.
• Build internal team and external venture and partner capacity on Impact and ESG (especially related to DE&I and gender). 
• Provide teams with technical leadership and guidance on how best to enhance the inclusivity of programme design and delivery, especially for young women. 

Data Collection and Reporting

• Oversee ongoing portfolio and organizational-level data collection, monitoring, and reporting efforts as per our 54 Collective impact strategy and results framework. 
• Design the monitoring tools for data collection, considering where 54 Collective should align with international frameworks, standards and practices Create a data framework and reporting dashboard in line with the 54 Collective impact strategy and ensure the framework is kept up to date. 
• Support the EIL Director in the production of internal and external reports relating to our 54 Collective Impact strategy and results. 

Partnerships

• Identify key partners with whom 54 Collective can collaborate to further its Impact/ESG/DE&I and research objectives across the African continent

Communications

• Produce and inspire thought leadership on frontier topics related to Impact, ESG, DE&I and gender lens investing.

Budget

• Manage resources and day-to-day budget of the EIL team.

Candidate Profile 

• Minimum five years of experience leading Impact and/or ESG integration within public or private sector entities 
• Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, international development, sustainability management, gender, women’s studies or other related field 
• Demonstrated knowledge of key international entities and frameworks in the area of impact, responsible investment, sustainability, DE&I, gender lens investing, etc.
• Strong critical and creative thinking skills
• A proactive approach to solving problems
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to deliver presentations and reports to a range of stakeholders in a clear, inspiring and confident way 
• Strong relationship management skills
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with people at all levels, internally and externally 
• A self-starter who thrives in an autonomous role, with excellent prioritization, self-organization,and execution skills
• Knowledge of venture building, accelerators and/or impact investing and experience working with early-stage startups in Africa is a bonus

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Key Responsibilities:

• Spearhead and take charge of the community building & partnership strategies to drive engagement.
• The end-to-end management of programs and initiatives in-line to our community building strategy, content framework, target audience and objectives. 
• Identify and develop new business and partnership opportunities.
• Maintain positive and strong relationships with other ecosystem enablers.
• Responsible for monitoring and reporting the performance of the business community initiatives.
• Leading the day-to-day community development and retention programs.
• Develop and implement a robust communication strategy, encompassing social media plans, newsletters, and interactive platforms to enhance community engagement. 
• Build relationships with investors, mentors, and other ecosystem stakeholders that can support our portfolio companiesAct as the voice of the community, providing feedback and insights to improve products, services or processes.
• Track and analyse key community metrics to measure success and identify areas for improvement.
• Work closely with MEL team to track metrics of alumni businesses performance
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills required

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent preferably in Business, Marketing or other related degrees.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in a community relations & partnership role, where you have successfully hosted meaningful programs aimed at serving early stage entrepreneurs and businesses.  
• Experience engaging with entrepreneurship programs and collaborating with other ecosystem players. 
• Experience in membership or community management/development.
• Experience in partnership or stakeholder management.
• Excellent relationship management, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage and collaborate with diverse stakeholders
• Entrepreneurial mindset that thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and is adaptable to change.
• Goal-oriented and ensure KPIs are met.
• Creative, strategic and analytical thinking.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, while also being a team player when required
• Ability to cultivate long-term strong community/ business relationships.
• Ability to persuade and influence others.
• Ability to travel for long periods of time when required e.g. 2-3 weeks.

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Key Responsibilities

Evaluating project submissions:

• Evaluate project based on real-world projects that participants undertake to ensure practical application of concepts they’ve learned
• Provide constructive feedback to participants to help them better develop their business ideas

Conducting office hours with program participants:

• Be available to participants during pre-defined periods to offer feedback and answer questions about the program content and project submissions, ensuring continuous support

Leading in-person and online workshops with program participants:

• Conduct in-person and online workshops and group calls to help participants refine and improve their project work before submitting for grading

Conducting qualitative research:

• Collect feedback on participants’ experiences of the program through multiple interactions, including 1-on-1 conversations and observations
• Report findings and recommendations to the Program Implementation Manager to continuously improve the program based on participant feedback
• Prepare and deliver comprehensive summary reports on participant progress to the Program Implementation Manager. 
• Identify and document best practices and lessons learned from community interactions to inform future program improvements

Engage and lead community discussions and study groups:

• Initiate and facilitate community conversations centred on the topics being covered to foster a collaborative learning environment and encourage peer learning and support
• Initiate and facilitate community conversations, virtual study groups, and AMAs (Ask Me Anything) to foster a collaborative learning environment and encourage peer learning and support.
• Share relevant content, blogs, and resources on the community platform to provide ongoing support and information
• Encourage participants to share their progress and successes within the community to build a supportive and motivating environment

Qualifications:

• At least 3 years of experience in market and customer research, prototyping, business modelling, end-to-end design of a new product/service, or a similar role supporting startups or SMEs.
• Actual entrepreneurial experience is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of human-centred design (i.e. building with the customer in mind) and lean startup principles (i.e. constantly testing assumptions with customers) that can be applied to entrepreneurship.
• Exceptional analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent qualitative research.
• Verbal & written communication, interpersonal, and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong workshop facilitation skills are a plus.

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Key Responsibilities:

Finance Management 

• Develop and manage the annual budget, ensuring accurate forecasting and allocation of resources.
• Monitor and track program expenditures against the budgets.
• Prepare a detailed financial report for project stakeholders, including budget vs actual analysis.
• Ensure compliance with company’s financial reporting standards and policies.
• Collaborate with respective program leads to gather and validate budget input.
• Update and review forecast as project projections change, providing timely and accurate financial information.
• Provide finance guidance and support to teams to enhance aid decision making.
• Develop and maintain financial processes and controls to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Support annual financial audits of the program to ensure accuracy and compliance.

Banking and Treasury 

• Ensure payments for service providers and stipends are done timely and accurately 
• Liaise with service providers to ensure invoices are accurate and received on time 
• Liaise with banks to ensure payments are settled timely and all supporting documents required by the banks are submitted 
• Develop cash forecast to ensure sufficient funds are in the bank for all VDA financial requirementsPerform creditors reconciliations for all Academy payments timeously.

Operations Management 

• Contract management, including overseeing purchase procedures
• Maintain systems for tracking contractual documents, correspondence and reporting, keeping contract files updated for spot checks and audits;
• Manage operational/ logistical organisation of training, workshops, and other events in coordination with the technical team.
• Liaise with the team to ensure they have the relevant tools & systems for program delivery. 
• Ensure recruitment and all operational procedures are compliant with the jurisdictions the Academy operates inManagement of program risk log.
• Coordinate travel arrangements for Academy staff.
• Coordinate recruitment and onboarding activities as needed.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• A degree in a relevant subject combined with broad relevant experience in project finance (or able to demonstrate a combination of qualifications, skills and relevant experience at an equivalent level)
• Minimum of 3 years of work experience in operations/logistics on large-scale, donor-funded projects.
• Have extensive experience in financial management and controlHave extensive use of accounting software (Sage and Xero are desirable)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate complex information clearly and effeciently
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of project management principles and methodologies is a plus.
• Exceptional organisational skills and a proven ability to work under pressure while ensuring accuracy and quality.
• Ability to interpret financial information and produce high-quality reports.
• An ability to organise and present information logically and accurately.
• A solution-focused approach with the ability to work flexibly to meet changing organisational needs.
• A self-managing work style and, in particular, the ability to work independently as the financial specialist for project teams
• Ability to identify and implement changes to processes and practices and improve quality and efficiency.

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Responsibilities

• Design, implement and maintain new features and functionalities for the platform, understanding the requirements and translating them into scalable and efficient software solutions
• Design software system architecture 
• Work on both the front-end and back-end of the application, demonstrating expertise in various technologies, frameworks, and programming languages.
• Work collaboratively with other teams to understand end-user requirements, use cases, and technical concepts, translating them into a cohesive and effective solution while ensuring a seamless user experience
• Optimise the performance of the platform to handle large amounts of data and high user traffic, delivering a smooth user experience.
• Participate in code reviews and enforce best coding practices, while also writing and executing unit tests and integration tests to maintain code quality.
• Maintains consistent version control and monitoring of continuous deployment Implements proactive monitoring practices, derives actionable insights from data, ensures the reliability and security of IT operations, and optimises performance.
• Documents system specifications for internal use and end user, highlighting bug fixes, new features and potential issues.
• Ability to identify & implement tools and integrations that will facilitate seamless program operations and delivery across the Academy team

SKILLS REQUIRED

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering or related fieldHave engineering management experience in a high-growth startup or medium-sized product-focused tech company
• Demonstrated track-record of delivering user-centric products with modern technologies for a variety of different problem domains
• Experience with agile development methodologies
• Worked on a diverse set of full stack technologies including experience with web, mobile, data and infrastructure
• Knowledgeable of a range of modern web or mobile frameworks, e.g. React, Angular, Django, Rails, iOS, or Android.
• Proficient in at least one programming language such as Python, Javascript, Ruby, Golang.
• Must have cloud development experience - particularly AWS.
• Understanding of scalable architectures like microservices etc.
• Well rounded experience in Javascript particularly TypeScript.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and analytical skills
• Strong teamwork skills
• Strong organisational skills

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Key Responsibilities:

• End-to-end Learning Experience Design: Apply learning science principles to develop assessment artefacts and program initiatives that enhance participant understanding and retention.
• Content Creation: Develop clear, practical, accessible, and jargon-free content and course materials in various formats such as text, video and diagrams for entrepreneurs of all levels that align with our programs’ objectives.
• Program Evaluation: Work closely with the Program Design Lead and the Embedded Impact and Learning (EIL) team to continuously assess and improve course content and program initiatives based on feedback and performance metrics.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Work closely with the Program Design Lead, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders to ensure the programs we develop meet the needs of the entrepreneurs.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in a design-related field, social sciences, or education
• At least 3 years experience in instructional design, experience design, or a related role, with proven experience in creating clear, practical, and engaging educational content and developing an educational program end-to-end.
• Strong understanding of human-centred design and lean startup principles.
• A good understanding of entrepreneurship is a plus.
• Experience with learning management systems (LMS) and other technologies necessary for program design & management
• Ability to develop learning content in multiple formats such as text, video, images, etc. to suit various learning styles
• Ability to design learning assessment artefacts 

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Your Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute marketing and promotional strategies to increase platform visibility and attract new users.
• Engage and grow our community of entrepreneurs by fostering meaningful interactions, discussions, and collaborations both online and offline.
• Foster a vibrant online community by interacting with users, addressing queries, and moderating discussions to ensure a positive and inclusive community environment.
• Provide ongoing support and assistance to users, addressing inquiries, feedback, and technical issues in a timely and professional manner.
• Develop and implement a robust communication strategy, encompassing social media plans, newsletters, and interactive platforms to enhance community engagement.
• Create and curate engaging and relevant content that will resonate with our target audience and align with the Academy’s voice and objectives.
• Curate and execute diverse community events (online and offline) to educate our community and encourage an exchange of ideas within the community.
• Maintain a content calendar and ensure timely delivery of planned activities.
• Collect and analyse user data and feedback to identify trends, insights, and areas for improvement, informing future marketing strategies and platform enhancements and updates.
• Manage the Academy’s social media pages with the goal to increase brand awareness, engagement, and traffic across various platforms.
• Other duties as assigned.

Person Specification:

• 3+ years of proven experience in community building, digital marketing or related roles.
• Experience working with startups and entrepreneurship education.
• Knowledge and understanding of the African entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Proficiency in using social media platforms, online communities, and collaboration tools.
• Profound knowledge of entrepreneurship concepts and community building.
• Proficiency in software tools for scheduling, communication, and data analysis.
• Passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and making a positive impact in the world.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a proven ability to work independently and reliably. 
• Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and is adaptable to change.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Fluency in English and preferably French.
• Self-organisation skills and curiosity towards digital tools & automation.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, remote environment.
• Ability to travel for long periods of time when required e.g. 2-3 weeks.

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Responsibilities

You will:

• Engage with our portfolio companies to support their data science ambitions
• Lead the development of machine learning models and other data-driven solutions for portfolio companies.
• Spot opportunities to use data and algorithms in novel ways to deliver value and improve processes.
• Work with startups across the 54 Collective portfolio to identify their data science capability gaps.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to enhance the use of data science/ML and have a strategic impact on their overall businesses

Requirements

You should:

• Have good knowledge of data science, statistical analysis and data engineering.
• In particular statistical learning methods, and the ability to work with large, complex and uncleansed datasets.
• Have good coding skills in a language suitable for data science, preferably Python.
• Be able to switch between hands-on execution and strategic advice, as needed.
• Be comfortable with deploying data services and infrastructure to production systems.
• Have high emotional intelligence and empathy for our founders and their teams as well as for your fellow colleagues in the 54 Collective operations team.
• Be organised with a strong attention to detail and an ability to balance detail with the big picture.
• Have a deep passion for defining and solving loosely defined problems.
• Have good communication and collaboration skills.
• Have 5+ years experience, especially deploying commercial data science/ML projects and working collaboratively with team members