The Director, Entrepreneurship Development is tasked with establishing, guiding, and implementing the Entrepreneurship Development strategy and portfolio for Nigeria, elevating entrepreneurship as a key pathway to meaningful and dignified employment for young women and men. In this role, they will also foster high-trust partnerships and maintain strong relationship stewardship while ensuring operational excellence within the Nigeria entrepreneurship portfolio. Additionally, the Director bears responsibility for risk management and fiduciary oversight, guaranteeing that resources are deployed as intended and that portfolio investments align with Foundation policies and standards.
Reporting directly to the Country Director, this position delivers strategic leadership and portfolio oversight for entrepreneurship development at the national level, establishing the long-term vision and guiding system-wide initiatives spanning markets, financing, capacity-building, and digital innovation. The Director serves as both a portfolio steward and ecosystem facilitator, converting Foundation strategy and Board directives into targeted, cohesive investments that strengthen local partnerships and drive scalable impact. By ensuring alignment with the Foundation’s objectives, the role advances measurable results, fosters enterprise expansion, and enhances productivity outcomes across the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
You can make meaningful contributions by leveraging your expertise in key areas to drive project success and organizational growth. Your role will involve collaborating with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities, implement solutions, and measure outcomes that align with strategic objectives. The ideal candidate will possess a proven track record of delivering results in similar environments, strong analytical skills, and the ability to adapt to evolving priorities while maintaining a focus on efficiency and innovation. Responsibilities include conducting thorough research, developing actionable insights, and ensuring seamless execution of initiatives to support overarching goals. Additionally, you will be expected to demonstrate exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively convey complex ideas to diverse stakeholders and foster a culture of transparency and accountability.
Drives strategic direction, oversees portfolio management, and ensures flawless delivery execution, aligning initiatives with organizational objectives while optimizing resource allocation and performance outcomes. Establishes governance frameworks, mitigates risks, and champions cross-functional collaboration to deliver high-impact results. Requires a proven track record in leadership, strategic planning, and operational execution, along with expertise in portfolio optimization and stakeholder management.
Craft and lead the Nigeria Entrepreneurship Development strategy and its multi-year roadmap, ensuring alignment with the Foundation’s enterprise priorities and the country’s employment objectives.
Develop a structured and compelling country portfolio that aligns with strategic objectives, featuring measurable outcomes, defined performance metrics, and key learning priorities to drive informed decision-making and investment.
Offer comprehensive leadership across the full spectrum of the entrepreneurship portfolio, encompassing strategic prioritization, program sequencing, rigorous performance evaluation, and proactive course adjustments to ensure alignment with organizational objectives.
Develop and implement programs that transition from pilot phases to scalable, high-impact models capable of delivering nationwide results.
Integrate market systems thinking into program design to systematically tackle the underlying causes of entrepreneurial challenges.
Contribute directly to national delivery objectives and Country Programs priorities through the development and implementation of entrepreneurship programming.
Employ evidence, data, and learning to guide portfolio decisions, expand successful models, and phase out or modify approaches that are not performing adequately.
Partner Enablement & Ecosystem Leadership is responsible for driving strategic alignment and operational excellence across partner networks, ensuring seamless collaboration and mutual growth. This role focuses on cultivating high-impact partnerships, optimizing partner performance, and fostering innovation within the ecosystem. Additionally, it involves establishing robust frameworks for partner engagement, managing lifecycle processes, and measuring success through KPIs. The position requires strong leadership skills, a deep understanding of channel dynamics, and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
Develop and maintain trusted, high-impact collaborations with ecosystem partners, including government entities, private sector firms, financial institutions, intermediaries, and supporting organizations.
Facilitate partners’ ability to operate efficiently and at a large scale by establishing defined strategic guidance, measurable performance benchmarks, and consistent delivery criteria.
Enhance the ability of partner institutions to achieve sustainable results through strengthened operational and institutional capabilities.
Enhance collaboration among ecosystem participants to strengthen overall alignment and minimize redundancy.
The individual will serve as the Foundation’s representative in prominent forums, collaborative platforms, and ecosystem initiatives focused on entrepreneurship development in Nigeria.
Position the Foundation as a respected thought leader and key convener within the entrepreneurship ecosystem, fostering collaboration and driving meaningful dialogue among stakeholders to shape industry insights and best practices.
The role focuses on expanding market reach, enhancing access to financial resources, and implementing cutting-edge digital solutions to drive growth and innovation within the organization. Candidates should possess a proven track record in market expansion strategies, strong expertise in financial services or digital transformation, and the ability to collaborate across departments to achieve strategic objectives. Responsibilities include identifying new market opportunities, optimizing financial access for stakeholders, and overseeing the deployment of digital tools to improve operational efficiency and customer engagement.
Strategically oversee interventions designed to enhance market access, strengthen value-chain engagement, and unlock new commercial opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs.
Develop and implement access-to-finance and financial inclusion strategies aimed at enhancing the affordability, suitability, and accessibility of financial services.
Leverage technology and digital innovations as foundational drivers to enhance the entrepreneurship portfolio, driving improvements in efficiency, scalability, and measurable impact.
We are seeking a professional to oversee financial stewardship, risk management, and fiduciary accountability, ensuring alignment with regulatory standards and organizational integrity. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in financial oversight, with expertise in identifying and mitigating potential risks while upholding the highest standards of accountability. Responsibilities include managing financial resources responsibly, monitoring compliance with applicable laws, and safeguarding stakeholder interests through transparent and ethical practices. Qualified applicants should demonstrate a commitment to maintaining robust internal controls, conducting thorough risk assessments, and fostering trust through diligent fiduciary duties.
Ensure responsible financial management across the entrepreneurship portfolio, verifying that resources are allocated efficiently and in accordance with their designated objectives.
You will be responsible for anticipating and addressing strategic, operational, and delivery risks proactively.
Ensure adherence to the Foundation’s financial, legal, and governance mandates across all partners and programs.
Ensure rigorous accountability for partner performance, the quality of deliverables, and the optimization of value for money.
We foster a dynamic environment centered on culture, people, and leadership, where collaboration and growth are paramount. Our organization prioritizes cultivating an inclusive workplace that values diverse perspectives and empowers employees to thrive. We seek individuals who demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous learning. Ideal candidates will possess proven experience in fostering team cohesion, mentoring colleagues, and driving organizational success through effective leadership. Proficiency in communication, conflict resolution, and strategic decision-making is essential for this role.
Develop and oversee a dynamic Entrepreneurship Development team that embodies core values while aligning with both country-specific objectives and portfolio requirements to ensure high performance.
Develop leadership skills, foster accountability, and cultivate a robust culture centered on performance, continuous learning, and teamwork.
WHO YOU ARE
A master’s or doctoral degree in business, economics, finance, entrepreneurship, development studies, or a related discipline is required.
Professional membership in a recognized relevant body is considered beneficial.
A minimum of 15 years of demonstrated expertise in strategic leadership and the management of intricate programs within entrepreneurship, private sector development, or closely related disciplines is required. Prior experience in overseeing organizational functions or divisions is considered a valuable asset.
With a minimum of eight years of leadership experience in senior roles, this position requires accountability for complex, multipartner, cross-country, and multi-year portfolios.
Proven track record in developing and scaling entrepreneurship or market-driven programs within expansive, multifaceted markets.
Proven proficiency in at least two key entrepreneurship domains, including identifying market opportunities, securing access to finance, enhancing organizational capacity, leveraging technology and digital solutions, or advancing financial inclusion initiatives.
Possesses comprehensive knowledge of Nigeria’s enterprise, employment, and innovation sectors.
Demonstrates a strong track record of effectively collaborating and building trust with high-level stakeholders, including government officials, private sector executives, financial institutions, and development partners.
Proven track record in assembling and guiding diverse, high-functioning teams to achieve exceptional results.
Demonstrates exceptional aptitude in systems analysis and market dynamics, combining strategic insight with analytical rigor to drive informed decision-making.
Demonstrated expertise in portfolio governance, performance management, and risk oversight is required.
Accomplishes exceptional stakeholder engagement and cultivates influential relationships at the executive level.
Dynamic professional capable of collaborating effectively with executives, technical teams, and external partners to deliver cohesive communication strategies.
Proven capability to guide and empower high-performing, cross-functional teams to achieve exceptional results.
Results-oriented professionals who thrive in intricate, ambiguous environments, consistently delivering innovative solutions through effective strategies.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional professionalism, cultural awareness, and unwavering integrity, fully aligned with the Foundation’s core values.
Demonstrates a strong dedication to upholding Mastercard Foundation’s mission and vision.
Qualifications
MBA/MSc/MA
Experience Required
15 years
