Principal, Services Business Development, East Africa Cluster Lead at Mastercard
Our Purpose
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+
countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping
build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a
wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure,
simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and
networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help
people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
Title and Summary
Principal, Services Business Development, East Africa
Cluster Lead
The Services team is a key differentiator for Mastercard,
providing the cutting-edge services that help our customers grow. Focused on
thinking big and scaling fast around the globe, this agile team is responsible
for end-to-end solutions for a diverse global customer base. Centered on
data-driven technologies and innovation, these services include
payments-focused consulting, loyalty and marketing programs, business Test
& Learn experimentation, and data-driven information and risk management
services.
An exciting opportunity to work with some of Mastercard’s
most important global and regional clients having a presence in various markets
across the East Africa Region, and working as a trusted and valued service
partner within the Services team.
Role
- Generate
and maintain Services revenue opportunities with strategically important
regional accounts across East Africa
- Foster
strong relationships with key client executives, as well as internally
with key Mastercard stakeholders that tie directly to ROI, and are built
on a foundation of trust and value creation
- Support
the development of creative business solutions for complex business
problems across the Services business, including insights, analytics, Test
& Learn, loyalty, managed services and consulting services
- Managing
sales pipeline, advancing early stage opportunities to approvals and
signature, with continued engagement post sales, e.g., project delivery
- Proactively
identify customer risk and opportunity signals; develop comprehensive
strategies to combat and/or limit erosion
- Responsible
for sales and gross revenue, including platform and recurring revenue
optimization, working hand in glove with delivery capabilities on
engagement quality and exploring opportunities for up-sell, add-on,
cross-sell, etc.
All About You
- Working
experience within strategy consulting. Preferrably with financial
institutions, including payments
- Strategically
focused and solution oriented with proven history of dedicated,
high-energy, patient, and customer-centric behavior
- Leverage
and synthesize data to analyze business challenges and opportunities
- Embrace
a high performance culture and embody a “can-do” attitude
- Balance
working autonomously and seeking direction when required within a complex
environment
- Strong
communication and presentation skills and an ability to establish
credibility with C-level executives
- Detail-oriented
with strength in data analysis and business case modeling
Corporate Security Responsibility
All activities involving access to Mastercard assets,
information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and,
therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of,
Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:
- Abide
by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;
- Ensure
the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
- Report
any suspected information security violation or breach, and
- Complete
all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s
guidelines.
Manager, Products and Solutions at MasterCard
Our Purpose
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+
countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping
build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a
wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure,
simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and
networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help
people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
Title and Summary
Manager, Products and Solutions
Manager – Market Product Management, Digital Payments &
Labs – East Africa will ensure Digital Payments & Labs (DP&L) products
strategy is implemented in close alignment to market objectives and deliver
digital product launches and success. The candidate will align the regional
& global product development organization with the in-market account
management, merchant management and operations teams to deliver on performance
indicators. In the last two years, DP&L has brought innovations like
Mastercard QR, P2P, Tokenization, Contactless, eCom etc in the Africa market
and the role is expected to drive the leadership in these product line across
all of East Africa and bring in new and relevant digital solutions into the
market. The candidate will be part of this environment and will demonstrate the
initiative and ownership as an individual contributor, raise the bar and
challenge the boundaries to make payments safer and more convenient for our
market.
Role
- Develop
and execute go-to-market strategy for Digital Payments & Labs products
in East Africa
- Partner
with global and regional product teams to understand product capabilities
including MCQR, virtual cards, tokenisation, contactless and QR and
provide inputs to ensure market needs are addressed, synergize with other
initiatives and ensure ongoing coordination for smooth operation of the
products in market
- Partner
with in-market account management and market development teams to ensure
product caters to market strategy. Maintain ongoing engagement to ensure
execution of plans.
- Support
Market Development and Account Management teams as needed in senior client
engagements and in communicating product strategy, innovation, business
building models and overall market direction
- Engage
marketing, communications and other relevant colleagues to support the
successful launch of products and ensure optimum visibility and
utilization of budgets and investments on the product
- Identify
and develop local supplier, wallet and fintech partnerships to accelerate
delivery of digital payment solutions to market
- Partner
with internal and external stakeholders to develop and deploy digital
payment ecosystems and work on cross functional strategic initiatives
- Constantly
assess and understand the payments market, competition and trends to feed
it into market and product strateg
All About You
- Fluent
in English
- 5+
years of work experience preferably in product development and management
- Curious
and passionate about payments and innovation
- Team
player, comfortable working in a large matrix organization, willing to
lead, build consensus and determined to get things done in time
- Comfortable
working in a dynamic environment where rapid or sudden changes are not
unusual
- Expert
in payment / technology industry with an understanding of the
considerations that influence industry participants’ decisions and outlook
- Experience
and success in commercializing digital solutions in a large market
- Strong
operational and technical understanding of payments industry
- Experience
working across cultures – exposure of working in more than one country is
highly desired
Mastercard Foundation 2026 Internship (11 Months – Non-Extendable)
THE OPPORTUNITY
Are you eager to kickstart your career? The Mastercard
Foundation is offering ambitious, career-driven, and diligent young
professional with limited, or no work experience an opportunity to develop
their skills as they transition into the professional world of work. The
internship will provide meaningful learning and work experience for young
people while supporting the Foundation’s programs, operations, and
partnerships. The internship contributes to the Foundation’s Young Africa Works
strategy by equipping interns with professional exposure, mentorship, and
skills to transition successfully into future employment or entrepreneurship
opportunities.
Come and join a team of driven and passionate individuals
guided by a deep belief in our purpose and values. If you have bold ideas,
share our passion, are driven by values, and are ready to contribute to
building something new while serving, read on!
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
- As an
Intern, you will be assigned on an 11-month fixed term non-renewable
program to support projects and initiatives across various Teams at the
Mastercard Foundation
- You
will engage in Foundation initiatives including our signature onboarding
and orientation program
- You
will have access to the Foundation’s career development program and
e-learning platforms during the course of your work-term
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
- You
are eligible to work in one of the seven African countries in which the
Mastercard Foundation operates. These are Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria,
Rwanda, Senegal, and Uganda
- You
are actively involved with community projects and/or participation in
extracurricular activities serving your local communities
- This
is a full-time opportunity, and interns cannot be engaged in any other
form of work during the duration of the Internship
- If you
are a Mastercard Foundation Scholar Alumni, you should not currently be
enrolled in a program of study or a participant in one of the Foundation’s
program initiatives
HOW YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE
- Support
the design, implementation, and monitoring of programs aligned with youth
employment, education, and entrepreneurship goals
- Conduct
research and data analysis to inform program design and decision-making
- Assist
with reporting, knowledge management, and documentation of lessons learned
- Participate
in stakeholder engagement activities, workshops, and learning sessions.
- Provide
administrative and logistical support for events, trainings, or partner
convenings.
- Collaborate
across teams to ensure smooth program delivery and internal operations.
- Contribute
innovative ideas to enhance youth-centered programming and engagement.
- Perform
other duties as assigned to support the Foundation’s strategic objectives
WHO YOU ARE
- Qualifications
- Recent
graduate with 0 – 4 years’ experience
- Bachelor’s
degree in any field from a recognized institution
- Demonstrated
interest in youth development, social impact, and inclusive growth in
Africa
- Strong
academic performance and proven ability to apply theoretical knowledge in
practice
- Skills
& Competencies
- Strong
research, analytical, and problem-solving skills
- Excellent
written and oral communication skills
- Proficiency
with MS Office Suite and/or Google Workspace
- Ability
to work effectively in multicultural, collaborative environments
- Passion
for innovation, learning, and making a difference in Africa
- Self-motivated
with strong organizational and time management abilities
- Personal
Attributes
- Strong
research, analytical, and problem-solving skills
- Excellent
written and oral communication skills
- Proficiency
with MS Office Suite and/or Google Workspace
- Ability
to work effectively in multicultural, collaborative environments
- Passion
for innovation, learning, and making a difference in Africa
- Self-motivated
with strong organizational and time management abilities
LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
- Exposure
to international development practices through the lens of youth
employment and economic transformation
- Mentorship
and coaching by experienced professionals within the Foundation
- Participation
in professional development workshops, seminars, and networking sessions
- Hands-on
experience working with leading African institutions, private sector
partners, and government stakeholders
- Enhanced
readiness for future career opportunities aligned with the Young Africa
Works strategy
OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE ARE IN THESE FUNCTIONS
You will have the opportunity to work with teams within
the Foundation in the highlighted Functions below
- Finance
- Programs
- People
& Culture
- Office
of the CEO
- Legal
& Compliance
- Impact,
Research and Learning
- Public
Affairs and Communications
- Digital
Data Information and Technology (Technology)
We value diversity and welcome talent from a range of
educational backgrounds, including but not limited to:
Programs
- Development
Studies, Development Economics, Social Sciences, Sociology, Agriculture
Economics, Entrepreneurship etc.
Impact, Research and Learning
- Degree
in Population Studies, Quantitative Economics, Statistics, Business
Statistics, Actuarial Science, etc.
Digital Data Information and Technology (Technology)
- Degree
in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Data Analysis,
Enterprise Application Systems, etc.
Legal and Compliance
- Degree
in Law, International Relations, Criminal Justice, etc.
Program Finance
- Degree
in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, etc.
Public Affairs and Communications
- Degree
in Public Affairs, Mass Communications, Commerce, Journalism, Social Media
Management, etc.
Application Deadline: 07 September 2025 | 00:59 hrs (EAT)
Expected Start Date: 15 January 2026
Location: MasterCard Foundation Africa Offices: Kenya,
Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal.
Term: 11 Months (Non-Extendable)
The Mastercard Foundation values the unique skills and
experiences each individual brings to the organization and we are committed to
creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone.
Lead, Education Access and Success (East and Southern Africa) at Mastercard Foundation
THE OPPORTUNITY
- Reporting
to the Head, Education Access and Success (East and Southern Africa)
- This
role is responsible for developing and managing a regional portfolio of
Education Access and Success initiatives, including the Leaders in
Teaching Initiative and new pipeline programming
WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE
- Lead
new program design and approval processes, including scoping, intervention
design, partner identification and engagement, co-creation, proposal
development and internal approvals
- Manage
existing partnerships and country portfolios in the region, in
collaboration with Country Representatives and cross-functional teams,
supporting implementation of programs, tracking progress and ensuring
program goals and targets are achieved according to plan
- Ensure
all relevant internal systems and trackers are updated accurately and on
time (eg. grant management systems, impact trackers, forecasts etc.)
- Cross-functional
collaboration in the design and implementation of program partnerships,
with a focus on impact
- Support
the Leaders in Teaching continental learning organization in the region in
support of initiative-level learning and knowledge sharing
- Provide
ongoing guidance, support and technical assistance to Country Workforce
Development teams implementing Leaders in Teaching initiatives in the
region.
- Provide
back-stopping support to the other regional Lead when required
- Contribute
to the planning and management of the Education Community of Practice at
the Foundation
- Advance
thought leadership internally and externally on secondary education and
teacher development initiatives, in line with Secondary Education team
Communications, Policy and Thought Leadership strategy
- Manage
and mentor Program Partners, Interns and Analysts to support program
development and management
- Support
partners to capture data and learning and ensure that insights and impact
are routinely and effectively reported, and continually integrated into
program design and implementation
- Cultivate
and manage relationships with eco-systems actors and education
stakeholders to scale impact, representing the Foundation in
regional/local workshops, conferences and education fora
- Develop
and manage consultancies
WHO YOU ARE
- A
Master’s Degree in a relevant field including education, economic
development or related social sciences field
- Relevant
professional qualification in program management would be an asset in this
role
- Minimum
of 8 years overall experience, with demonstrated leadership experience
- Experience
engaging with the senior leadership of development partners and
education organizations, high-level government representatives and the
private sector
- Experience
co-creating and building new initiatives or transforming existing ones
into something more impactful, in a multi-cultural environment
- Experience
in proposal and partnership development, M&E design and program
communications
- Experience
and sensitivity to issues of safeguarding and inclusion; experience
delivering programs for women, people with disabilities, and/or refugees
and displaced youth highly desirable
- Experience
working in a fast-paced, fluid environment, managing multiple competing
priorities
- Experience
working across cultures and geographies, and experience living and working
in Africa is required.
- Ability
to collaborate effectively with multi-location and virtual teams
- Excellent
communication skills with the ability to articulate information to a
variety of constituents across cultures
- Knowledge
and understanding of key issues, emerging trends, opportunities and
critical barriers in education (especially secondary education and skills
development) in Africa
- Excellent
English and French language skills are required
- Excellent analytical
skills, the ability to think strategically and to contribute
to the development of the Foundation’s strategy
- Ability
and willingness to travel
- Excellent
ability to build effective working relationships with cross-functional
teams
- Possess
professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable
integrity.
Principal, Services Business Development, East Africa Cluster Lead at MasterCard
Role
- Generate
and maintain Services revenue opportunities with strategically important
regional accounts across East Africa
- Foster
strong relationships with key client executives, as well as internally
with key Mastercard stakeholders that tie directly to ROI, and are built
on a foundation of trust and value creation
- Support
the development of creative business solutions for complex business
problems across the Services business, including insights, analytics, Test
& Learn, loyalty, managed services and consulting services
- Managing
sales pipeline, advancing early stage opportunities to approvals and
signature, with continued engagement post sales, e.g., project delivery
- Proactively
identify customer risk and opportunity signals; develop comprehensive
strategies to combat and/or limit erosion
- Responsible
for sales and gross revenue, including platform and recurring revenue
optimization, working hand in glove with delivery capabilities on
engagement quality and exploring opportunities for up-sell, add-on,
cross-sell, etc.
All About You
- Working
experience within strategy consulting. Preferrably with financial
institutions, including payments
- Strategically
focused and solution oriented with proven history of dedicated,
high-energy, patient, and customer-centric behavior
- Leverage
and synthesize data to analyze business challenges and opportunities
- Embrace
a high performance culture and embody a “can-do” attitude
- Balance
working autonomously and seeking direction when required within a complex
environment
- Strong
communication and presentation skills and an ability to establish
credibility with C-level executives
- Detail-oriented
with strength in data analysis and business case modeling
Investment Fellow at Mastercard Foundation
The fellowship offers the opportunity for recent graduates
to gain experience analyzing and executing investments in African champions and
committing to funds managed by African general partners. More specific
responsibilities include
Investment analysis
- Analyzing
investment opportunities by building financial models, assessing
historical performance and drafting investment memorandums
- Assessing
fund managers by reviewing historical performance, pipelines and
investment strategies
- Developing
valuations, refining investment cases, forecasts and sensitivity analyses
- Creating
quarterly reports on the performance of funds and portfolio investments
- Conducting
desktop research on macroeconomic conditions in the markets in which ACIF
invests, on priority investment sectors and specific to investment
opportunities identified by the team
- Working
with financial, legal, tax, and impact advisors in conducting due
diligence of investment opportunities
- Working
with management teams on value additional initiatives
- Supporting
the execution of transaction processes, including overseeing meeting of
conditions precedent, and closing
- Working
with management teams to develop and complete reporting requirements
- Ensuring
appropriate reporting by portfolio funds or companies
WHO YOU ARE
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s
degree in finance, accounting, business, actuarial science, economics,
engineering, statistics, data analytics or an associated field from a
recognized institution
- Mastercard
Foundation Scholar Alumni
- At
least 5 years’ experience in a related field
- Understanding
of investment fundamentals, key drivers of major African markets, and
risks of operating in complex markets
Investment Intern at Mastercard Foundation
The internship offers the opportunity for young graduates to
gain experience analyzing and executing investments in African champions and
committing to funds managed by African general partners. More specific
responsibilities include:
Investment analysis
- Analyzing
investment opportunities by building financial models, assessing
historical performance and contributing to investment memorandums
- Developing
valuations under the guidance of Investment Officers and Investment
Managers; refining investment cases, forecasts and sensitivity analyses
- Creating
quarterly reports on the performance of funds and portfolio investments
- Conducting
desktop research on macroeconomic conditions in the markets in which ACIF
invests, on priority investment sectors and specific to investment
opportunities identified by the team
- Participating
in meetings with financial, legal, tax, and impact advisors in conducting
due diligence of investment opportunities
- Supporting
the execution of transaction processes, including overseeing meeting of
conditions precedent, and closing
- Working
with management teams to develop and complete reporting requirements
- Ensuring
appropriate reporting by portfolio funds or companies
WHO YOU ARE
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s
degree in finance, accounting, business, actuarial science, economics,
engineering, statistics, data analytics or an associated field from a
recognized institution
- Mastercard
Foundation Scholar Alumni
- Understanding
of investment fundamentals, key drivers of major African markets, and
risks of operating in complex markets
Head, Workforce Development
The Head, Workforce Development, will support the
development and lead the implementation of the Young Africa Works Country
Roadmap, which includes program development, implementation, reporting, and
stakeholder management. This role requires a visionary leader with a deep
understanding of digital trends, a passion for workforce development, and the
ability to drive initiatives that foster innovation, skill-building, and
economic growth.
Lead, Entrepreneurship
The Lead, Entrepreneurship will support the implementation
of entrepreneurship-related programs in Kenya, working closely with the Head,
Entrepreneurship. This role will apply deep technical expertise in
entrepreneurship to help shape, manage, and adapt the Foundation’s programmatic
work, ensuring alignment with the Foundation’s strategy and the unique context
of Kenya. The role will contribute to partnerships that unlock dignified and
fulfilling work for young people and support innovations that strengthen the
entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Head, Entrepreneurship Kenya
This role leads the Entrepreneurship and Enterprise
Development portfolio in alignment with national priorities and the
Foundation’s strategy in Kenya to enable access to dignified and fulfilling
work for young people. It drives inclusive entrepreneurship and Access to
Finance strategies to support MSMEs (young women-led MSMEs in particular),
while overseeing program design, delivery, and performance. The role also
supports cross-cutting enterprise efforts, fosters strategic partnerships, and
leads a high-performing team to scale impact and opportunity for young people
across key sectors.
Head, Inclusion
The Program Head will oversee the implementation of the
Mastercard Foundation’s strategies for gender equality, youth engagement,
disability inclusion, and the inclusion of Refugees and Displaced Persons
(RDPs) in Kenya, aiming to achieve the Foundation’s inclusion targets. The role
ensures programs are inclusive, promote gender equality, engage youth, and
adhere to safeguarding standards. It integrates these principles into program
design and evaluation while fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and safety.