Program Partner

Mastercard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper. Through its Young Africa Works strategy and Canadian EleV program, the Foundation works with partners to ensure that millions of young people, especially young women, access quality education, financial services, and dignified work. Mastercard Foundation was established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. The Foundation is independent with its own Board of Directors and CEO.

THE WORK AT THE FOUNDATION

The Foundation has begun working within Canada in partnership with Indigenous communities and post-secondary institutions to listen, learn, and best understand how we can act in meaningful ways. The EleV strategy was co-created with Indigenous communities, young people, and partners to enable 30,000 Indigenous youth to complete their education and transition to dignified work aligned with their values and aspirations.

As reflected in Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, education is a key driver of improved socio-economic well-being. Through building partnerships with Indigenous communities, we look to expand our initiative ultimately helping to support a generation of transformative Indigenous young leaders who will be change agents within their communities. We believe that by setting a bold target, we will encourage engagement across sectors and create momentum that will elevate the strengths and opportunities of Indigenous youth. In keeping with our approach, Indigenous communities and young people will be the drivers of this transformation. The program will promote innovations to address longer-term systemic change to achieve economic prosperity and social well-being within Indigenous communities.

The EleV team oversees current and emerging partnerships related to Indigenous education. Consistent with our overall vision and Youth Africa Works strategy, we will share learnings and opportunities to connect across the work of the Foundation. While operating in distinct contexts, the centrality of youth voice and vision, affirmation of culture and identity, and priority to enhance community capacity for self-determination are common threads upon which our work is strengthened and reinforced.

UNDERSTANDING AFRICA PROGRAMS AT THE FOUNDATION

We have entered a very exciting time at the Foundation as we scale up our operations across Africa to realize our Young Africa Works strategy. Our role at the Mastercard Foundation is to be a catalyst. Our Young Africa Works strategy focuses on working with others to spur systemic change so young people have the opportunity to find work that is dignified and fulfilling.

The Foundation has opened offices in Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Uganda, building a broader leadership presence in Africa to develop specific strategies that support youth employment. Within a country, we work with governments, the private sector, educators, young people, and other funders to improve the quality of education and vocational training, prepare young people for the work force, expand access to financial services for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and connect job seekers to dignified and fulfilling work.

We are ambitious and driven. Our values transcend and rise above everything else as our guide. We encourage you to bring your bold ideas, curiosity, and expertise to your work. We laugh at ourselves and with each other. We are a team. Our journey together makes our impact even more meaningful.

If you are an experienced program partner professional looking to increase your impact, read on!

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the Head of Canada Programs, the Program Partner will be responsible for providing expertise and insight to help identify strategies to strengthen pathways for Indigenous youth to achieve their aspirations for education and employment. The Partner will support the co-creation of partnerships and programs to build capacity, innovate and enable youth to resolve immediate and systems challenges in education and transition to work.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

• Provide expertise and knowledge to support the design and management of programs.
• Lead internal processes to develop strategies and plans to achieve overarching EleV strategy.
• Manage current or future programs as appropriate, distilling learnings for Foundation staff. Design and deliver appropriate mechanisms to monitor effectiveness and impact of programming.
• Identify Indigenous education and employment issues and trends that affect education, economic development, legal and financial systems.
• Manage opportunities to strengthen EleV country through convenings and peer learning networks with particular focus on youth engagement.
• Diagnose and contribute expertise and in-depth knowledge of Indigenous education efforts, priorities and programs to identify and leverage innovation and strategic opportunities to build partnerships for systems interventions.
• Expand the Foundation team’s capacity relating to Indigenous education, networks and opportunities.
• Engage with other teams on strategic priorities for the Foundation including the digital economy, entrepreneurship and inclusive higher education and innovation.
• Facilitate the development of strategic partnerships and fulfillment of internal processes to formalize partnerships for systems change.
• Build relationships with partner communities, organizations, communities of practice and global stakeholders.
• Engage key public sector officials and other stakeholders on Indigenous education and employment innovation issues.
• Design and deliver stakeholder engagement sessions and activities.

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s degree preferably in social science, education, business, or related field or a combination of relevant experience and education is required.
• Experience working with the private and non-profit sectors, particularly in a role relating to First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples in Canada or internationally with Indigenous peoples.
• Experience successfully managing consultants and technology vendors and suppliers to achieve goals.
• Experience in policy design, implementation or analysis related to education and transition to work.
• Possess excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures. Fluency in French and/or Indigenous language is an asset.
• Good organizational skills and demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks.
• Proficiency with MS Office (PowerPoint, Word and Excel).
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
• Possess excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures.
• Possess professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values.
• Demonstrate a commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision.

Deadline for Applications is March 16, 2022.

Mastercard Foundation (the “Foundation”) values and respects your privacy. By submitting an application for this opportunity, you hereby agree to the Foundation’s collection, use and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with its Privacy Policy (available at https://mastercardfdn.org/privacy/). Please note that the Foundation may share your personal information with third-party agencies that support the Foundation’s recruitment activities, and such third-party agencies may contact you directly regarding this opportunity. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Foundation’s Privacy Officer at the address indicated in its Privacy Policy.

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.

Completion of satisfactory business references and background checks are essential conditions of employment.

For more information and to sign up for the Foundation’s newsletter, please visit http://www.mastercardfdn.org/

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