Wavumbuzi Programme Manager, Rwanda

BACKGROUND

Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropy Rwanda (AGGPR) has embarked on a journey to develop responsible entrepreneurs across the African continent in service of the common good.

Our Vision is an empowered, prosperous, productively engaged African citizenry thriving in ethical societies with dignity and hope.

Our Mission is to attack poverty by investing in, nurturing, and empowering responsible entrepreneurs and leaders who benefit society by helping to accelerate meaningful employment creation, while embodying the values and behaviours of ethical leadership.

Our Values are long-term commitment, spirit of humility and significance, excellence, responsible stewards, and diversity and inclusion.

Jasiri, one of AGGPR’s main programs invests in, nurtures and empower entrepreneurs who benefit society and attack poverty through the creation of high impact new businesses creating new markets on the African continent.

Jasiri Talent Investor is a one-year program for high potential individuals who display exceptional entrepreneurial potential to form part of a community of high impact responsible entrepreneurs growing businesses from scratch. Participants are funded and guided through a process of team formation, idea generation, business validation and market entry. The program introduces Jasiri Fellows to equally ambitious co-founders, and supports them on an individual, team and business level through seasoned Facilitators and Coaches.

Jasiri Growth Accelerator invests in early stages, high potential startups that may still be too risky for commercial funders to invest in. Early-stage ventures with potential for high growth and demonstrated product-market fit are provided with funding to support their growth and assisted with investor readiness.

Wavumbuzi – a Jasiri pipeline building program – is a free annual six-week online entrepreneurship challenge focused on developing the entrepreneurial mindset of secondary/high school learners throughout the country. The challenge is designed to equip students with competencies to be the next generation of global leaders, change-makers and innovative thinkers.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Wavumbuzi Programme Manager owns the planning, coordination, and execution of the Wavumbuzi Challenge and Community activities at the national level. Responsible for the planning, operational delivery of the Wavumbuzi Programme, in each country of operation. This role focuses on tactical execution, stakeholder engagement, managing the scope, schedule, budget, and resources to ensure Programme objectives are met, ecosystem engagement to drive the growth, visibility and impact of Wavumbuzi in the ecosystem.

Reporting to the Rwanda Country Director, the Wavumbuzi Programme Manager will be responsible for translating strategic directives into actionable plans ensuring efficient Programme implementation and effectively meeting in-country targets.

KEY ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Program Management

   • Manage the contextualisation and implementation of the Wavumbuzi Entrepreneurship Challenge and annual interventions within budget and set timelines in order to achieve its targets, objectives and key results (OKRs).

   • Scope and manage Wavumbuzi Portfolios including its objectives, timelines, roadmaps and activity/delivery schedules on Asana to ensure projects are successfully and timeously implemented.

   • Work with the Rwanda Country Director, Systems team, Wavumbuzi Officers, and the KRU team to determine the key variables to be measured and presented in the reporting dashboard for each edition of Wavumbuzi.

   • Provide detailed implementation insights to the Technical & Development team, the Marketing & Communications team, and the Program Design team to continuously improve the user experience of:

     1. learners / young people participating in the Wavumbuzi Entrepreneurship Challenge and related interventions, and;

     2. Teachers / principals / parents or guardians who support, motivate and guide learners / young people participating in Wavumbuzi.

   • Develop, procure and deliver attractive and scalable award structures that recognize and celebrate high performing learners, teachers, schools and regions in each edition of Wavumbuzi, and its ongoing annual activities.

   • Coordinate the annual development of the Wavumbuzi Quests, incorporating the inputs and contributions of key stakeholders (industry experts, schools' community, education officials, etc.).

   • Continuously undertake risk identification and mitigation, monitor progress, problem solve and refine operational processes and good practices.

   • In close collaboration with the Country Leads, develop the annual budgets and lead the Wavumbuzi strategic planning to define and/or refine annual priorities, opportunities and key deliverables for Wavumbuzi.

   • Work with Country Leads and Wavumbuzi Officers to identify and manage strategic partnerships to scale Wavumbuzi.

   • Chair Wavumbuzi weekly meetings, ensuring advance planning, communication of key agenda items and proper follow up on agreed deliverables via Asana.

   • Identify potential operational and administrative blockages/hurdles/delays, plan appropriate contingencies and deploy rapid problem-solving measures, while maintaining a calm/professional demeanor.

   • Plan and oversee logistics for Wavumbuzi internal and external events, including workshops, conferences, forums, awards celebrations and other events to celebrate key accomplishments, recognize best performers, share lessons learned and communicate the effects of the intervention.

2. Communication

   • Provide regular synthesized communication on Wavumbuzi program progress, hurdles, solutions and recommended next steps to the Country Leads and the Eastern Africa Regional Director, AGGP.

   • Work in collaboration with the Marketing & Communications team to manage PR agencies, develop Wavumbuzi collaterals/presentations/informational materials, and manage website content updates.

   • Liaise with the Country Leads and Eastern Africa Regional Director as well as M&C and the Knowledge & Research Unit (KRU) to develop Wavumbuzi Thought Leadership pieces.

3. People Management

   • Manage, motivate and guide Wavumbuzi Officers in Rwanda adapting approaches to maximize the productivity and fulfillment of the teams, and supporting the development of their individual OKRs and Performance Development Plans.

   • Mentor Wavumbuzi Officers in the efficient and effective recruitment, training, management and supervision of the Wavumbuzi Ambassadors in each country.

   • Coordinate the timely hire of consultants and experts where required.

4. Measurement and Evaluation

   • Participate in research including measuring the effects of the Wavumbuzi program.

   • Continuously be analytical, methodical, and use data to motivate decision-making for the Wavumbuzi program.

5. Ecosystem Engagement

   • Identify Entrepreneurs to feature in each edition of the Wavumbuzi Entrepreneurship Challenge in line with the Quests.

   • Represent AGGP in conferences, summits, events, Stakeholders’ events, to contribute to the visibility and positioning of Wavumbuzi and Jasiri.

6. Other Responsibilities

   • Participate in the recruitment and selection process of exceptional individuals for the Jasiri Talent Investor Program.

   • Undertaking any other tasks or responsibilities as required.

REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in business studies, Business Administration, Social Sciences or Project Management.

• A certificate in Project Management is an added value

Experience:

• A minimum of 4 years’ relevant experience in project management.

• Preferable to have experience in program management and managing several projects from beginning to end of the project and life cycle.

• Experience in managing resources – both financial budgets and people resources.

• Knowledge of administrative and financial management of development programs and interpreting programmatic financial reports.

• Experience in managing external partners and stakeholder relationships will be an added advantage.

• Experience in or knowledge of the secondary educational environment, the policies, processes and role players involved will also be considered an advantage.

• Experience within a non-profit organization and / or start-up environment will be advantageous.

Skills and Competencies:

• Proactive and Self-Managed: A strong self-starter who thrives without micro- management, demonstrating initiative, and self-management. Adept at finding information independently to complete tasks effectively.

• Adaptability, Flexibility and Resilience: Quickly adapts to change and manages shifting priorities in a fast-paced, high-pressure, quickly evolving environment. Resourceful and forward-thinking problem solver with a proactive mindset.

• Communication (written and verbal): Articulates ideas clearly in both written and spoken formats, tailoring messages to diverse audiences. Listens actively, engages in open dialogue, and ensures information is shared effectively across all levels of the organization.

• Teamwork: Collaborates effectively with colleagues, fostering a cooperative and inclusive environment. Values diverse perspectives, supports team goals, and actively contributes to group success through shared effort and mutual respect.

• Planning and Organizational Skills: Demonstrates strong organizational skills by setting clear priorities, managing time efficiently, and coordinating resources to meet deadlines.

• Service Excellence: Demonstrates a strong commitment to exceeding customer and stakeholder expectations by delivering exceptional service. Actively seeks ways to improve customer experiences and enhance satisfaction.

• Leadership: Able to inspire, guide, and influence individuals/teams toward achieving goals, while fostering a positive and inclusive work environment. Demonstrates accountability, integrity, and emotional intelligence to drive performance and ensure alignment with the organization’s vision and values.

• Stewardship and Service Orientation: Embraces a sense of responsibility for managing resources ethically and sustainably. Shows a deep commitment to serving communities and advancing the organization's mission with integrity.

• Growth mindset and ongoing learning: Displays a proactive attitude towards self-improvement, consistently seeking opportunities to learn, adapt, and grow. Welcomes challenges and remains open to new ideas and feedback.

• Results Driven: Demonstrates a strong commitment to achieving high-quality outcomes. Continuously seeks ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness, and maintains focus on delivering results, even in the face of challenges. Tracks progress and ensure accountability for meeting targets.

• Problem Solving: Exhibits strong analytical skills and the ability to approach challenges with creativity and resourcefulness. Identifies root causes, evaluates possible solutions, and makes informed decisions to resolve issues efficiently.

• Project Management: Manages projects from start to end with clear goals, timelines, and resource allocation. Ensures effective coordination of tasks, tracks progress, mitigates risks, and adjusts plans as needed. Communicates progress and delivers quality outcomes on time and within budget.

• Relationship/Stakeholder Management: Effectively builds and maintains relationships with internal and external stakeholders, fostering collaboration, trust, and mutual respect. Proactively engages with stakeholders to understand their needs, address concerns, and ensure positive, longlasting partnerships.