Partnership Senior Associate

CHANCEN International

CHANCEN International

Sales & Business Development

Nairobi, Kenya

Posted on Apr 15, 2026

Job Description

About Chancen International

Application Deadline: 22nd April 2026

Chancen International is a non-profit financial institution providing ethical, fair, and responsible financing to help young Africans access quality tertiary education. Using an innovative Income Share Agreement (ISA) model, we cover students' tuition fees, allowing them to study without financial barriers. Graduates repay a portion of their income once employed, creating a sustainable funding cycle that supports future generations. By empowering young people with education, we enable their transition to meaningful employment, fostering economic mobility and strengthening communities.

Headquartered in Kigali, Rwanda, and operating in Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana, Chancen International has helped over 9,000 young people access education leading to dignified work. Our focus on marginalized populations ensures these youth gain the skills needed to thrive and contribute to building strong economies and peaceful nations.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and positive working environment where each individual can flourish and achieve their full potential. Our actions are guided by our company values: Authenticity, Curiosity, Courage, Stewardship, and Fairness.

Job Summary:

The Partnerships Senior Associate will support the expansion and management of Chancen Kenya's portfolio of partner educational institutions (PEIs). You will be responsible for key aspects of the partner due diligence process, ensuring the integrity and sustainability of our ISA investments. This role requires a professional who can engage partners, analyze data to uncover opportunities, and contribute proactively to the strategic goals of the department, operating with a high degree of independence.

Key Responsibilities

  1. Partner Due Diligence & Investment Analysis

    • Lead the collection, collation, and rigorous analysis of institutional data (enrollment, graduation rates, employment outcomes, etc.) to assess investment risk for

prospective and existing partners.

  • Prepare comprehensive underwriting documents and presentations for internal

investment committees, presenting problem analysis and recommended solutions.

  • Act as a key liaison between partner institutions and internal teams (Finance, SAM, Repayments, Communications & Community, Data, etc.) to ensure a smooth and timely due diligence process.

  • Conduct periodic partner audits as required by company policy, maintaining strict confidentiality of client and partner information.

  1. Partnership Development & Management

    • Proactively generate new partnership leads within the private and public education sectors through research, networking, and attending industry events.

    • Support the Partnership Manager in building and nurturing strong, long-term relationships with current partners, ensuring their needs are met and identifying new opportunities.

    • Assist in the development, formalization, and management of partnership agreements and contracts.

    • Contribute to the continuous evaluation of existing partnerships to ensure alignment with Chancen’s vision and strategic objectives.

    • Develop structured engagement plans for each PEI, outlining quarterly touchpoints, performance reviews, and improvement actions.

    • Track progress against partnership agreements and ensure PEIs meet SLAs, reporting deadlines, and system usage requirements.

  2. Data, Reporting & Strategic Support

    • Manage and update the partner dashboard and tracker to ensure 100% accuracy and compliance with monthly reporting standards.

    • Utilize data insights to identify trends, opportunities for process improvement, and partnership growth within the department.

    • Prepare clear, well-organized, and actionable reports on partnership pipeline, progress against targets, and key performance indicators for internal stakeholders.

    • Provide ongoing support to PEI staff on system usage, escalations, and updates.

    • Lead the annual audit process for all assigned PEIs, ensuring full compliance with partnership agreements, reporting, and payment plans.

  3. Disbursement & Portfolio Support

    • Work alongside internal teams such as Finance, SAM, Communications & Community, Repayments, and Data to manage the timely and accurate disbursement of funds to partners.

    • Ensure that all cohorts in the PEI are compliant with commitment fees and are in session before any disbursements are made to the PEI.


Requirements

Required Qualifications and Experience

  • A Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, International Development, Marketing, or a related field.

  • 3-6 years of proven experience in a partnerships, business development, data analysis, or project management role. Experience in the education sector, financial services, or impact investing is a strong advantage.

  • Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with proven ability to resolve operational problems of a routine to moderately complex nature.

  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build rapport,

manage relationships with diverse stakeholders, and present information clearly in both written and verbal forms.

  • High level of proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.

  • Self-directed, resourceful, and able to manage multiple priorities, measure progress against targets, and meet consistent deadlines.


Benefits

  • 21 days of annual leave, excluding national holidays.

  • Training, learning and development opportunities and financial support for further education.

  • Medical insurance/aid coverage and wellbeing initiatives.

  • A fulfilling work environment in a supportive and impact-driven organization with clear, frequent growth opportunities.

How to Apply:

  • Qualified and interested candidates should submit their applications which should contain a resume with the email address, contact, qualifications and details of references and responses to our questionnaire. Cover letters are optional.

  • The deadline for receiving applications is no later than Wednesday 22nd April 2026

  • Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.