ABOUT INKOMOKO
Inkomoko supports entrepreneurs to grow their businesses in order to improve livelihoods, create jobs, and help communities thrive.
In 2025, Inkomoko was listed by the Financial Times as the 8th fastest-growing company in Africa, supporting entrepreneurs across East and Central Africa to grow thriving businesses and build inclusive, resilient economies.
Founded in 2012, Inkomoko has worked with more than 100,000 entrepreneurs, including thousands of refugee entrepreneurs. Inkomoko provides a combination of training, consulting, access to finance, and market-level systems change. We are the largest investor to refugee entrepreneurs in Africa.
Inkomoko has 780+ staff in 45 offices across Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Sudan. Through Inkomoko’s 2030 strategic plan, we are adding 3 additional countries to serve more than 550,000 entrepreneurs and growing our $30M loan fund to impact 7M lives.
INKOMOKO VALUES
All staff at Inkomoko are connected to a shared set of organizational values:
- Purpose: be solutions-oriented, produce high-quality work, and be a global leader.
- Achievement: push yourself to reach beyond what you previously thought possible.
- Improvement: be humble, engage in continuous growth through open & accurate feedback
- Bravery: willing to take risks, create a safe space for others, be compassionate, and inclusive.
- We Eat Goat: we celebrate success and support each other in hard times. We do this work together in the spirit of turikumwe, tuko pamoja, abren nen, Kula na sawa, On est ensemble.
Inkomoko is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Refugees, women, and persons who reflect the diverse communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY & RESPONSIBILITIES
The Head of IT Infrastructure and Security provides strategic and operational leadership for the organization’s entire technology backbone ensuring secure, reliable, and scalable digital systems that enable entrepreneurship programs across refugee and host communities in Africa.
This position is responsible for IT infrastructure architecture, cybersecurity governance, and digital resilience, ensuring that all systems (training platforms, digital finance tools, data systems, and internal operations systems) are protected, efficient, and aligned with organizational goals. The role is open to candidates based in Addis, Kigali, Juba, Nairobi or N'Djamena.
A. Strategic Leadership
- Support the Director of Technology Enablement inDevelopment and implementation of the organization’s IT infrastructure and cybersecurity strategy in line with its mission and growth plans.
- Provide leadership to IT teams ensuring strong coordination between infrastructure and security functions.
- Provide technical leadership to senior management on technology investments, risks, and opportunities that enhance service delivery to staff and clients.
- Oversee annual IT planning, budgeting, and resource allocation for IT tools, assets, systems infrastructure, security, equipment, storage and networking.
- Develop SLAs for various initiatives accountable to the IT infrastructure and Security function.
B. Infrastructure Management
- Lead the design, implementation, and optimization of the organization’s IT infrastructure across offices and country programs.
- Ensure availability, scalability, and performance of critical systems including but not limited to ERP, Core Banking Systems, IMSs, middleware, learning platforms, CRM, data repositories, and digital finance applications.
- Oversee cloud systems management (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud), network architecture, and systems integration.
- Oversee and Supervise the Infrastructure and Systems Administration roles to ensure proactive monitoring, maintenance, and upgrades.
- Establish and enforce standards for IT asset management, configuration, and support processes.
C. Cybersecurity & Risk Management
- Oversee the development and enforcement of information security policies, standards, and protocols.
- Oversee and Supervise the Information Security roles to ensure robust protection of organizational data and digital assets.
- Lead periodic risk assessments, vulnerability testing, and incident response planning.
- Ensure compliance with international and national data protection regulations (e.g. GDPR, NDPR, and local ICT & Data Acts).
- Oversee implementation of disaster recovery and business continuity strategies.
D. Governance, Policy, and Compliance
- Develop governance frameworks that ensure IT systems align with donor, regulatory, and ethical data standards.
- Manage relationships with external vendors, auditors, and technology partners.
- Ensure transparent documentation of IT processes, configurations, and risk assessments.
- Contribute to organization-wide digital transformation and data governance initiatives.
E. Capacity Building & Collaboration
- Build capacity within IT teams through mentorship, performance management, and professional development.
- Promote a culture of cybersecurity awareness and digital responsibility among all staff.
- Collaborate with program teams to ensure technology supports entrepreneurship training, financial inclusion, and market access initiatives.
- Support digital inclusion efforts in field programs—designing solutions that function effectively in low-connectivity or resource-constrained environments.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
- Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field.
- Master’s degree in Technology Management, Cybersecurity, or related discipline preferred.
- Professional certifications strongly desired: CISSP, CISM, CCNP, ITIL, PMP, AWS/Azure Solutions Architect, or equivalent.
- 10-12 years of progressively responsible experience in IT infrastructure and cybersecurity, including at least 5 years in a managerial or leadership role.
- Demonstrated experience leading technology operations across multi-country or distributed environments, preferably in NGOs, social enterprises, or development organizations.
- Proven expertise in network design, cloud infrastructure, data center operations, cybersecurity frameworks, and systems integration.
- Familiarity with ICT solutions supporting digital learning, enterprise development, and financial inclusion in Africa is an advantage.
Key Competencies
- Strong leadership and people management abilities, with experience supervising senior technical staff.
- Excellent understanding of IT governance, cybersecurity frameworks (ISO 27001, NIST, CIS Controls), and data protection laws.
- Strategic thinker with hands-on capability in complex IT systems and risk management.
- Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to deliver secure, cost-effective, and sustainable technology systems in challenging environments.
- Deep commitment to the organization’s mission of empowering refugee and host community entrepreneurs.
We are looking for someone who:
- Synthesizes Data - Leverages key information, data, and insights to enhance both client and team member experiences.
- Adapts Approach to Situations - Adjusts the team's approach to meet the shifting demands of impact; able to quickly adapt to suit the context and drive to positive outcomes for their department.
- Enhances Competitive Advantage - Creates new and better ways to drive organizational success, with a future-focused mindset (at least 2 years ahead), through innovation and leveraging external relationships and opportunities.
- Uses his/her Technical expertise to coach and guide staff to meet and exceed expectations.
WHAT YOU'LL GET
This role is inside a high-growth, mission-driven social enterprise. By joining, you’ll access:
- A leadership role with regional influence and the opportunity to shape Inkomoko’s financial future.
- Meaningful work that directly contributes to sustainable livelihoods and job creation across East and Central Africa.
- Competitive salary, and potential Performance-based bonus
- Incredible company culture, with opportunities for learning and growth
- Diverse colleagues across the region, and policies that demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion
- A dynamic and entrepreneurial team environment committed to innovation and social impact
- Ability to make a significant social impact to your community
- Health insurance for self and family
- Staff savings and provident fund, negotiated bank rates for long-term employees
- Generous annual leave, parental leave, and sabbatical options.
HOW TO APPLY
If you’re excited about this role, please submit your application through the jobs portal.
Tell us about what you’ll bring to this growing company.
DEADLINE: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, please apply as soon as possible!
Inkomoko is committed to justice, diversity, equity and inclusion. As we seek to reflect the communities we serve, refugees and women are strongly encouraged to apply. As a company we have policies that ensure fair treatment in the application process.
NB: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Employment is conditional upon successful background checks and other verification as needed.
All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and background screening checks. Inkomoko also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual misconduct, fraud, or abuse. By applying, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.
