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The African Management Initiative (AMI)
AMI is looking for a Senior Programme Manager to oversee the end-to-end quality project delivery of AMI partner programmes. This is a chance for an outstanding entrepreneurial leader to be part of Africa’s transformation, and to help shape, build and scale one of its most innovative social businesses.
The Senior Programme Manager will be a part of the product team to implement partner-based programmes under the AMI Impact unit. You will be a key player in a dynamic, global team focused obsessively on results.
At AMI, we work hard, innovate constantly, and have fun in the process. This is a chance for someone with a passion for learning, leadership, and business growth to be part of Africa’s transformation. We are particularly interested in hearing from people with past experience managing grant-funded programmes, including report-writing related work.
The Senior Programme Manager must be a driven, organized, detail-oriented leader with great people and project-management skills and ability to manage complex programmes.
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Program Manager to implement an access-to-finance project aimed at supporting entrepreneurs and MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) in Rwanda. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in financial services, project management, and entrepreneurship support, with specific experience in village savings and lending associations (VSLAs).
The Senior Programme Manager will be responsible for:
● Project Management:
- Oversee the comprehensive lifecycle of AMI partner projects, from initiation to completion.
- Develop and execute detailed project plans, setting clear milestones and deliverables while adhering to strict timelines.
- Monitor project scope, manage risks, and ensure high-quality outcomes using AMI’s ERP system.
● Stakeholder Engagement:
- Build and maintain robust relationships with external stakeholders, including financial institutions, government agencies, NGOs, and other partners.
- Engage and coordinate with senior internal stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and alignment on project goals.
- Negotiate and secure necessary resources and support for successful project implementation.
● Innovation and Product Development:
- Collaborate with the innovation and product development teams to design new financial products and services for MSMEs.
- Ensure that innovative solutions are incorporated into project plans to enhance impact and efficiency.
- Lead and manage complex development projects that involve substantial innovation and product development aspects.
● Supporting Entrepreneurs and MSMEs:
- Design and implement financial products and services tailored to the needs of MSMEs.
- Analyze financial statements and assess the financial health of MSMEs.
- Utilize expertise in village savings and lending associations (VSLAs) to develop sustainable financial solutions for entrepreneurs.
● Capacity Building:
- Develop and deliver training programmes on financial literacy and business management for MSMEs.
- Provide mentorship and support to entrepreneurs to facilitate their growth and success.
● Market Research and Analysis:
- Conduct market research to identify financing gaps and opportunities for MSMEs.
- Leverage insights on the local business environment and economic conditions to inform project strategies.
● Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Design and implement robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to measure project impact.
- Utilize data-driven insights to inform decision-making and improve project effectiveness.
● Internal Collaboration:
- Arrange and lead regular project team meetings to track progress, resolve issues, and update stakeholders.
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including product, monitoring and evaluation, and partnership teams to ensure cohesive project execution.
Skills and Experience:
● Demonstrated success in managing and coordinating complex development projects, especially those involving product development and innovation.
● Proficiency with project management tools and methodologies.
● Extensive experience in microfinance, or other financial institutions, particularly in MSME lending.
● Familiarity with village savings and lending associations (VSLAs) and their operation within Rwanda.
● Experience in providing business development services to MSMEs.
● Experience with incubators, accelerators, or similar entrepreneurship support initiatives in Rwanda.
● Proven ability to engage and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including senior internal and external parties.
● Strong communication and negotiation skills.
● Ability to develop strategic plans and solve complex problems.
● Strong market analysis skills and understanding of local economic conditions.
● Experience in designing and implementing effective M&E frameworks.
● Ability to leverage data for project improvement.
● Experience working in multicultural environments and adapting to local contexts.
Education & Experience
● Minimum of 5 years’ experience in business consulting, company training, enterprise development, or management education (essential).
● Proven programme management skills and experience, especially with grant-funded programmes (essential).
● Experience in entrepreneurial or high-growth environments (essential).
● Postgraduate degree in finance, business administration, economics, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
● Facilitation experience (preferred).
Skills and Attributes
● Good understanding of the Rwanda entrepreneurial/ SME landscape
● To be comfortable in both English and Kinyarwanda, French is a bonus.
● Startup & high growth company experience
● Excellent writing, reporting and analytical skills.
● Have a consultant approach when presenting to clients and be able to meet aggressive deadlines.
● Excellent communication and organizational skills
● Extensive project management experience
● Ability to understand AMI’s participants and implement learning experiences that enable the learner to achieve the desired learning outcome in a human centered and goal-oriented way
● Excellent analytical and negotiation skills
● A commitment to AMI’s values of excellence, innovation and accountability
● Self-motivated, and able to take full ownership of own deliverables
● Solid time management skills ie. able to manage competing priorities and outputs
● Willing to learn and collaborate with peers and internal stakeholders at AMI
● Thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
● Absolutely rock-solid integrity
● Willingness to participate in field activities and travel
