New Opening: Head, Impact Delivery

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the Director, Impact Delivery, Country Programs, the Head, Impact Delivery leads the design and implementation of the country-level Impact Delivery workstream. The role ensures that impact insights and evidence guide program design and execution, supporting deeper, more inclusive, and sustainable outcomes.

The position provides strategic coordination across Impact, Program Planning, and Monitoring (PPM) functions, oversees the work of the Regional Impact Partner Organization (ReIPO), and ensures the quality and relevance of impact studies, sensemaking, and learning processes.

As a key liaison between Program Teams, Measurement & Evaluation, and Evidence & Learning Insights, and as a thought partner to the Country Director, the Head fosters alignment and collaboration across monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning. Working with other Impact Delivery team members, the role promotes a holistic, evidence-driven approach throughout the program cycle to advance the Foundation’s mission of inclusive and sustainable impact.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

Contribute to the Design and Delivery of Impact Delivery Priorities

• Support the development and implementation of Impact Delivery strategic priorities and workplans, ensuring alignment with Program goals.
• Collaborate with PPM, IEL, and Country teams to define and execute country-specific workplans.
• Identify and develop innovative approaches to improve delivery.
• Consolidate and share progress updates, lessons learned, and insights to inform ongoing improvements.

Lead and Coordinate PPM Functions in Country

• Work with PPMs and Program teams to integrate monitoring and learning priorities into the overall Impact Delivery workplan.
• Provide technical guidance and oversight on PPM priorities and annual plans.
• Ensure alignment and cohesion across monitoring, evaluation, review, and learning processes.

Support Co-Design of Partnership Programs

• Lead the development of Impact, Evidence & Learning (IEL) Support Plans that respond to program needs in a timely manner.
• Oversee the preparation of concept notes, ToRs, and SoWs for evidence-gathering, ensuring quality and timeliness in line with Foundation standards.
• Provide technical input and facilitation support in developing theories of change, impact pathways, and monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

Ensure High-Quality Evaluations and Reviews

• Establish and manage annual pipelines for evaluations and reviews.
• Provide technical guidance and oversight for Foundation-led and partner-led evaluations.
• Review and approve evaluation outputs, and lead sensemaking sessions to share findings with Foundation leadership.
• Ensure evaluations are utilization-focused, participatory, and contextually and culturally appropriate.

Maximize the Use of Evidence and Insights

• Lead the synthesis and dissemination of evidence, learning, and insights to inform strategic directions.
• Support country strategy reviews by integrating insights that promote inclusive and sustainable impact.
• Provide technical advice on impact-related matters to Country Directors and Program teams.

Strengthen Collaboration and Team Performance

• Foster collaboration between Country Program and IEL teams to promote evidence-informed and impact-oriented programming.
• Advise the Director, Impact, Country Programs, on emerging priorities and implications for Impact Delivery.
• Support coordination and performance management of the Country Impact Delivery Team.
• Build a high-performing, collaborative, and learning-oriented team culture.

Coordinate the West Africa Anglophone Regional Impact Partner Organization (IPO)

• Serve as the relationship manager for the Regional IPO, ensuring alignment with work plans, budgets, and deliverables.
• Coordinate with Finance and Legal teams to support project management and timely submission of quarterly reports and other contractual deliverables.
• Facilitate cross-learning and knowledge sharing across all IPOs.

Advance Thought Leadership and Innovation in Impact Delivery

• Stay informed on emerging practices in impact measurement, learning, and systems change.
• Collaborate with IEL teams and IPOs to advance methods, narratives, and dialogues that enhance understanding of systemic and transformative change in key thematic areas.

WHO YOU ARE

• Master’s or PhD in International Development, Measurement and Evaluation, or a related field aligned with the Foundation’s priorities.
• Over 15 years of progressive experience in systems-informed measurement, evaluation, and impact work in complex development contexts, preferably in Africa.
• Minimum of 5 years in senior leadership within international development, philanthropy, or impact investment, with experience managing regional or multi-country initiatives and engaging governments, regional bodies, and the private sector.
• Proven ability to attract, develop, and engage diverse, high-performing teams across geographies and cultures.
• Strong technical expertise in social impact measurement using quantitative and qualitative methods, and in systems thinking that drives transformative change.
• Skilled in designing systems-informed theories of change, leading evaluations, and translating evidence into actionable insights.
• Experience applying tools such as context mapping, root cause and leverage point analysis, and network and intersectional analyses to understand change dynamics.
• Demonstrated leadership in cross-border programming, staying current on emerging practices and innovations in impact measurement and learning.
• Experienced in evidence-informed planning, adaptive management, and fostering learning-driven collaboration.
• Results-oriented, innovative, and adaptable, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and youth voice and agency, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized populations.
• Excellent facilitation and relationship-building skills to lead cross-cultural, high-performing teams and partnerships.
• Broad understanding of regional contexts and extensive experience working across Africa.
• Willingness to travel across the continent as required.
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute various 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 to different cultures, and impeccable integrity that exemplify the Foundation’s values.
• Demonstrate a commitment to Mastercard Foundation’s values and vision.

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/Follow the Foundation on Twitter at @MastercardFdn

Skills Required:

• Political / Science / Ir
• Social / Science / Project / Management / Development