Mastercard Foundation is a global foundation based across four hubs in Kigali, Rwanda, Nairobi, Kenya, Accra, Ghana and Toronto, Canada. Our programs promote financial inclusion and advance education and learning in Africa, primarily for young people, and in Canada for Indigenous youth. The Foundation was established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. From inception, the Foundation was designed to be a separate entity and independent from Mastercard. Our policies, operations, and funding decisions are made by our President and Board of Directors.
The Foundation believes that youth employment is key to unlocking prosperity, both for youth and their societies. Enabling young women and men from disadvantaged communities to secure dignified and fulfilling work will ensure inclusive development and economic growth in Africa.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Lead, Brand and Content
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Description
The work at the Foundation:
We are currently in an exciting period at the Mastercard Foundation as we intensify the implementation of the Young Africa Works strategy, aiming to empower 30 million young people throughout Africa to access dignified and fulfilling employment.
To ensure the Foundation's accessibility to our partners and program participants, we have established offices in Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Uganda. These offices provide strong in-country support for the implementation of Young Africa Works.
We collaborate with governments, the private sector, educators, and other funders to enhance the quality of education and vocational training, equip young individuals with the necessary skills for the workforce, expand access to financial services for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and facilitate connections between job seekers and meaningful employment opportunities.
Our values serve as our guiding principles, transcending and surpassing all other considerations. We wholeheartedly encourage you to bring your bold ideas, curiosity, and expertise to your work.
If you are an experienced content and branding professional looking to increase your impact, read on!
The Opportunity
Reporting to the Head, Brand, the Lead, Brand and Content will oversee the implementation of the brand and content strategy and tell a compelling brand story with corresponding visuals and messaging.
The role also develops a dissemination strategy to build awareness of the Foundation’s work and impact across the Foundation and with relevant internal and external stakeholders.
The successful candidate will be based in one of our offices in (Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal, Rwanda, Ethiopia, or Ghana).
Responsibilities
Ways you can Contribute:
Develop and implement an enterprise-wide content strategy aligned with short-term and long-term organizational goals and brand positioning.
Oversee brand identity with the Brand Agency, ensuring consistency across all touchpoints, including digital, print, and social media.
Create and manage a content calendar that supports brand objectives, engaging target audiences.
Oversee high-quality content production, including articles, blog posts, social media, whitepapers, and marketing collateral, while collaborating with internal teams and external partners.
Ensure audience insights drive editorial and content decisions, keeping current with digital, social media, and content trends.
Manage the production of signature Foundation publications, including updates to core corporate materials and writing the annual report and sustainability report.
Identify and proactively manage storytelling opportunities, ensuring alignment with the Program Communications and Policy & Thought Leadership teams across the organization.
Manage vendors like photographers, videographers, writers, editors, and graphic designers, ensuring the development and management of brand assets, style guides, and brand guidelines.
Conduct market research to identify trends and opportunities for brand growth, analyzing content performance metrics to optimize engagement and ROI.
Plan and execute integrated marketing campaigns to drive brand awareness and retention, working with creative and media teams for campaign development and deployment.
Lead content development processes, workflows, and governance across all digital channels, collaborating with teams like Policy & Thought Leadership, Events and Stakeholder Engagement, and Executive Communications.
Lead the measurement framework initiative across the Public Affairs and Communications (PAC) team.
Ensure compliance with copyright and data protection laws.
Lead and mentor a team of agencies and brand specialists, fostering collaboration and cross-functional teamwork.
Requirements
Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field.
Minimum of 10 years experience in brand management, content strategy, or a related role with proven success.
Strong understanding of brand development, content marketing, digital media, and brand design principles, including experience rolling out Brand Identity projects.
Exceptional writing, editing, and communication skills, with complex information experience.
Proficient in content management systems (CMS), social media platforms, and analytics tools.
Experience developing content across physical and digital channels, including video, editorial, and graphic design.
Strategic thinker focused on the big picture, able to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to meet deadlines under pressure.
Demonstrated leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire and collaborate with others.
Flexible, adaptable, self-motivated, and detail-oriented, with the ability to execute a range of duties and manage changing priorities.
Strong verbal, written, and presentation skills, communicating effectively across cultures.
Professional maturity, emotional intelligence, cultural sensitivity, and integrity aligned with the Foundation’s values.