Consultant, Head, Strategic Delivery SET job at Mastercard foundation

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is a unique opportunity to sit at the intersection of strategy, operations, and program delivery, helping shape and embed a modern, agile way of working across SET. As a key member of cross-functional delivery teams, the Consultant, Head, Strategic Delivery Secondary Education & Transition (SET) will lead complex initiatives from concept to execution, bringing structure to ambiguity, accelerating results, and driving impact across the organization.

Reporting to the Director, Strategic Delivery, the Head, Strategic Delivery Secondary Education & Transition (SET) will be working closely with senior leaders and enterprise stakeholders, and play a pivotal role in building the systems, processes, and culture required to deliver SET's ambitious mandate.

Contract duration: 1 Year.

If you are excited by the challenge of driving transformational work, influencing across diverse stakeholders, and building the systems and culture that enable exceptional delivery, this role offers an opportunity to make a significant and lasting impact.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

In this role, you will serve as a strategic delivery leader, ensuring high-priority initiatives move from ideas to measurable outcomes through strong project leadership, problem-solving, and stakeholder engagement. Key areas of impact include:

• Lead complex, cross-functional projects and workstreams, driving delivery against milestones, timelines, and strategic objectives.
• Partner with senior leaders and diverse stakeholder groups to solve complex challenges and remove barriers to execution.
• Build and embed agile delivery practices, operational systems, tools, and processes that enhance efficiency and scalability.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement by identifying, codifying, and implementing best practices.
• Drive collaboration across functions including Finance, Legal, Compliance, People & Culture, Technology, and other enterprise teams.
• Support the adoption of innovative ways of working while influencing culture and mindset shifts across teams.

Success in the role will be measured by:

• Consistent on-time and high-quality delivery of projects and workstreams.
• Adoption of new ways of working and delivery frameworks across teams.
• Strong stakeholder satisfaction and cross-functional collaboration.
• Meaningful process improvements and operational efficiencies.
• Positive influence on team capability, accountability, and execution excellence

WHO YOU ARE

You are a highly strategic and execution-oriented professional who thrives in complex, fast-moving environments. You excel at bringing clarity to ambiguity, influencing without authority, and driving results through collaboration.

Mindset

• Agile, adaptable, and comfortable navigating uncertainty.
• A proactive problem-solver who combines strategic thinking with practical execution.
• Highly collaborative with strong influencing and relationship-building skills.
• Resilient, self-directed, and energized by creating order in evolving environments.
• Passionate about driving impact and enabling organisational success.

Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Management, or a related field.
• Master's degree or equivalent advanced professional experience is advantageous.
• Project Management certification (e.g., PMP) is beneficial.

Technical Experience

• 12+ years of professional experience, including leadership or supervisory responsibilities.
• Strong background in project delivery, strategic planning, operational excellence, or consulting.
• Management consulting experience is highly valued.
• Proven experience leading complex initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and dependencies.
• Exposure to education, development, or social impact sectors is advantageous.

Core Competencies

• Strategic problem-solving and structured thinking.
• Advanced project and programme management capabilities.
• Stakeholder management and executive-level facilitation.
• Work planning, prioritisation, and execution management.
• Influencing and driving accountability across matrixed teams.
• Strong written communication, presentation, and facilitation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and project management tools.

Location Flexibility We are open to exceptional candidates based in any of our countries of operations in Africa or in Canada, reflecting our commitment to attracting the best talent to advance impact across the continent.

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.

• Lead complex, cross-functional projects and workstreams, driving delivery against milestones, timelines, and strategic objectives.
• Partner with senior leaders and diverse stakeholder groups to solve complex challenges and remove barriers to execution.
• Build and embed agile delivery practices, operational systems, tools, and processes that enhance efficiency and scalability.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement by identifying, codifying, and implementing best practices.
• Drive collaboration across functions including Finance, Legal, Compliance, People & Culture, Technology, and other enterprise teams.
• Support the adoption of innovative ways of working while influencing culture and mindset shifts across teams.

• Strategic problem-solving and structured thinking.
• Advanced project and programme management capabilities.
• Stakeholder management and executive-level facilitation.
• Work planning, prioritisation, and execution management.
• Influencing and driving accountability across matrixed teams.
• Strong written communication, presentation, and facilitation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and project management tools.

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Management, or a related field.
• Master's degree or equivalent advanced professional experience is advantageous.
• Project Management certification (e.g., PMP) is beneficial.