ORGANISATION OVERVIEW

The Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation) is a non-profit, public charity organisation that supports strengthens and promotes science innovation in Africa. The goal of the SFA Foundation is to address the continent’s most pressing developmental needs by generating scientific knowledge that solves problems and informs decision-making.

We serve the African research ecosystem by funding excellent research and innovation ideas; enabling interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, building and reinforcing environments that are conducive for scientists to thrive and producing quality research that generates new, locally relevant knowledge.

The SFA Foundation takes a holistic approach to the development of science. Our programmatic initiatives are crafted to cater to the entire science ecosystem and span across the value chain from early discovery sciences to translation sciences and target cross-cutting gaps.

Our commitment to strengthening the entire research ecosystem is reflected in the creation of major science and innovation programmes implemented through a well-established grant-making scheme, advocacy, and promotion of scientific excellence, emphasis on intra-Africa collaboration and evidence-based policymaking mechanisms.

POSITION OVERVIEW

JOB PURPOSE

The Manager – Strategy and Performance Management is a key member of the SFA Foundation strategy management office and will join a dynamic and relatively flat team in a relatively new organisation. The incumbent is expected to demonstrate experience and capability leading the whole strategy management process of an organisation – from strategy to execution. The office not only supports senior management with strategy development but also middle management with strategy execution. Thus, the incumbent is responsible for developing the strategy; supporting its execution; and, monitoring, reporting, quality control and any adjustments necessary.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy Development and Reporting (20% time):

• Facilitate the overall strategic planning and development process including regular review, evaluation, and reporting.
• Continuously identify wider trends in the science and innovation space which could impact the strategic direction of the SFA Foundation team.
• Provide analysis, advice, and thought leadership to colleagues in new areas and develop and maintain a broad knowledge of issues related to the organiSational work and its strategic ambitions.
• Contribute to a culture of evidence-based learning and adaptation by leading the collating and disseminating of relevant strategic lessons and outlining their implications.
• Prepare organisational performance reports for presentation to executive leadership and the board.

Strategic Execution — Operational Planning, Budgeting and Reporting (45% time)

• Ensure timely and value-adding management reports on strategy performance. Coordinate annual planning for all teams, managing the process of articulating annual strategic priorities, initiatives, and activities in alignment to the overall strategy. Working with the finance team, ensure coordinated formulation of annual plans into budgets.
• Drive the design and implementation of analytical metrics to track strategy progress and coordinate the setting of targets and goals.
• Lead in the development and implementation of robust, efficient and effective strategy reporting frameworks that facilitate the acquisition and aggregation of insights and stories that communicate strategic progress.

Operational Efficiencies – Optimising Systems & Processes (25% time):

• Manage coordination and track priorities of regular key organisational meetings and processes including synthesising actions and agreements, and ensure that actions are taken.
• Drive efficient knowledge management by proactively communicating between teams to ensure the right people know the right information at the right time.
• Provide clear guidance and coordination to internal teams and external partners to ensure their compliance with SFA Foundation’s internal processes and systems as well as work plans.
• Support the development and implementation of knowledge management strategies to improve access to information and learning approaches at SFA Foundation.
• Drive rolling organisation-wide quality assurance processes including certification to international standards, management of ongoing review of policies, procedures and processes, and monitoring delivery of SLAs by professional services departments.

Strategic Projects and Executive Initiatives (10% time):

• Manage strategy pipeline (requests and existing projects) and oversee leadership-initiated cross-functional and organisation-wide projects.
• Support strategic engagements across multiple stakeholders and help drive decisions, including facilitating the development of joint action plans to support strategic relationships, managing project close-outs, after-action reviews and lessons learned.
• Ably represent the organisation in various forums as may be required.
• Build the capacity of colleagues in strategy management, including supporting the development of relevant training and coaching material.

Person Specifications

Academic Qualifications

• Minimum of a Master’s Degree in Science, Economics, Business Administration or any other related field.
• A qualification in information/data analysis field is an advantage

Knowledge and Experience

• At least 5+ years’ senior management experience in business strategy development, and/or general management as part of management/strategy consulting firms or in-house strategy professionals.
• Deep knowledge and proven success in strategy development and implementation and the design of performance management system(s) of goals, targets, and monitoring processes.
• Strong at project management; including detail orientation, setting priorities, and planning.
• Excellent report writing and general communication skills.
• Proficiency in computer applications such as Microsoft Office applications
• Key Attributes
• Passionate about working on complex problems, collaboratively building solutions for transformational change, and committed to delivering results.
• Track record of leading teams and working in a diverse, fast-paced environment with efficiency, resourcefulness, discipline, excellence, resilience, and humility.
• Demonstrable experience working effectively with, and providing a sounding board to, senior decision-makers across strategy development and operations.
• Deep capacity for critical thinking, and structured problem-solving with an ability to identify and analyse issues and synthesise results.
• Passion and alignment with SFA Foundation’s values.
• Self-motivated, goal and deadline-driven; proven track record of delivering the highest possible quality within set timeframes.
• Highly organized with an ability to balance working independently whilst engaging teams.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, and an ability to represent SFA at all levels and in different cultural settings.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 20% domestically and internationally.
• High moral standing with impeccable integrity.

Should you meet the competencies above, please submit a cover letter and a current Curriculum Vitae not exceeding 5 pages including three professional referees to [email protected]

The cover letter should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit. The documents should be saved in MS Word or PDF in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document Name-Date (mmyy) e.g., DeusWan-CV-092022-SFA Foundation or Deus-Wan-CoverLetter-092022-SFA Foundation.

THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS FRIDAY, 17 JANUARY 2025.

SFA Foundation has a commitment to safeguarding people andenvironment,nment and this forms part of our background checks.