Sustainability Manager

About Seedstars and SAFEEM

Seedstars is a global investment holding with headquarters in Switzerland, 15 offices and a presence in 80+ emerging markets. We are on a mission to impact people’s lives in emerging markets through technology and entrepreneurship. The group is organised around two key activities; 1) talent incubation and 2) VC investing. We incubate talent and high growth ventures through a series of programs from idea stage to early growth stage. We are currently building a platform of funds to be positioned as a key early-stage emerging market VC.

SAFEEM is a non-profit organization that supports and empowers entrepreneurs in emerging markets. As the consortium lead, SAFEEM will serve as the main point of contact to MCC and will ensure alignment and coordination with the consortium partners, as well as implement and foster learning mechanisms throughout the project. 

About the Program

Funded by USAID, MCC, and Microsoft, the DigiFemmes Program is a holistic technical assistance program to enhance the capacity of women in Cote d’Ivoire to run and grow successful businesses by participating in the digital economy.

The program supports existing W-SMEs in their growth journeys, creates a robust pipeline of new W-SMEs, and works with ecosystem stakeholders to create a supportive environment for digital skills in Cote d’Ivoire. The DigiFemmes Program combines an innovative, yet proven pedagogical approach to skill training with a built-in sustainability mechanism to ensure that the program is impactful, scalable and sustainable. As part of the program, the DigiFemmes Academy component is a two -years program which aims to create a new generation of women in tech entrepreneurs through a combination of an 18 months full stack Developer training followed by a 6 months incubation program.
 

About the job

We are seeking a highly motivated Sustainability Manager to join our DigiFemmes team in Ivory Coast. The successful candidate will be responsible for business development and partnerships for the DigiFemmes program, including the academy and other components. This role will involve supporting corporate partnerships, developing a pipeline of partners, following through with proposals, and seeking grant opportunities for the program.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the business development efforts for the DigiFemmes program, including the academy and other components.
• Develop and implement a strategic plan for revenue generation, partnerships, and growth.
• Build and maintain relationships with corporate partners and ensure a high level of client satisfaction.
• Develop and maintain accurate records and reporting on business development performance, including financial reports and KPIs.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to team members to support their career growth and development.

Requirements:

• Fully bilingual (French and English).
• At least 5 years of experience in business development, corporate partnerships, or managing grant proposals. 
• Proven track record of successful revenue generation and partnership development.
• Strong leadership and management skills.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.

Why our employees love working with us:

• We are on a mission to impact people's lives in emerging markets.
• You get many growth opportunities and responsibilities early on.
• You work in an entrepreneurial culture where you're surrounded by a vibrant and diverse team.
• We offer autonomy and flexibility with a flat hierarchy and a strong belief in freedom-centered practices.
• We were awarded as one of the most democratic workplaces in the world due to our freedom-centered practices.
• We are an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and encourages applicants from historically underrepresented groups.

We are an equal opportunity employer with a diverse mix of nationalities and backgrounds represented in our company. We truly value diversity and believe that the cultural landscape of our organization should reflect the types of work that we engage in and the places that we do it. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status and strongly encourage applicants from historically underrepresented groups to apply to all of our roles at Seedstars.

Funding of the DigiFemmes Program

• The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is an independent U.S. government agency that works to reduce global poverty through economic growth. Established in 2004, MCC provides grants and fixed-term assistance to countries that meet high standards of good governance, anti-corruption, and respect for democratic rights. The Digital Collaboratives for Local Impact (DCLI) project is an initiative of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) that works with partner countries to transform systems in terms of data use and digital access and tools. www.mcc.gov | www.dcli.co
• USAID is the lead U.S. government agency fighting extreme global poverty and enabling resilient and democratic societies to develop their potential. For more information, visit https://www.usaid.gov/.
• Launched in 2021, Microsoft's Africa Transformation Office is a driver of business development within Microsoft. It works with partners to foster Africa's sustainable growth, accelerate digital transformation and empower millions of Africans through digital technologies.