Footprints Africa is looking for a highly strategic Programme Manager to lead the development and implementation of our B Corp programme. This is an exciting opportunity to support role model businesses to improve their social and environmental performance and in so doing to strengthen their commercial positioning, thus inspiring a new generation of purpose-led business leaders.
Footprints has taken 13 companies through the B Corp Impact Assessment and, based on the needs identified, is now developing a programme that we hope can be replicated.
About Footprints Africa
Footprints supports SMEs to adopt future-friendly practices and create jobs, using supply chains as a tool for development. The private sector, particularly SMEs, is at the centre of environmental and social challenges, both as cause but, more importantly, as a potential solution. Focussing on 2 sectors, Catering and Industrial Waste Management, we are championing business as a force for good and piloting new business models that exemplify this.
We have 3 goals in our strategy to trial an approach to system change. All activities will be used to educate and raise awareness of sustainable development.
1.Business level: supporting role-model companies to adopt business practices that create solutions to environmental/ social challenges
2.System level: designing a roadmap for inclusive, regenerative development of the 2 sectors
3.Operational level: developing a sustainable financial model to deliver our objectives so that they can be scaled and replicated across the continent.
About this role
This is a pivotal role to facilitate the smooth running of our B Corp programme, ensuring all aspects reinforce what we stand for. You will drive the development and implementation of all our activities for the programme, both internal and external, in line with Footprints Africa’s strategy and overall vision.
- Manage the current B Corp programme and associated team (internal and external), ensuring that processes are in place to keep it on track with clear roles, timelines, resource requirements and strong information flows between all parties;
- Based on results of the existing programme, develop a prototype programme that can be repeated cost-effectively across multiple cohorts, with a curriculum and list of preferred service providers
- Adapt the programme based on findings and research about the factors that drive behaviour change.
- Determine what is measured to drive the desired outcomes. Ensure all necessary internal and external reporting is relevant and suitable, provides regular updates on progress and lessons are used to improve the programme;
- Determine resource, information and skills needs and manage the relationship with service providers from determining the scope of work, contracting, oversight and finalisation of engagements
- Develop the long-term strategy for the programme and its financial viability.
You Are
Proactive and dedicated to delivery; you get great satisfaction from taking a task to completion, whilst keeping the team informed about progress.
Rigorous in prioritising, an independent thinker and problem solver. Able to work effectively with a high degree of self-motivation.
Self-aware and not afraid to admit mistakes or weakness. You’d rather work together to get to the right answer, than be right. You’re not afraid to stand up for yourself and are able to manage disagreement and focus on the outcome.
Great at managing expectations and communicating openly with good and bad news.
Passionate about contributing to the shaping of a team of change-makers.
Flexible and able to adapt swiftly (and identify the need to adapt) under changing circumstances or new information. Able to operate in complexity or ambiguity and manage your workload and time accordingly.
Realistic with your abilities and keen to learn, improve and grow.
Experience/Skills
·At least 5 years professional experience, including strategic decision-making;
·Project/Programme Management with multiple stakeholders, preferably using approaches such as Human-Centred Design, Systems Thinking, Lean Data;
·Leading or coordinating a team, either within an organisation or a project, where you have been responsive and adapted activities in order to achieve the project’s objectives;
·Experience creating and running a programme with clearly defined deliverables and measurements that directed the desired outcome;
·A passion to make a difference and examples where you have gone against perceived wisdom or the status quo to enable that change;
·Demonstrated understanding of different workings styles of people and examples of supporting radical career development of team members/ key stakeholders;
·It would be a bonus if you have:
oExperience with B-Corp Accreditation or have worked directly with social enterprises;
oRun a programme, accelerator or business;
oExperience facilitating events that support participants to determine their own transformation (rather than traditional training that is designed as simply a transfer of information, which is the opposite of our approach).
Our Values
1.Local solutions to local challenges, working with and developing local experts.
2.Get into the trenches and learn by doing, truly listening to those already there.
3.Continuous improvement, of ourselves, our work and those around us, even if that requires difficult conversations.
4.Communicate openly and promptly about concerns or weakness and work together to remove obstacles.
5.Commit to excellence and take responsibility for achieving it, even where your role is small.
6.Bring your own flavour and live your values.
