Deputy Director, Pathways to Scale

Key responsibilities include: 

Project Management and Technical leadership

• Support the Project Director in their role to oversee the effective and efficient implementation of Pathways to Scale, including support with project strategy, report writing and annual work planning. 
• Provide subject-matter expertise in MSME business growth and fund management which includes fund governance, financial products and loan disbursement.
• Collaborate with the Access to Finance partner and WUSC global team to design and optimize capital structures across four countries.
• Convene and manage the Investment Committee, ensuring sound governance and decision-making processes.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and innovations to inform programmatic strategies and approaches.
• Participate in relevant WUSC technical working groups and communities of practice.
  
  
  

Learning Agenda & Knowledge Management

• Lead the co-creation and implementation of the project’s learning agenda in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop behaviour change strategies linked to the learning outcomes. 
• Ensure learning objectives are embedded in the project design and implementation cycles
• Work with the PD to ensure there is project-wide learning both internally and with partners. 
• Promote evidence-based decision-making through coordination with the MERL Manager and program staff.
• Work with the MERL Manager and Communications Specialist on developing the right knowledge products and disseminating them to relevant internal and external audiences. 

Partnership Engagement & Coordination

• Under the leadership of the PD, build and maintain strong relationships with project stakeholders, including the donor, access to finance partner, enterprise support organizations and relevant government authorities.
• Represent the project in official forums such as high-level meetings, conferences as needed.
• Participates in coordination and planning meetings with project stakeholders.
  
  
  

Human Resource Management

• Support the PD in the recruitment of project staff across the countries of operation. 
• Directly supervise and provide guidance to the MERL Manager.

Work environment

• Ability to contribute to WUSC’s organizational culture that respects differences, including sex, age, ability, refugee or migration status, race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and other identity factors.
• Support a working environment is free from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH) and adheres to the corresponding WUSC safeguarding policies.
• Understand own responsibilities towards ensuring high standards of prevention and response measures for SEAH.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education

• A university degree in a relevant field such as International Development, Economics, Business Administration, Finance, or MERL. A Master’s degree is an added advantage.
  
  
• Additional training or certification in enterprise development, microfinance, investment management, entrepreneurship support, financial inclusion, women’s and/or youth economic empowerment or project management is an added advantage.

Experience

• Minimum of 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience in international development, with at least 6 years in a senior technical or managerial role.
• Proven experience in managing multi-country or regional programs focused on MSME growth and development, access to finance and programs with an investment component.
• Experience supervising technical teams and managing cross-functional and regional collaboration.
• Track record of designing and implementing learning agendas or adaptive management frameworks.
• Experience engaging with investment committees, managing governance processes, or overseeing capital structures.
• Familiarity with donor-funded projects and compliance requirements, preferably in Sub Saharan Africa.
• Proven experience of adaptability to a challenging and constantly changing environment requiring iterative planning on a regular basis
• Proven knowledge of and commitment to the concepts of Gender Equality

Assets

• Experience working with or in partnership with local financial institutions, accelerators, ESOs or impact investors.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and inclusion principles in development programming.
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills across diverse cultural contexts.
• Experience with digital tools for remote collaboration, project management, or MEL (e.g., Salesforce, Power BI, DevResults).
• Ability to work with a flexible schedule across multiple time zones.
• Ability to travel frequently for both domestic and international travels as required.