Director, Corporate Communications and Branding

HE OPPORTUNITY

The role reports to Senior Director, Corporate Communications. The Mastercard Foundation seeks a dynamic and values-driven Director, Corporate Communications and Brand to help shape, steward, and amplify the Foundation’s voice and brand across Africa and globally. This role leads the integration of brand strategy, digital engagement, employee communications, and storytelling to strengthen our impact, connect with diverse audiences, and advance our mission of enabling young people, especially young women to access dignified and fulfilling work.

You will lead a talented team, working across the Foundation to develop and deliver strategies that deepen understanding of who we are, what we do, and why it matters. You will ensure our communications reflect the voices of our partners and the young people we serve, while positioning the Foundation as a trusted, influential voice in development and philanthropy in Africa.

The successful candidate will be based in any of our offices in Canada or Africa (Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana)

HOW YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement unified corporate communications and brand strategy that advances the Foundation’s mission and priorities.
• Oversee brand management, ensuring alignment with the Foundation’s values, purpose, and desired impact.
• Guide the Foundation’s digital presence—including strategy, content, and audience engagement across all channels—to build meaningful connections with key audiences.
• Lead employee communications that strengthen connection, trust, and shared purpose—helping colleagues feel informed, engaged, and inspired by the Foundation’s mission and values-led culture.

Content and Storytelling

• Champion powerful, authentic storytelling that reflects the voices of young people, partners, and communities.
• Drive creative campaigns that inform, inspire, and influence, using digital, media, and other channels.
• Oversee content development that ensures the Foundation’s voice is consistent, clear, and compelling.
• Strategic Influence
• Use communications as a lever for influence—helping to shape conversations, elevate ideas, and catalyze change across the development ecosystem.
• Collaborate with colleagues in Thought Leadership to connect communications and influence strategies.

Team Leadership and Collaboration

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team across brand, digital, and employee communications functions.

WHO YOU ARE

• Master’s degree in communications, Public Affairs, or related field.
• A strategic communications leader with at least 15 years of experience in development, philanthropy, or related fields in Africa.
• Experienced in digital strategy and audience engagement, with a deep understanding of channels, platforms, and analytics.
• Skilled in campaign design and storytelling that drives engagement and influence.
• Strong writer and editor, with a proven ability to convey complex ideas clearly and compellingly.
• Experienced in employee communications and fostering organizational engagement.
• Demonstrated experience in brand strategy and management.
• People management experience, with a collaborative, inclusive, and empowering leadership style.
• Adept at working across cultures, geographies, and diverse stakeholder groups.
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.
• Possess excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures.
• Possess professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity.