Strategic Operations & Partnerships Lead

Functional Responsibilities

1. Executive Office Operational Support

• Office of the ED Support:
  • Manage the Executive Director's calendar, scheduling, and day-to-day workflow to maximize productivity and focus on strategic priorities.
  • Coordinate and schedule meetings, appointments, and events to ensure the optimal use of the ED's time.
  • Oversee all travel logistics for the ED, including bookings, itineraries, and preparation of travel briefs.
  • Prepare and organize briefing materials for the ED's internal and external engagements.
• Decision & Task Tracking:
  • Establish and manage robust action logs and follow-up systems to track all decisions, assignments, and commitments involving the Executive Director, ensuring timely execution and accountability.
  • Track progress on priority initiatives and ensure timely delivery of key outputs across departments.
  • Make sure team members complete their tasks on time for projects and priorities that involve the Executive Director.
• Document Preparation:
  • Draft and edit executive briefs, board documentation, high-level presentation decks, and official meeting reports.
  • Ensure all documentation prepared for the ED meets high standards of clarity, accuracy, and professionalism.
  • Manage version control and timely dissemination of critical documents to stakeholders.
• Confidentiality & Discretion:
  • Handle all sensitive information, personnel matters, and confidential strategy discussions with the utmost professionalism and integrity.
  • Exercise sound judgment in managing access to the ED and information flow from the Executive Office.

2. Partnerships & External Engagement (Oversight & Coordination)

• Partner Pipeline Oversight:
  • Oversee the identification, research, and profiling of potential partners including corporations, foundations, multilaterals, and government entities aligned with PLP’s mission and strategic priorities.
  • Guide and refine the partner pipeline process, ensuring high-potential leads are surfaced and followed up on appropriately.
  • Present vetted partnership opportunities for the Executive Director’s review and decision-making.
• Proposal & Grant Development Coordination:
  • Supervise the drafting, review, and packaging of partnership proposals, grant applications, and concept notes from the Executive Office.
  • Ensure all proposals and supporting documents meet PLP’s standards of quality, clarity, and strategic fit.
  • Coordinate with internal teams to gather inputs, track deadlines, and monitor submission outcomes.
  • Provide regular updates to the Executive Director on proposal pipelines and pending opportunities.
• Relationship Management & Stakeholder Communications:
  • Oversee the documentation and tracking of engagement touchpoints with partners, donors, and key collaborators who interact with the Executive Director.
  • Maintain updated CRM records and monitor outstanding actions related to executive-level relationships.
  • Coordinate timely and consistent communication and follow-up with external stakeholders on behalf of the ED to build and sustain long-term partnerships.
• High-Level Event & Meeting Preparation:
  • Lead the preparation for high-stakes meetings, partnership events, and external engagements involving the Executive Director.
  • Collaborate with the communications department to prepare talking points, briefing materials, and post-meeting reports.
  • Ensure the ED is well-briefed on participants, meeting objectives, and expected outcomes.
  • Capture key insights, decisions, and action items from events and ensure timely follow-up and reporting.

3. Cross-Functional Project Management

• Project Coordination:
  • Facilitate cross-departmental projects and organization-wide process improvement initiatives that require Executive Office oversight or involvement.
  • Ensure effective alignment and collaboration among relevant teams to achieve project objectives.
  • Monitor project timelines and deliverables, and communicate regular progress updates and critical issues to the Executive Director.
• Systems & Reporting:
  • Provide the Executive Director with timely, actionable reports and dashboards to inform strategic decisions and support board-level reporting.
  • Ensure data integrity and consistency across all performance tracking and reporting processes.

• Innovation & Documentation:

  • Lead or contribute to the ideation, research, and documentation of new initiatives, pilot programs, and strategic plans emerging from the Executive Office.
  • Synthesize complex information into concise, actionable briefs and proposals for leadership review and decision-making.
  • Support the institutionalisation of successful pilots and new processes by documenting key learnings and recommendations.

4. Executive Communications Support

• Oversee the curation of stories and digital campaigns that showcase the Executive Director’s initiatives, speaking engagements, and strategic missions across Africa, ensuring alignment with PLP’s brand and impact objectives.
• Lead collaboration with the design and communications teams to ensure timely sourcing, editing, and production of images, graphics, and short videos for use across all digital platforms, maintaining quality and consistency in visual storytelling.
• Coordinate with the broader communications team to ensure alignment of messaging and brand tone.
• Prepare event summaries for the ED’s high-level engagements for use across multiple social media platforms.

Essential Qualifications:

• Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Project Management, International Relations, Public Policy, Communications, or a related field is required.
  • A Master’s degree (MBA, MPA, or similar) is an added advantage.
• Experience:
  • 3–5 years of progressive experience in executive support, project management, partnerships, business development, or strategic roles, ideally within nonprofits, technology, education, consulting, or other mission-driven organizations.
  • Demonstrated experience working with executive leadership and exposure to high-level decision making and project coordination.
• Technical Skills:
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Workspace.
  • Experience using CRM systems, project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello), and data reporting platforms.
  • Excellent writing, editing, and document preparation skills for high-level briefs, presentations, and board materials.
  • Digital communication skills, including experience with social media management and multimedia storytelling.
• Core Competencies:
  • Strong project management and organizational skills; ability to oversee complex projects, coordinate teams, and manage deadlines effectively.
  • Strong analytical thinking, research, and problem-solving capabilities.
  • Experience in stakeholder engagement and professional relationship management (corporates, donors, government, foundations, etc.).
  • High attention to detail and commitment to producing accurate, quality work.
  • Demonstrated integrity and ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Interpersonal Skills:
  • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information for different audiences.
  • Relationship building mindset with a track record of nurturing professional networks and following through on commitments.
  • Adaptable, resourceful, and able to work independently in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
  • Proactive, solutions-oriented, and comfortable anticipating and responding to evolving priorities.
• Organizational Fit:
  • Passion for Power Learn Project’s mission of empowering Africa’s youth through digital skills.
  • Demonstrates professionalism, reliability, and a collaborative spirit.
  • Comfortable working in a hybrid/remote environment and with diverse, multicultural teams.
• Preferred (but not required):
  • Familiarity with Africa’s digital skills and tech ecosystem.
  • Background in event planning, high-level meeting support, or digital communications.