Data & technology Manager, Acumen East & West Africa

Acumen is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Impact Data and Technology Manager with at least 8 years of work experience to provide Data, System Operations and Technology leadership at a regional level for Green RISE (Resilient Impact through Sustainable Entrepreneurship) Africa.

Green RISE Africa is a program being implemented by Acumen in partnership with the MasterCard Foundation. It is focused on creating 443,000 dignified and fulfilling work opportunities for young people — with 70% being young women — across Sub-Saharan Africa. The program operates across four pillars:

1. 1. GROW — Partnering with Entrepreneurship Support Organisations (ESO's) to provide practical training and mentorship to nano and micro entrepreneurs in 7 countries (Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone)
   2. BUILD — Training and mentoring 320 young climate leaders via a Green Entrepreneurship Fellowship
   3. ACCELERATE — Supporting early-stage entrepreneurs through structured readiness and scale-readiness programs
   4. SCALE — Identifying and scaling 35+ high-impact enterprises across the continent

This role will be based out of Acumen office in Nairobi or Lagos with an expectation of working from the office 3 days a week. Remote from other geographies is not an option.

About Acumen

Acumen is a global force of entrepreneurs, investors, philanthropists, and social innovators working together to build a world based on dignity. We were founded by Jacqueline Novogratz on the radical idea that business, when cultivated with moral imagination, can break the cycle of poverty. We invest in transformational companies, build sustainable markets, and prepare leaders with the tools they need to create a more just and inclusive future. Since 2001, we have scaled companies and shaped markets in some of the hardest-to-reach communities on the planet, impacting over half-a-billion lives. To learn more visit acumen.org.

About the role

As the Data and Technology Manager you will be responsible for designing and implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving the technology solution for the programmatic MEL framework under Green RISE Africa.

The technology stack and solutions Acumen is leveraging include, but are not limited to:

• Salesforce as the central record for grant management, impact capture and reporting
• FormAssembly
• Google Suite
• AI-powered tools and enterprise solutions

Over the grant’s implementation we expect the role to focus on continual identification of system, data, and data management, and reporting improvements.Candidates must be well-versed in Salesforce applications, have highly technical proficiency with data and software solutions, and a growing skillsbase in the use of AI.

You will work closely with the Impact Manager: Monitoring, Evaluation and learning. The Impact Manager: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning will focus on MEL framework design and implementation and adaptive learning.

Additionally, you will work closely with other Impact & Insight staff based in the UK and in East and West Africa.

The post holder is expected to travel occasionally within the region.

Accountabilities include:

Operationalising Green RISE Africa’s MEL framework

• Lead in managing, developing and improving the Green Rise Africa technology stack to support programme implementation
• Support the implementation of Green RISE Africa’s programmatic MEL framework (including MEL plan, data collection plan, data management plan, quality assurance protocols, results framework) through the technology stack to support data collection, management and reporting to the MasterCard Foundation
• Lead in the continued development of the technology platform to support partner reporting
• Work collaboratively with the Impact Manager: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning to co-develop quarterly reporting processes, automated reports, infographics, and data visualisations on key metrics and KPIs (including financial KPIs for companies), for sharing with a range of stakeholders
• Collaborate closely with the Finance team to quality assure and integrate finance data with impact data

Programme data management

• Ensure that data is collected, managed, maintained, and up-to-date across our grants management system
• Liaise with the Compliance and Legal team to ensure we are following best practices on data consent, use, management, retention, reporting, protection and security approaches.
• Integrate data from a range of sources ensuring alignment to MEL reporting systems
• Be the point person for all impact data requests

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Set up and co-develop internal Knowledge Management system for the programme
• Work closely with the Programme Insights team to ensure lessons are captured and knowledge management processes are followed.
• Work closely with the Programme Insights team to ensure qualitative data is managed in line with best practices.
• Actively support any programmatic evaluations that are required by donors by ensuring all data needs are met

Capacity building - team and partners

• Build capacity of team members on how to use technology solutions for MEL implementation, including training and learning sessions
• Build capacity of partner organisations on how to report with the programme’s technology solutions
• Develop training materials and training sessions to upskill staff and partners with a range of skills in this space
• Support lower capacity organisations to develop their own internal reporting systems in line with programmatic needs
• Site visits to monitor partner data management and reporting systems
• Quarterly reporting on data quality from partners

Skills and qualifications

• At least 8 years of professional experience in a similar role - developing and maintaining a technology stack, including at least 3 years of experience in developing and managing data systems, MEL databases, and reporting tools
• Demonstrated experience configuring, administering, and stewarding Salesforce as the MEL system of record, working through in-house and external build partners
• Demonstrated experience in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) for complex, multi-country programmes, including using technology to support MEL in field and country contexts, including mobile data collection
• Demonstrated ability to strengthen the use of data for decision-making across different organisational levels
• Strong skills in data analysis and data visualisation
• Experience setting up routine reporting systems (actuals vs targets) for quarterly and annual reporting
• Experience working with compliance teams on data governance and best practices
• Experience in AI solutions or AI agents for MEL
• Experience working in multi-country, matrix-managed environments
• Experience in gender and youth programmes or working with private sector partners
• Familiarity with Power BI, Airtable, Claude or similar tools

Location: Nairobi (East Africa) or Lagos (West Africa)

Acumen is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, age, differential ability, race, religion, sexual orientation, or background.

Applications will be reviewed and interviews scheduled on a rolling basis.

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