Manager, Enterprise Development

Job Summary

The Manager, Enterprise Development plays a key role in the design and delivery of FSD Africa's enterprise development portfolio, with a primary focus on venture building; managing a portfolio of initiatives that develop and scale innovative ventures integrating financial solutions with real-sector applications. The role has a significant emphasis on the delivery of the Agri-Tech Venture Launcher under the AFIYA programme, while also contributing to venture building efforts across the broader ESF portfolio and to enterprise development efforts in collaboration with other FSD Africa pillars. Working closely with the Principal, Market Systems, the role ensures that venture building initiatives are translated into well-structured, high-quality programmes that deliver measurable development impact. The Manager supports the development of scalable venture models and their integration into broader enterprise development programmes, strengthens delivery across partners and geographies, and contributes to learning and ecosystem development to advance FSD Africa’s objective of strengthening early-stage finance markets and enterprise growth across Africa.

Job Details

Reports directly to - Principal, ESF Market Systems 

Contract Type - Full time employment (Open ended)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

1.Strategy & Programming

Contribute to the development of FSD Africa’s ESF strategy and venture building portfolio, contributing expertise in venture development, agri-tech innovation, and climate-resilient enterprise models.

• Support the design and refinement of venture building approaches across the ESF portfolio, with a primary focus on the Agri-Tech Venture Launcher under AFIYA.
• Build synergies with other enterprise development efforts to develop a strategic continuum of support and feedback as ventures grow and scale
• Translate strategic objectives into coherent multi-country workplans, budgets, and implementation frameworks across venture building initiatives.
• Monitor ecosystem trends in agri-tech, venture building, and financial inclusion to inform programme design and adaptation.
• Contribute to the identification, design, and development of venture building initiatives aligned to ESF priorities.
• Work closely with the Development Impact team to integrate learning and evidence into programme design and strategy refinement.

2. Financial Management, Risks & Resources

Ensure effective management of resources/budget for venture building projects under management, aiming to optimise impact and ensure compliance with FSD Africa and donor policies.

• Develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and expenditure tracking across venture building initiatives, ensuring value for money and alignment with approved plans.
• Support fundraising and proposal development through preparation of technical inputs, budgets, and supporting documentation.
• Oversee due diligence, risk assessment, and compliance processes for ventures and partners.
• Liaise with internal teams to ensure compliance with financial, legal, safeguarding, and donor requirements.
• Monitor financial and operational performance across the portfolio, identifying risks and implementing mitigation measures.

3. Project Cycle Management

Coordinate the roll-out of a portfolio of venture building projects so that results are achieved, risks are managed, and quality programmes are delivered.

• Manage the end-to-end delivery of a portfolio of venture building initiatives, including the Agri-Tech Venture Launcher and other ESF programmes.
• Design and implement venture sourcing, selection, and onboarding processes, including open calls and targeted outreach.
• Manage referral and graduation pathways for ventures transitioning into programmes serving more mature companies and establish feedback mechanisms so that lessons from those programmes inform venture design and delivery. 
• Engage alumni of enterprise development programmes as mentors, market partners and contributors to venture building initiatives
• Oversee delivery of technical assistance to ventures, ensuring structured, high-quality support aligned to programme objectives.
• Develop and maintain project plans, risk frameworks, and performance tracking systems across initiatives.
• Monitor implementation progress, reviewing performance data and adapting delivery approaches as required.
• Manage project closure processes, ensuring sustainability, learning capture, and effective transition beyond FSD Africa support.

4. Development Impact & Learning

Collaborate with the Development Impact team to ensure robust management of Development Impact for venture building projects under management; ensure accurate and timely reporting on activities, milestones, outcomes and lessons learned.

• Co-design and oversee development impact frameworks, ensuring strong alignment with poverty alleviation, gender, and climate resilience objectives.
• Ensure systematic collection, validation, and reporting of qualitative and quantitative data across ventures and partners.
• Review monitoring, evaluation, and learning outputs to inform decision-making and programme adaptation.
• Generate actionable insights to strengthen venture models, programme effectiveness, and ecosystem-level impact.
• Support development of reports, knowledge products, and learning outputs for internal and external stakeholders.

5. Influencing and Communicating for Impact

Actively participate in development, and lead implementation, of advocacy and communications plans for venture building initiatives under management.

• Support stakeholder mapping and engagement across venture building ecosystems, including public and private actors.
• Collaborate with communications teams to develop and deliver content, campaigns, and knowledge dissemination activities.
• Contribute to advocacy efforts that promote venture building, financial inclusion, and climate-resilient innovation.
• Participate in and represent FSD Africa at relevant forums, convenings, and networking opportunities.
• Support monitoring and evaluation of communications and influencing activities.

6. Relationship Management

Take initiative to build relationships and ensure effective collaboration with and between all venture building stakeholders and FSD Africa colleagues; includes managing consultants deployed to the programmes.

• Build and manage relationships with ventures, implementing partners, ecosystem actors, and service providers.
• Ensure stakeholders are aligned on expectations, delivery standards, safeguarding, and reporting requirements.
• Foster collaboration across FSD Africa pillars and programmes to leverage synergies and strengthen delivery.
• Manage consultants and technical partners, ensuring high-quality outputs and effective performance.
• Engage stakeholders continuously to strengthen partnerships and support successful delivery of venture building initiative.

Carry out any other duties or special assignments as assigned by the Management.

COMPETENCIES
Competencies describe the key behaviours that drive success in all of FSD Africa’s roles, regardless of technical specialism. They have been derived from systematic research correlating performance with personal attributes. 

Competency Levels 

• Level 1: Basic
• Level 2: Foundation   
• Level 3: Specialist
• Level 4: Senior Specialist      
• Level 5: Leading Expert          
• Level 6: Executive

This position requires competency at Specialist Level for all the competencies listed below:

ESSENTIAL FOUNDATIONS
Commitment & Alignment
Demonstrates commitment to serving our partners and alignment with the values and vision of FSD Africa
Change & Challenge
Has a strong sense of ownership that leads to learning, self-starting, taking initiative, driving change and leading development
 

ACHIEVEMENT COMPETENCIES
Situational Awareness & Thinking
Thinks clearly and intentionally, analysing information objectively, understanding issues, solving problems, and making decisions
Drive for results
Is keenly motivated to achieve goals & act with accountability to deliver quality results
 

PEOPLE COMPETENCIES
Relationships & Collaboration
Discerns and appreciates the values, viewpoints, or abilities of others; effectively reconciles different interests and displays emotional intelligence
Communication & Influencing
Deliberately adjusts behaviour to accommodate others; communicates clearly, confidently, and appropriately to influence others
 

Requirements

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Qualifications and Education

• Master’s degree and 6 years of experience or Bachelor’s Degree and 8 years of experience
• Relevant postgraduate qualifications preferred
• Excellent skills in written and spoken English

Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

• At least 6 years of experience in venture building, startup acceleration, or agribusiness/innovation programmes in emerging markets, particularly in Africa
• Strong experience in designing and delivering venture support or enterprise development initiatives, ideally within agri-tech, climate resilience, or financial inclusion
• Good understanding of early-stage finance, innovation ecosystems, and venture development approaches
• Excellent grasp of Project Cycle Management, with a proven track record of adaptive delivery
• Experience managing multi-country programmes or portfolios of projects
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across diverse partners
• Experience managing consultants and coordinating technical delivery
• Ability to manage programme budgets and resources effectively
• Strong digital literacy and ability to manage data and documentation systems

Desirable

• Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment
• Understanding of environmental and climate-related risks in development contexts
• Experience working with donors and knowledge of donor compliance requirements
• Previous experience working on FCDO-funded programmes
• Languages: French, Portuguese, or other African languages

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity: 

FSD Africa  is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of equity and inclusivity.  We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: 

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status. We will ensure that all applicants are provided a fair chance to compete for available job opportunities.

About Company

FSD Africa

https://fsdafrica.org/

FSD Africa is a specialist development agency working to help make finance work for Africa’s future. Based in Nairobi, FSD Africa’s team of financial sector experts work alongside governments, business leaders, regulators, and policymakers to design and build ambitious programmes that make financial markets work better for everyone. FSD Africa Investments, provides early-stage, risk-bearing, catalytic and patient capital to inventive commercial organisations in order to stimulate capital flows in support of green economic growth benefiting people and planet. Established in 2012, FSD Africa is incorporated as a non-profit company limited by guarantee in Kenya. It is funded by UK aid from the UK government.