AfriLabs seeks director (focused on Tech Innovation Across the Continent)
for more info see http://afrilabs.com/blogs/afrilabs-seeks-director
AfriLabs is pleased to announce the opening of its director position. This is the next step in our effort to build a strong association and to support the continued growth and development of innovation hubs across the continent. This position is made possible via funding made available through our partners at Hivos, the Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation.
AfriLabs:
AfriLabs is a network organization that supports innovation hubs in Africa.
» Non-profit registered;
» Consortium of independent African innovation hubs, co-working spaces, accelerators and incubators;
» Individually, each hub serves as a nexus point for innovators, entrepreneurs and investors;
» Goal is to support the growth of the hubs, their respective members and surrounding communities.
Our Objective:
Establish AfriLabs as a catalyst for African borne innovation in areas such as mobile/web, design, fabrication, architecture and renewable resources/energy to name but a few. The aim of this effort is to create success stories and decent work for young Africans by focusing on technology and innovation as platforms for entrepreneurship, both as a means of self-employment and as job creation for others.
» Understand the market for innovation and enterprise development in Sub-Saharan Africa;
» Generate, share and promote success stories;
» Discover synergies between innovation hubs;
» Document and share best practices;
» Help new organizations emerge;
» Enhance visibility of the network and her actors;
» Organize networking events and facilitate other exchanges, both online and offline;
» Secure resources for the network, participating hubs and their respective members;
» Generally promote developments in this space and explore other common interests.
Responsibilities:
The director is asked to lead the continued development of AfriLabs as a network-based organization. The key deliverable is to establish strategic partnerships needed to grow the organization and allow for the implementation of programs.
Additionally, the director has the following responsibilities:
» Preserve the founding principles of the AfriLabs charter;
» Establish a work plan for 2012 - 2014;
» Manage programs and engage AfriLab members in their deployment;
» Facilitate outreach and applications of new labs;
» Manage relations with strategic partners and establish new partnerships;
» Lead fundraising efforts for AfriLabs and its members;
» Responsible for any and all reporting to stakeholders;
» Coordinate the annual AfriLabs meeting, host quarterly meetings with the board of directors and facilitate monthly calls with member labs;
» Manage the AfriLabs website and related social media channels;
» Generate, share and promote success stories;
» Support the continued development of the AfriLabs network in any way possible.
Desired Skills:
The desired candidate is an evangelist of the AfriLabs vision and ideally has a wealth of experience in the space, leverages an impressive network of contacts, has experience fundraising and speaks both French and English. We are looking for the following skills:
» Proven track record fundraising for organizations similar to AfriLabs;
» Has a background in African technology and innovation related sectors;
» Is a networker and leverages an extensive network of contacts;
» Has a track record building partnerships with public and private sector organizations;
» Has a background in finance and relevant work experience investing/facilitating investments in early stage innovation related companies;
» Shows strong management skills, controlling operational budgets and reporting;
» Has lived and worked in Southern, Eastern and/or Western Africa;
» Speaks French and English fluently.
INTERESTED?
Send your CV and motivation letter to info(at)afrilabs.com before September 1st 2012.
AfriLabs Board
Erik Hersman - Co-Founder, iHub Nairobi
Bart Lacroix - Co-Founder, NaiLab
Jon Gosier - Founder & CEO, Appfrica Labs
Ben White - Founder, VC4Africa
Bill Zimmerman - Founder, ActivSpaces Cameroon
This material is cross-posted from the Peace and Collaborative Development Network, http://internationalpeaceandconflict.org
