Founder's Associate

The Founder's Associate serves as a strategic assistant to the Founder and President, providing executive-level support across all dimensions of CPI's operations. This role bridges the Founder's vision with organizational execution, ensuring strategic priorities are translated into action, teams are coordinated effectively, and the organization operates with excellence across programme delivery, partnerships, communications, fundraising and organizational development. The Founder's Associate will work closely with the Founder, Leadership Team, Programme Staff, Partners, Donors and Ecosystem Stakeholders. This is a high-impact role requiring exceptional organizational ability, strategic thinking, discretion and a deep commitment to CPI's mission. The ideal candidate is a highly organized, strategically-minded professional with strong executive support, project management, stakeholder engagement, and communication skills. They must be proactive, resourceful and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment with evolving priorities.

Qualifications & Skills

Essential:

● Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Development Studies, Economics, Social Sciences, International Development, or a related field.

● 1–2 years of relevant professional experience in executive support, programme management, project management, nonprofit management, development programmes, or a related field.

● Experience coordinating teams, consultants, facilitators, partners, vendors, and other stakeholders.

● Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

● Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including strong report and proposal writing.

● Proficiency in Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace, particularly Excel/Sheets, Word/Docs, PowerPoint/Slides, and related productivity tools.

● Experience collecting, organizing, analyzing, and presenting data.

● Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.

● Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently with minimal supervision.

Desirable:

● Professional certification in project/programme management, development, business or a related discipline.

● Experience in executive support, chief of staff or similar roles.

● Experience managing youth entrepreneurship, employability, innovation, enterprise development or investment programmes.

● Experience working with donors, foundations, development agencies, CSR programmes, or impact investors.

● Knowledge of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL), Theory of Change, LogFrames, or results-based management.

● Experience with project management and collaboration tools such as Google Workspace or equivalent platforms.

● Experience with data collection tools such as Google Forms or KoboToolbox.

● Knowledge of entrepreneurship, business development, innovation, impact investing, or blended finance.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Support & Strategic Coordination

● Provide day-to-day executive support to the Founder and President, managing calendar, meetings, priorities and strategic initiatives.

● Serve as a strategic thought partner, helping the Founder translate organizational vision into actionable plans and workstreams.

● Coordinate cross-functional collaboration between programme, finance, communications, MEL, partnerships and leadership teams.

● Develop and maintain strategic workplans, timelines, milestones and accountability systems aligned with organizational priorities.

● Identify implementation gaps, bottlenecks and risks; develop practical solutions and escalate issues appropriately.

Programme Coordination & Delivery Support

● Support the Founder in translating programme strategy into operational workplans, schedules and delivery plans.

● Coordinate the planning, logistics and execution of major programme activities, including summits, boot camps, pitch competitions, prize ceremonies, conferences, and other events.

● Collaborate with the Program Associate to oversee programme activity coordination, including participant registration, speakers, facilitators and vendor management.

● Develop event plans, checklists, run-of-show documents, and contingency arrangements.

● Monitor programme timelines, deliverables, and milestones; track progress and escalate delays or risks.

Stakeholder & Partnership Management

● Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, partners, government institutions, private-sector organizations, investors, entrepreneurs, universities, and ecosystem partners.

● Coordinate stakeholder engagement on behalf of the Founder, ensuring agreed responsibilities, deliverables, and expectations are effectively managed.

● Support the Founder in strategic partnership development and identify collaboration opportunities that strengthen programme delivery, funding, visibility and impact.

● Represent CPI and the Founder at relevant meetings, conferences, workshops, and ecosystem events when assigned.

● Maintain stakeholder databases, communication logs and engagement tracking systems.

● Prepare briefing materials, talking points and background information for stakeholder meetings and engagements.

Fundraising & Business Development Support

● Assist in the development of donor proposals, concept notes, budgets, presentations, and fundraising materials.

● Coordinate donor engagement, reporting, and relationship management.

● Support research into emerging funding opportunities, partnerships, and financing models.

● Track funding deadlines, contractual obligations, and donor requirements.

● Contribute to the development of new programmes, partnerships, and financing models that strengthen CPI's sustainability and impact.

Organizational Planning & Strategy

● Support the development and refinement of CPI's organizational strategy, programme pipeline, and growth planning.

● Identify emerging opportunities, trends, and innovations relevant to youth entrepreneurship, employment, investment, and inclusive economic development.

● Contribute to strategic planning processes, including annual planning, quarterly reviews, and strategic retreats.

● Support the development of organizational policies, systems, and processes that strengthen operational effectiveness.

● Maintain organizational records, documentation, and institutional knowledge systems.