Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

Acumen was incorporated on April 1, 2001, with seed capital from the Rockefeller Foundation, Cisco Systems Foundation and three individual philanthropists. Our desire was to transform the world of philanthropy by looking at all human beings as members of a single, global community where everyone had the opportunity to build a life of dignity. The organizatio...

Responsibilities or duties

Program Strategy & Design

• Refine and Define Funding to Build strategic priorities in alignment with Green RISE Africa and Acumen Academy Objectives, with a clear focus on green job creation for young women and youth.
• Design the overall program structure, annual calendar, and end-to-end process for each cycle.
• Develop and oversee pipeline-building, outreach, and communications strategies for the full program timeline.
• Lead the design and iteration of the Funding to Build application form.

Application, Selection & Grant Execution

• Lead the end-to-end application and selection process, ensuring a clear, equitable, and well-managed applicant experience.
• Design and oversee information sessions, evaluation frameworks, and selection panels, including the appointment and management of panelists.
• Synthesize assessments and support panels with decision-ready recommendations on final awardees.
• Lead due diligence for selected entrepreneurs, coordinating legal, financial, and compliance reviews.
• Oversee grant agreement execution and readiness for disbursement in line with internal controls and governance standards.

Post-Disbursement & Impact Management

• Lead structured onboarding for funded entrepreneurs.
• Track financial, operational, and impact KPIs across the portfolio.
• Monitor reporting compliance at key milestones.
• Produce consolidated impact and learning reports.
• Generate insights and recommendations to strengthen future funding cycles.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Qualifications & Skills

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in program and/or grants management, impact investing, enterprise support, venture building or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience managing end-to-end funding or selection processes.
• Strong understanding of early-stage entrepreneurship, ideally within climate or sustainability sectors.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills, with experience translating data into insights.
• Proven people management experience.
• High attention to detail, integrity, and comfort operating within governance frameworks.

• Refine and Define Funding to Build strategic priorities in alignment with Green RISE Africa and Acumen Academy Objectives, with a clear focus on green job creation for young women and youth.
• Design the overall program structure, annual calendar, and end-to-end process for each cycle.
• Develop and oversee pipeline-building, outreach, and communications strategies for the full program timeline.
• Lead the design and iteration of the Funding to Build application form.
• Lead the end-to-end application and selection process, ensuring a clear, equitable, and well-managed applicant experience.
• Design and oversee information sessions, evaluation frameworks, and selection panels, including the appointment and management of panelists.
• Synthesize assessments and support panels with decision-ready recommendations on final awardees.
• Lead due diligence for selected entrepreneurs, coordinating legal, financial, and compliance reviews.
• Oversee grant agreement execution and readiness for disbursement in line with internal controls and governance standards.
• Lead structured onboarding for funded entrepreneurs.
• Track financial, operational, and impact KPIs across the portfolio.
• Monitor reporting compliance at key milestones.
• Produce consolidated impact and learning reports.
• Generate insights and recommendations to strengthen future funding cycles.

• Demonstrated experience managing end-to-end funding or selection processes.
• Strong understanding of early-stage entrepreneurship, ideally within climate or sustainability sectors.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills, with experience translating data into insights.
• Proven people management experience.
• High attention to detail, integrity, and comfort operating within governance frameworks.

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in program and/or grants management, impact investing, enterprise support, venture building or related fields.