About Us

African Management Institute (AMI) is an impact-focused EdTech scale-up building Africa's leading workplace learning company for ambitious companies and talent. As an African champion, building Africa's business champions, we've trained more than 100,000 people and 40k+ enterprises - from executives to entry-level workers in large and small companies across the continent.

With our hub in Nairobi, and teams in 8 African markets, we combine AI-powered diagnostics, live learning and practical tools to deliver the highest-outcome learning programmes for African business. Clients love our practical approach to learning for business, supported by an evidence-based methodology and tech platform, built for the African market. AMI was listed in the prestigious Norsken/100 as one of the leading social impact companies in the world, and recognized by the Financial Times on the 2024 Africa's Fastest Growing Companies list.

We are expanding rapidly. AMI has offices in Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda and Senegal and country representatives in Ethiopia and Nigeria. Our diverse and rapidly-expanding 150+ team reflects all corners of the continent and beyond. Our work environment is fun, flexible and inclusive, with opportunity for growth. AMI-GOs ask questions, get things done, and put the team before self to achieve our mission. If our vision for enabling ambitious businesses across Africa to thrive has sparked your imagination, and if your skills and experience match the description below, then we'd love to hear from you.

Job Description

We are seeking a dynamic Solutions Lead: Incubation and Acceleration Programmes to drive the design, development, and implementation of innovative learning and support solutions for startups, SMEs, and scaling enterprises across Africa. The ideal candidate will be a technical specialist in African business growth with experience in incubation, acceleration, or similar business development initiatives. You will be responsible for shaping solutions that drive impact, leveraging agile design, client engagement, and programmatic innovation to ensure relevance and effectiveness.

This role specifically will focus on the development of innovation clusters and the development and management of a "Manufacturing Technology Hub" to incubate the most promising African startups that are leveraging technology in the manufacturing sector to address the continent's most complex socio-economic opportunities and challenges. In addition, the role will likely oversee other pan-African programmes, in alignment with AMI's business needs, programme requirements and pipeline, and overall resource allocation.

The project

The purpose of the ManufacturingTech Hub is to strengthen the local and regional manufacturing tech ecosystem to spur socio-economic development across Africa. Key components of the hub include, among others:

• Incubation programming, focused on 'venture-building' of idea-stage businesses through cohort and 1-1 business growth support
• Acceleration programming, focused on growth and financing for high potential businesses that have moved beyond idea/ prototype stage, including cohort-based and 1-1 business growth support, and connection-building relevant to finance access
• Managing services within the hub and core programming, including:
• Experts-in-residence (including a mentorship offer)
• Maker space - equipped with state-of-the-art hardware and equipment for startups to develop solutions across the ManuTech sector.
• A dedicated co-working space for startups to work, connect and collaborate with partners, investors, and fellow startups.
• Linkages to BD services, finance and other required ecosystem support

The role

The Solutions Lead will be responsible for leading the design and coordinating the development of the programming and support for the ManuTech Hub in Addis Ababa over the course of its first year. They will lead the design of bootcamp, incubation, and acceleration programmes, as well as outreach and engagement activities to build core partnerships with government, industry, finance partners and others in support of growth planning for the Hub.

Requirements

We are looking for an impact-driven, solutions-oriented leader with a passion for African entrepreneurship.

• Deep technical expertise in African business growth, acceleration, or incubation.
• Proven experience in programme design, solution development, and agile implementation for business support initiatives.
• Strong ability to develop practical, scalable, and high-impact interventions for startups and SMEs.
• Client management experience, with the ability to engage and co-create with businesses, funders, and partners.
• Strong understanding of business development services, learning methodologies, and ecosystem engagement.
• Ability to work in fast-paced, high-growth environments, balancing strategic thinking with execution.
• Given the strategic importance and scope of this position, AMI is open to considering candidates based in other African locations outside our Nairobi headquarters, for the right fit.

Benefits

Why Join AMI?

• Be part of a mission-driven organization transforming Africa's business landscape.
• Work with a diverse, passionate team in a fast-growing and innovative company.
• Opportunity to design cutting-edge solutions that empower thousands of entrepreneurs.

• Lead the design of scalable, impactful startup and business growth solutions tailored to African entrepreneurs in the Manufacturing Technology sector. Supporting startups at various growth stages through structured mentorship, training, and business development initiatives.
• Apply agile methodologies to test, iterate, and refine programme designs based on user feedback and real-world application.
• Develop and integrate blended learning approaches, including digital platforms, coaching, peer learning, and toolkits.
• Work closely with internal teams to develop structured yet flexible programmatic models that support different business growth stages.
• Support the identification and consultation with technical and industry experts to build a relevant design and ecosystem of support for Manufacturing Tech SMEs.
• Collaborate with partners, funders, and ecosystem stakeholders to ensure programme alignment with market needs.
• Drive continuous improvement and ensure programmes deliver measurable impact on business performance and growth (with specific targets from growing key segments).
• Foster ecosystem collaboration by connecting ManuTech entrepreneurs with investors, industry experts, and development partners to drive sustainable business growth
• Outreach and Engagement Activities: Expanding the Hub's impact by connecting with entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and stakeholders across Africa.
• Manage key relationships with clients, funders, and partners to co-create solutions that build the Hubs strategic importance and deliver solutions to key SME growth needs.

• Deep technical expertise in African business growth, acceleration, or incubation
• Programme design and solution development
• Agile implementation for business support initiatives
• Developing practical, scalable, and high-impact interventions for startups and SMEs
• Client management and engagement
• Business development services
• Learning methodologies
• Ecosystem engagement
• Strategic thinking and execution
• Working in fast-paced, high-growth environments

• Deep technical expertise in African business growth, acceleration, or incubation
• Proven experience in programme design, solution development, and agile implementation for business support initiatives
• Strong ability to develop practical, scalable, and high-impact interventions for startups and SMEs
• Client management experience, with the ability to engage and co-create with businesses, funders, and partners
• Strong understanding of business development services, learning methodologies, and ecosystem engagement
• Ability to work in fast-paced, high-growth environments, balancing strategic thinking with execution