Background

United States International University - Africa is located in the Kasarani area, off Thika Road in the suburb of Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi. The university is an independent, not-for-profit institution serving 6512 students representing 69 nationalities. It offers 24 degree programs from undergraduate to doctoral level, all of which are accredited.

The ideal candidate will build and manage the Center’s relationships with industry, government, investors, development partners, and other academic institutions. The role connects student and faculty innovators to the resources, markets, mentors, and funding they need to turn ideas into viable ventures. The Lead will also support a strong mentorship ecosystem so that student innovators are guided by experienced practitioners throughout their incubation journey. This position will report to the Director, Innovation and Incubation Center.

This is a three-year fixed term contract.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Partnerships Development

• Develop and implement a partnership strategy aligned with the Center’s and the University’s strategic goals.
• Identify, approach, and secure partnerships with corporates, SMEs, government agencies, NGOs, development partners, and innovation hubs.
• Negotiate and draft MoUs, sponsorship agreements, and collaboration frameworks, working with the University’s legal office.
• Represent the Center at conferences, forums, and networking events to raise its profile.

Industry and Ecosystem Linkages

• Connect incubated startups and student innovators with industry players for pilots, internships, supply chains, and market access.
• Build relationships with the wider innovation ecosystem, including accelerators, tech hubs, professional bodies, and other universities’ incubators.
• Organize industry engagement activities such as demo days, innovation challenges, hackathons, and corporate open days.
• Facilitate industry-academia collaboration on applied research, technology transfer, and commercialization of university research.

Proposal Development Support & Startup Readiness

• Prepare partnership proposals and funding applications to support Center programs.
• Link startups with investors and prepare them for investor engagement (pitch events, investor days).
• Seek in-kind support such as software credits, equipment, workspace, and professional services.

Mentorship and Student Support

• Provide mentorship support to students and startup teams based on needs, sector and stage.
• Design and support mentorship structures, including orientation for mentors and mentees, session guidelines, and progress check-ins.
• Organize masterclasses, speaker series, and networking sessions that expose students to successful entrepreneurs and industry practitioners.
• Track mentorship outcomes and gather feedback to improve the program continuously.

Partnership Management, Monitoring, and Reporting

• Maintain a database of partners, mentors, and investors, and manage relationships through regular engagement.
• Develop metrics to assess partnership value, such as funds mobilized, jobs created, startups supported, and mentorship hours delivered.
• Prepare periodic reports and impact stories for management, partners, and funders.
• Ensure partnership commitments are honored and conduct periodic reviews to renew, expand, or close partnerships.
• Contribute to the Center’s communications and visibility, including newsletters, social media, and partner showcases.

Qualifications and Experience for the role

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Economics, Development Studies, Communications, or a related field. A Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• At least 5 years of experience in partnerships, business development, or stakeholder engagement, preferably in an incubator, accelerator, university, or innovation-focused organization.
• Experience mentoring or working with young entrepreneurs or students is an added advantage.

Competencies required for this role

• Demonstrated record of securing partnerships or funding.
• Excellent relationship-building, negotiation, and communication skills
• Strong understanding of the startup and innovation ecosystem
• Proposal writing and resource mobilization skills
• Ability to work with diverse stakeholders, from students to senior executives
• Strong organizational, project management, and reporting skills
• Self-driven, entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for youth development

• Develop and implement a partnership strategy aligned with the Center’s and the University’s strategic goals.
• Identify, approach, and secure partnerships with corporates, SMEs, government agencies, NGOs, development partners, and innovation hubs.
• Negotiate and draft MoUs, sponsorship agreements, and collaboration frameworks, working with the University’s legal office.
• Represent the Center at conferences, forums, and networking events to raise its profile.
• Connect incubated startups and student innovators with industry players for pilots, internships, supply chains, and market access.
• Build relationships with the wider innovation ecosystem, including accelerators, tech hubs, professional bodies, and other universities’ incubators.
• Organize industry engagement activities such as demo days, innovation challenges, hackathons, and corporate open days.
• Facilitate industry-academia collaboration on applied research, technology transfer, and commercialization of university research.
• Prepare partnership proposals and funding applications to support Center programs.
• Link startups with investors and prepare them for investor engagement (pitch events, investor days).
• Seek in-kind support such as software credits, equipment, workspace, and professional services.
• Provide mentorship support to students and startup teams based on needs, sector and stage.
• Design and support mentorship structures, including orientation for mentors and mentees, session guidelines, and progress check-ins.
• Organize masterclasses, speaker series, and networking sessions that expose students to successful entrepreneurs and industry practitioners.
• Track mentorship outcomes and gather feedback to improve the program continuously.
• Maintain a database of partners, mentors, and investors, and manage relationships through regular engagement.
• Develop metrics to assess partnership value, such as funds mobilized, jobs created, startups supported, and mentorship hours delivered.
• Prepare periodic reports and impact stories for management, partners, and funders.
• Ensure partnership commitments are honored and conduct periodic reviews to renew, expand, or close partnerships.
• Contribute to the Center’s communications and visibility, including newsletters, social media, and partner showcases.

• Demonstrated record of securing partnerships or funding.
• Excellent relationship-building, negotiation, and communication skills
• Strong understanding of the startup and innovation ecosystem
• Proposal writing and resource mobilization skills
• Ability to work with diverse stakeholders, from students to senior executives
• Strong organizational, project management, and reporting skills
• Self-driven, entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for youth development

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Economics, Development Studies, Communications, or a related field.
• A Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• At least 5 years of experience in partnerships, business development, or stakeholder engagement, preferably in an incubator, accelerator, university, or innovation-focused organization.
• Experience mentoring or working with young entrepreneurs or students is an added advantage.