Director of the Center for Inclusive Digital Transformation of Africa

Since its founding in 1900, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) has been a birthplace of innovation. It has globally top ranked programs in engineering, computer science and information and communication technology as well as a rich history of entrepreneurship. CMU is dedicated to producing creative and technically strong engineers that have meaningful impact in their communities and accelerate positive technological change in the world. In 2011, CMU extended its global footprint into Africa as Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa) based in Rwanda’s Kigali Innovation City. In a region booming with opportunities, CMU is the only U.S.-based research university offering its master’s degrees with a full-time faculty, staff, and operations in Africa. The Africa location is fast-growing, with close to 300 enrolled students from more than 20 African countries. You can read more about CMU-Africa's vision and mission on our website. CMU’s presence in Rwanda provides a platform to engage in Africa’s most significant opportunities and challenges across the continent through world-class education and contextually relevant research and innovation. CMU-Africa enjoys strong collaboration and exchange with the main campus in Pittsburgh, USA.

Carnegie Mellon University is seeking a dynamic leader to serve as Director for the Center for Inclusive Digital Transformation of Africa (CIDTA) at its location in Rwanda, Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa). CIDTA is a $100M six-year partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda, aimed at stimulating inclusive digital growth in Africa. It encompasses several programs organized into three pillars: teaching and learning, knowledge creation, and entrepreneurship that will be executed through a network of up to 10 universities on the continent. This position is an exciting opportunity to partner with subject matter experts to shape and lead a pan-African initiative with the potential for far-reaching impact. Success in this role will require cultivating and coordinating the education, research and entrepreneurial strengths of CMU and partners, and will suit an enthusiastic, collaborative, and motivated person who is a hands-on leader.

This role will report to the Director of CMU-Africa and will oversee the day-to-day administration of CIDTA programs, coordinating multiple complex projects and monitoring progress against programmatic strategy and goals, working with the finance teams to ensure operations are within budget, and keeping all stakeholders informed. As part of the CIDTA Program Committee, the director will cocreate and design programmatic strategy and scope. They will leverage and partner with CMU multi-departmental leadership in both Pittsburgh and Kigali and lead a team of subject matter experts and support staff to develop program/project best practices, processes, and procedures in alignment with agreed strategy, while ensuring compliance with CMU and partner regulations.

As Director for CIDTA, you will oversee the day-to-day operations of the center. The successful candidate will have a strong background in program development, management and leadership, with significant experience in strategic planning and implementation. You will be a key leader and technical advisor, collaborating with CMU multi- departmental leadership in both Pittsburgh and Kigali and a team of subject matter experts from partner universities to deliver on the strategic plan. The scope of responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:

Responsibilities:

• Contribute significantly to the strategic planning and setting of programmatic direction and scope as key member of the CIDTA program committee.
  
  
• Work with the CMU-Africa director, senior leadership team, faculty, researchers, network universities, and other stakeholders on logistical elements of the strategic plan.
  
  
• Oversee the implementation of CIDTA programs and initiatives under the three pillars of teaching and learning, knowledge creation, and entrepreneurship at CMU, ensuring alignment with strategy and partner agreements.
  
  
• Collaborate with university partners to ensure effective implementation of network programs and initiatives under the three pillars of teaching and learning, knowledge creation, and entrepreneurship per agreement.
  
  
• Oversee the monitoring and evaluation of program effectiveness, tracking deliverables and other requirements, to ensure timely identification and execution of course-corrective measures.
  
  
• Leverage and partner with CMU-Africa, the College of Engineering, and wider university’s business, HR, legal, and research administrative teams to define and develop program / project best practices, processes, and policy to ensure alignment with CMU and external partner strategy and policies. Create and maintain standard operating procedures for CIDTA operations.
  
  
• Manage, coordinate, and provide support for an interdisciplinary team of subject matter experts, program managers, and administrative support staff responsible for designing, running, and assessing the various CIDTA programs and initiatives at CMU-Africa, keeping them focused on achieving specific program objectives.
  
  
• Directly or indirectly supervise all staff for the center, including day-to-day assignment of work to direct reports (+/- 7), providing coaching, and mentoring and, in cooperation with CMU-Africa’s Associate Director of HR and Pittsburgh HR, oversee performance management, training, and development.
  
  
• Partner with CMU-Africa’s Chief Operations Officer to manage and track budget and resources across programs and initiatives, ensuring accurate and timely reporting to internal stakeholders and external partners.
  
  
• Establish and maintain relationships with external partners (network universities, funding partners, government agencies, non-profits, etc.) and represent CMU in the network of partner universities (known as Afretec).
  
  
• Travel, as needed, to work with external partners and the CMU main campus.
  
  

Qualifications:

Required

• Graduate degree in relevant field.
  
  
• Minimum of eight years of progressively responsible work experience in administering and managing large complex projects with external collaborators.
  
  
• Experience working in diverse and globally oriented business, educational or research institutions.
  
  
• Experience in establishing and managing partnerships in Africa.
  
  
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
  
  

Desirable

• Experience in facilitating large multi-institutional and geographically spread teams.
  
  
• Experience in working with universities in Africa.
  
  
• Experience in hosting (running) academic workshops, large event logistics.
  
  
• Fluency in both spoken and written French.
  
  

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Leadership skills and competencies including leading people, organizational change, multi-tasking, delegation, analytical and communications skills, planning and organizing skills.
  
  
• Ability to inspire confidence, offer sound judgment, and demonstrate professional maturity.
  
  
• Demonstrable ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, diverse cultures, and time zones, with a high emotional intelligence quotient.
  
  
• Excellent negotiation skills, and ability to facilitate group decision-making and cocreation of projects and program initiatives.
  
  
• Dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a grasp of their complex articulations at a global institution like Carnegie Mellon University and across partner universities on the African continent.
  
  
• Attention to detail with the ability to synthesize and communicate complex ideas in various formats tailored to diverse audiences.
  
  
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities in a fastmoving environment and able to execute a range of job duties.
  
  

Are you interested in this exciting opportunity? Apply today!

Location

Kigali, Rwanda

Job Function

Program, Project and Operations Management

Position Type

Staff – Regular

Full Time/Part time

Full time

Pay Basis

More Information:

• Please visit “ Why Carnegie Mellon ” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world.
  
  
• Click here to view a listing of employee benefits
  
  
• Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran .
  
  
• Statement of Assurance