Head of Community and Ecosystem at Co-creation Hub

Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

14 Jul, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

15 Apr, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Community management, Ecosystem strategy, Business development, Stakeholder management, Strategic planning, Public speaking, Communication, Proposal development, Financial sustainability, Partnership management, Team leadership, Market research, Event management, SEO, Social media

Industry

Information Technology & Services

Description

Company Description CcHUB is Africa’s leading innovation and creative ecosystem builder, dedicated to nurturing talent, ideas, and startups across the continent. In 2010, we began as Nigeria's premier innovation center, dedicated to accelerating the application of social capital and technology for economic prosperity in Nigeria. We have since grown our physical presence to five cities (Lagos, Abuja, Kigali, Nairobi, and Windhoek) across Africa, and we work closely with stakeholders - including entrepreneurs, civil society organizations, government, and private sector - to identify and nurture novel solutions to social challenges in Africa. In 2017, Co-Creation HUB launched Growth Capital in partnership with Omidyar Network, Bank of Industry, and Venture Garden Group to provide early-stage funding for startups driving social change. In February 2019, Co-creation HUB opened a Design Lab in Kigali, Rwanda, focusing on Research and Development and Human-Centered Design to enable innovation for social impact. Our Kigali Center collaborates with global stakeholders to explore how technology can address Africa’s systemic problems in education, public health, governance, and other areas of our work. In September 2019, we expanded our footprint by acquiring iHUB in Nairobi, Kenya, strengthening our commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and innovators across the continent. In 2020, we launched CcHUB Syndicate, an investment vehicle designed to improve access to capital for startups and bridge the funding gap in Africa’s innovation ecosystem. In 2021, we established the Creative Economy Practice to drive growth in Africa’s creative economy through innovation and technology. In 2023, we further expanded our presence by opening the Co-creation HUB in Windhoek, Namibia. These expansions have been intentional in contributing to our vision to be Africa's leading pan-African creative and innovation ecosystem enabler. Since its establishment, CcHUB has supported the development and launch of over 10,000 innovative technology companies across Africa that address social challenges in areas such as budget transparency, agtech, education, fintech, healthcare delivery, the creative economy, and sustainability. Job Description Drive CcHUB's community and ecosystem strategy across Africa, building vibrant, engaged communities of entrepreneurs and innovation players at all hub locations, and ensuring the community offering is financially sustainable through memberships, partnerships, and diversified revenue streams. Simultaneously serve as Country Coordinator for Kenya, providing on-the-ground operational oversight and ensuring coherent coordination across the multiple CcHUB practices and units delivering programs in-country. Key Responsibilities Ecosystem & Community Development Own the Community and Ecosystem strategy, ensuring alignment with CcHUB Group's overall strategy and delivering on both impact and financial sustainability targets. Drive new-member acquisition and build an active, engaged community of entrepreneurs and innovation ecosystem players across all locations. Oversee all community engagement initiatives - developing creative approaches to member engagement, setting communication strategy across channels, and working with the Communications Unit to track performance against established KPIs. Represent the company externally, building relationships with key stakeholders across the wider tech ecosystem to raise brand awareness and create opportunities for meaningful collaboration. Conduct market and partner research to identify opportunities and inform strategic planning for community and ecosystem growth. Design and deliver a cross-functional calendar of events, workshops, meetups, and focused sessions - including partner-sponsored and branded events- that drive CcHUB visibility and help stakeholders engage with community-driven innovation. Business Development Drive the financial sustainability of the community unit across Africa and overall operations in Kenya through memberships, partnerships, and diversified revenue streams. Design and continuously refine creative membership and partnership packages that position CcHUB's community offering as a compelling value proposition for corporates, development partners, and ecosystem players. Develop pricing strategies and revenue models for events, programs, and space utilization that balance accessibility with financial sustainability. Identify and pursue diverse funding sources - including grants, sponsorships, corporate partnerships, and institutional funding- to sustain and scale operations in Kenya, working closely with respective practice and unit leads. Lead end-to-end proposal development, from opportunity identification through to submission, ensuring proposals are compelling, aligned with funder priorities, and accurately costed, working closely with respective practice and unit leads and teh Program Management Unit. Steward existing funding relationships through proactive reporting, delivery oversight, and relationship management, positioning partnerships for renewal and expansion, working closely with respective practice and unit leads. Build and maintain a structured business development pipeline, tracking opportunities from prospecting through to close with clear visibility and accountability. Contribute to the growth of the organizational footprint through strategic planning, resource allocation, and ensuring the successful launch of new hub locations. Stakeholder Management Maintain relationships with external leads and partners of CcHUB Group, including representing CcHUB practices in Kenya Identify key stakeholders to understand their needs, build relationships, and collaborate on impactful outcomes across our work areas. Work together with all CcHUB practices and units to drive and implement community engagement strategies and programs. Strategically contribute to business growth initiatives by building relationships with the community across a range of stakeholder types. Team Leadership and Management Act as Country Coordinator for Kenya Operations, providing on-the-ground oversight of Kenya staff, programs, and operations, including flagging any issues (as appropriate) to relevant Practice Leads and Managing Partners Lead and manage community teams in all our locations, ensuring appropriate resourcing and structure, and optimal performance of the Community and Ecosystem Team at all times Qualifications The successful candidate will have the following experience At least 7 years of experience in startup community management, Strategic account management, and/or business development (B2B, B2G). Exceptional stakeholder management ability and community-building experience. Excellent communication, public speaking, and writing skills. Strong knowledge of the technology and innovation ecosystem in Africa. You enjoy and have experience with writing blog posts, community management, public speaking, or similar activities. A Masters Degree from an accredited university. An MBA or a background in a business-related field is desirable. Knowledge of: The technology, innovation, and/or creative landscapes in Kenya and across Africa. Community and Stakeholder Management. Experience with SEO and social media from a professional perspective. Additional Information Work Environment: In-office work setting. Occasional travel may be required. Co-creation HUB (CcHUB) is an equal opportunity employer. The Company prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. The Company conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.

Responsibilities

Drive the community and ecosystem strategy across Africa while serving as the Country Coordinator for Kenya to ensure operational oversight. Lead business development efforts to ensure financial sustainability through memberships, partnerships, and diversified revenue streams.