Job at EyeCity Africa
Programme Manager, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem at EyeCity Africa
EyeCity Africa is seeking an experienced and strategic professional for the position of Programme Manager, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem.
EyeCity Africa is a pan-African development consulting firm working across Africa in skills development, capacity building, job creation, entrepreneurship development and digital innovation.
The organisation delivers programmes across education and skills development, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem development, workforce training and placement, creative innovation, higher education innovation, technology solutions and digital transformation.
Job Title
Programme Manager, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem
Location
Lagos or Abuja, Nigeria
The preferred location is Lagos or Abuja due to the role’s engagement with strategic partners.
Employment Type
Full-time
About the Role
The successful candidate will lead the strategic design, implementation and scaling of entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem programmes across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The role will involve working with Higher Education Institutions, industry leaders, investors, venture funds, regulatory bodies, entrepreneurs, innovators and other strategic stakeholders.
The Programme Manager will also contribute to the expansion of EyeCity Africa’s Creative Innovation Practice and lead programmes supporting entrepreneurs in the creative and cultural sector, innovators within higher education institutions and young innovators across Africa.
Key Responsibilities
The Programme Manager will be responsible for:
Designing and implementing workforce development, incubation, acceleration and venture-building programmes for young entrepreneurs.
Leading ecosystem mapping, gap analyses and policy diagnostics across technology hubs, industries, design clusters and Cultural and Creative Industries.
Developing commercialisation and monetisation pathways that transform academic research and creative intellectual property into market-ready products, services and scalable ventures.
Building and managing strategic relationships with public, private and development-sector stakeholders.
Engaging higher education regulators, venture capital funds, creative industry leaders and other ecosystem partners.
Identifying grant opportunities, developing technical proposals and structuring alternative financing mechanisms.
Supporting financing models such as seed facilities, micro-grants, revenue-share models and IP-backed funding pathways.
Organising ecosystem events including hackathons, innovation challenges, creative showcases, demo days and investor pitch sessions.
Supervising, mentoring and developing project officers, consultants and research analysts.
Embedding Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning frameworks to measure outcomes including venture survival, funding raised, job creation and intellectual property monetisation.
Developing policy briefs and industry benchmarks relating to Africa’s digital and creative economy.
Required Skills
Candidates should demonstrate expertise in:
Incubation management
Venture acceleration
Innovation ecosystem development
Employability and Cultural and Creative Industries
Human-Centered Design
Grant writing
Alternative financing models
Stakeholder management and diplomacy
Leadership and team management
Strategic planning and problem solving
Systems thinking and analytical skills
Candidates should also be proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace, including Excel, Google Sheets, PowerPoint, Google Slides and Word.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required, including the ability to communicate effectively with senior leaders and diverse stakeholders across Africa.
Strong organisational and time-management skills are essential, as is the ability to prioritise and manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
Experience Requirements
Applicants should have:
At least 6 years of experience leading innovation hubs, venture incubators or accelerators, creative ecosystem projects or higher education innovation programmes.
At least 3 of those years should have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity.
Previous experience managing national or regional projects within international development, innovation ecosystems or related programmes across Africa.
A demonstrated record of designing, launching and scaling entrepreneurship, higher education innovation or creative economy initiatives with measurable outcomes.
In-depth knowledge of the technical, policy and commercial landscape of African startups and venture ecosystems.
Knowledge of donor agencies, higher education institutions and major foundations.
Experience with Big 4 consulting firms or related management consulting is an advantage.
The ideal candidate should be self-motivated, driven and passionate about Africa’s development, with the confidence and professionalism to engage senior industry leaders and manage high-profile events.
Benefits
The successful candidate will have access to:
International project opportunities across Africa.
Professional development and training opportunities.
A collaborative and dynamic working environment.
Competitive salary and benefits package.
Comprehensive health coverage for the employee and dependents.
Airtime allowance.
Wellness days.
Lunch allowance.
Birthday voucher.
Application Deadline
31 August 2026
The organisation may close the application process before the stated deadline if it receives the desired number of applications.
Applicants are also encouraged to submit thoughtful and authentic applications. EyeCity Africa notes that while AI is increasingly used in everyday work, applications will be assessed for genuine thoughtfulness and quality during the screening process.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should complete the online application form:
Apply for Programme Manager, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem
Candidates are encouraged to apply early because applications may close before the deadline.
