THE OPPORTUNITY The Director Risk, Programs is responsible for leading the design, execution, and oversight of risk management activities across all programmatic activities of the Mastercard Foundation. Reporting directly to the Senior Director, Risk and Resilience, the Director works closely with program teams, senior leadership, implementing partners, and other key stakeholders to ensure that program risks are proactively identified, assessed, mitigated, and monitored in alignment with the Foundations mission, values, and strategic goals. This role requires strong collaboration across functions to embed a risk-aware culture and support effective decision-making at all levels of programming. The role holder will directly oversee and manage the Head(s) and Lead(s), Program Risks. WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE Develop and implement comprehensive risk management framework and strategies for all Foundation programs, positioning risk as a strategic enabler. Communicate the Foundations risk appetite to stakeholders and help integrate it into decision-making processes across programs and Foundation functions. Provide risk advisory services and insights to Foundation programs teams and implementing partners, offering guidance on risk identification, mitigation, and response strategies. Ensure alignment of programmatic risk management practices with Foundation-wide policies and regulatory requirements. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to promote a risk-aware culture across the Foundation. Prepare and present regular risk updates to senior leadership and the risk management committee, highlighting key trends and recommendations. Monitor emerging risks and trends relevant to the Foundations programmatic work. Foster a culture of risk awareness and continuous improvement through training, knowledge sharing, and sharing lessons learned across programs to support integration into other ongoing and future programs. Support the Senior Director Risk & Resilience coordinate ERM activities as required across various stakeholder groups. Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing risk management team. WHO YOU ARE Bachelors Degree in Risk Management, Business Administration, International Development, Public Administration, Economics, Finance, or related disciplines. Masters Degree in Business Administration, Risk Management, International Development, Public Policy, or related fields Advanced professional certifications in risk management will be an added advantage. Over 12 years of experience, with at least 8 years in senior leadership roles in ERM or the programs’ function/department preferably within the non-profit, philanthropic, or international development sectors. Demonstrated experience leading teams and working across diverse geographic and cultural contexts. Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing risk frameworks for complex, multi-country programs. Experience collaborating with Senior Leadership on strategic risk management and stakeholder management skills. Strong understanding of regulatory, operational, financial, and reputational risks in the context of international development. Experience working in culturally diverse environments; proficiency in English required, French desired. Cultural awareness and sensitivity, ensuring meaningful engagement and influence across diverse stakeholder groups. Strategic and forward-thinking mindset. Excellent facilitation and communication skills. Strong integrity, courage, and confidence to uphold convictions even in challenging situations. Ability to collaborate across the organization as well as drive capacity at the partner level. Strong inter-personal skills and ability to engage with empathy and purpose. Agile and adaptable to the Foundation’s strategic priorities, needs, and values. Able to keep abreast of emerging issues, innovations, and trends in the development sector and risk management standards. The Mastercard Foundation values the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the organization and we are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone. Completion of satisfactory business references and background checks are essential conditions of employment. For more information and to sign up for the Foundations newsletter, please visit http://www.mastercardfdn.org/ Follow the Foundation on Twitter at @MastercardFdn The Mastercard Foundation is a registered Canadian charity and one of the largest foundations in the world. It works with visionary organizations to advance education and financial inclusion to enable young people in Africa and Indigenous youth in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. Established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company, the Foundation is an independent organization separate from the company, with offices in Toronto, Kigali, Accra, Nairobi, Kampala, Lagos, Dakar, and Addis Ababa. Its policies, operations, and program decisions are determined by the Foundations Board of Directors and leadership. Learn More The Foundation operates within the Indigenous communities in Canada to deliver on our EleV strategy and bold goal of enabling 100,000 Indigenous youth to complete their education, access economic opportunities and drive meaningful change in their communities by 2030. Across Africa, the Foundations Young Africa Works strategy aims to spur systemic change to enable young people the opportunity to find meaningful work that is dignified and fulfilling. The Young Africa Works strategy sets out an ambitious goal for the next decade: by 2030, our work will enable 30 million young people in Africa, especially young women, to secure employment they see as dignified and fulfilling. These programs are in partnership with the relevant government entities, communities, institutions, and individuals ensuring that the Foundation delivers on its mission of collaboration and co-creation with those whose voices need to be heard the most, and can be change agents for themselves, their families, and communities. Mastercard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper. We are ambitious and driven. Our values transcend and rise above everything else as our guide. We encourage you to bring your bold ideas, curiosity, and expertise to your work. We laugh at ourselves and with each other. We are a team. Our journey together makes our impact even more meaningful. Learn More