Program Coordinator Middle East North Africa

About Seedstars

Seedstars is a group headquartered in Switzerland / Geneva on a mission to impact people’s lives in emerging and frontier markets through technology and entrepreneurship. We operate 2 main activities to achieve our mission: (A) We work in partnership with development agencies, governments, corporate partners, and private donors to develop entrepreneurship ecosystems, create jobs, and fuel income growth. (B) We invest in high-growth technology companies in impactful sectors (fintech, ed-tech, agritech, health tech, etc) in emerging markets.

About the Programs business

Seedstars Programs consults multilateral and bilateral organisations, governments, and private sector foundations on customized interventions and financing solutions for small and growing businesses (SGBs) in emerging markets. Our goal is to create thriving entrepreneurship ecosystems and generate positive social and economic impact in the global south and developing economies. 

We support our clients in:

• Developing entrepreneurship ecosystems (insights and advice on policy, finance, culture, support infrastructure, human capital, and markets) based on our proprietary Seedstars Index.
• Designing and co-creating customized interventions and implementing programs based on the segmentation of businesses and their specific needs.
• Setting up innovative development finance facilities and managing capital flows (VC & Equity program funds, Convertibles, Catalytic finance instruments, Impact linked finance, blended finance, result or revenue-based finance, loans, mezzanine, grants, etc.).
• Measuring and managing the impact of programmatic interventions.

The majority of our projects are sustainable development goal (SDG) driven and tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges like climate action, gender equality, migration, and financial inclusion.

About the Program

We are applying to a tender for a comprehensive entrepreneurship intervention in Abu Dhabi that is designed to provide support to entrepreneurs in specialised sectors –climate, AI, fintech, life sciences, and digital assets– through capacity-building, access to financing pathways, ecosystem development, and engagement with key stakeholders in MENA; further positioning Abu Dhabi as a growing, vibrant and robust entrepreneurial hub. 

About the Position

We are seeking a highly motivated, hands-on, self-starter and entrepreneurial Program Coordinator to join our regional team in MENA. As a Program Coordinator you will be part of the team designing and implementing the entrepreneurship technical assistance programs we run throughout MENA. 

This is a 2 years, on-the-ground, on-site position in Abu Dhabi starting in Q4, 2024/Q1 2025. 

This job opportunity is contingent upon our team successfully winning the proposal. 

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Responsibilities

You will be responsible for supporting the program manager with internal and external project coordination. This includes but is not limited to: 

• Coordination between different Seedstars units to ensure the project is implemented effectively. 
• Ensure the program is following best practices and being executed  using the outlined content and curriculum from the Seedstars playbook, and that the best possible experience is being delivered for all parties.

• Support the program manager in managing relationships with relevant stakeholders.

• Track quality, operational execution, and entrepreneurs and partner success metrics.

• Run experiments, compile and organize learnings and best practices to be shared internally or replicated in similar programs.

• Take the lead in the writing and setup of the reporting and administration of the project.
• Provide regular check-ins on plans, budget, and team progress. 

Your profile 

• Your Mindset 
  • Passion for problem solving and striving for excellence. 
  • Knack for coordination.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multicultural and fast-paced environment.
  • Excellent team player with high levels of empathy.

• Your Experience 
  • 3+ years progressive experience in a leading development sector, or entrepreneurial support organisation in running entrepreneurship capacity building programs in collaboration with bilateral & multilateral organisations, private sector foundations and governments, or experience as a founder.
  • Deep knowledge and experience with our target client groups and donors (bilateral & multilateral organizations, NGOs, private sector foundations, etc.) 
  • Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship management skills.
  • Strong project management, organizational and time management skills.
• Nice to have 
  • Deeply involved in and knowledgeable about the startup ecosystem in your country or region with a strong network. 
  • You are either a local entrepreneur or innovation enthusiast.

 Why our employees love working with us

• We are on a mission that is bigger than all of us: to impact people’s lives in emerging markets.
• You get many growth and learning opportunities early on, including impactful and skills-enhancing roles in innovative programs.
• Robust onboarding to translate our values and ways of working into successful outcomes.
• Excellent networking opportunities, including exposure to thought leaders and SMEs in the field of entrepreneurial support.
• An entrepreneurial culture where you’re surrounded by a vibrant and diverse team.
• Autonomy and flexibility with a flat hierarchy and a strong belief that responsible people should have the freedom to do their work when and how they want.
• We were awarded as one of the most democratic workplaces in the world due to our freedom-centered practices. 

We are an equal opportunity employer with a diverse mix of nationalities and backgrounds represented in our company. We truly value diversity and believe that the cultural landscape of our organization should reflect the types of work that we engage in and the places that we do it. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status and strongly encourage women, people from emerging markets, and those from historically underrepresented groups to apply to all of our roles at Seedstars.