What we are looking for

We are looking for an experienced Program Director who will oversee the execution of all City Team objectives across the entire value chain. As part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to lead cross-functional initiatives, problem-solve, remove bottlenecks to execution, and drive impactful outcomes. The Program Director - Cities will be a key strategic partner, responsible for driving the success of all city teams by ensuring operational excellence, strategic alignment, and collaborative execution. You will take ownership of city performance, act as a trusted advisor to city General Managers, and lead the coordination between city and central teams to ensure cities are on track to achieve their goals. As the voice of the cities, you will drive initiatives, resolve challenges, and support key growth efforts, including expansion and recruitment. This role requires a strategic thinker, with high business acumen, and exceptional stakeholder and project management expertise. You should be motivated by a desire to optimize productivity and nurture program success from inception.

The City Teams are startups within a larger startup. Run as a “standalone” business and led by a General Manager (GM), each City Team is responsible for the recruitment of exceptional talent into the ALX programs, fostering community and engagement to enhance retention, graduation and ultimately unlocking jobs and opportunities for impact. In pursuit of our mission, we encourage autonomy, creativity, and experimentation. We embrace risks and failure. We seek those that have a beginners’ mindset, are lifelong learners, thrive in uncertain circumstances and uncharted territory, and have a deep passion for driving impactful outcomes. If you're excited about working in a hyper-growth, hard-working but fun and collaborative environment, you are in the right place.

What does the job involve

• Strategic Partnership & Leadership: Serve as the strategic leader for city operations, working closely with city and central leadership to ensure alignment on objectives, priorities, and initiatives.
• Cross-functional Alignment: Act as the primary liaison between city teams and central teams, ensuring seamless collaboration, aligning strategies, and advocating for city needs.
• Proactive Problem-Solving: Identify potential operational or strategic challenges early and drive initiatives to address them, ensuring cities remain on track.
• Learning & Development Leadership: Lead the Learning & Development efforts for city teams (from onboarding to upskilling), ensuring talent development and preparedness for future challenges.
• Recruitment & Expansion: Collaborate on the recruitment of key city leadership roles (e.g., new General Managers) and support ALX expansion into new cities.
• Operational Excellence: Own the tracking, reporting, and analysis of city team performance, ensuring operational goals are met, and leading efforts to address gaps or inefficiencies (including providing hands-on support where needed)
• Special Projects Leadership: Spearhead high-impact, cross-functional projects aimed at driving city growth, operational efficiency, and long-term success (e.g., partnerships).

Qualifications

• 8+ years of work experience in strategic leadership, particularly in operations, program management or strategic partnerships in a fast-paced, high-growth environment; management consulting or finance
• 3+ years experience in a management role
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional collaboration, influence stakeholders, and drive strategic alignment.
• Exceptional problem solving, communication (written and verbal) and project management skills
• Strong business and financial acumen
• Ability to drive the execution and reporting of the operational KPIs, OKRs and metrics
• Strong knowledge of business processes and experience leading people-related functions
• ‘Roll up Sleeves’ GYSHIDO mindset
• Ability to use data to drive decision-making
• You have a start-up mindset and are comfortable with ambiguous, ever-changing situations
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced environment, consistently delivering high-quality results with precision, even under tight deadlines.

Benefits

• TBC

Location

Remote - Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Kenya