Program Launch Manager – Côte d’Ivoire (Full Time)

About ESPartners

ESPartners (Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners) is a leading consultancy founded in 2010 in Washington DC, dedicated to fostering sustainable enterprise development across Africa. With regional offices in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) and Kigali (Rwanda), we serve West, Central, East, and Southern Africa.

Our mission is to empower African entrepreneurs with the tools for sustainable success. We deliver “Intelligent Capital™” – a unique combination of insights and funding – through two key practice areas:

• SCALE: Supporting entrepreneurs from ideation to acceleration, with access to diverse financing solutions
• INSIGHTS: Providing innovative consulting services for sustainable development through value chain optimization and business strategy

ESPartners has four core values expressed via P.A.C.E.: Passion, Agility, Collaboration and Equity.

Position Overview

The Program Launch Manager is responsible for the structuring phase and the launch of the implementation of complex projects.

This strategic role involves coordinating and facilitating interactions between stakeholders to ensure an effective start and a smooth setup of the projects.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the structuring phase and the start of the implementation phase of complex projects.

​

Key Objectives

• Manage the strategic design of new project opportunities. 
• Ensure the connection between the various internal and external stakeholders involved. 
• Lead the startup phase of the implementation of new projects.

Main activities

• Lead the strategic design phase of new projects.
• Contribute to the drafting of the technical and financial proposal for ESP.
• Define project management tools in the initiation phase.
• Conduct project structuring workshops.
• Draft the terms of reference (ToR).
• Compile existing documentation and data.
• Engage the involved stakeholders.
• Prepare the necessary templates.
• Facilitate discussions during working sessions.
• Produce associated deliverables.
• Lead the project startup phase.
• Serve as Project Manager until the dedicated project team is recruited.
• Manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Set initial milestones and achieve results on quick wins.
• Train the project team once recruited and ensure a smooth transition for their complete takeover.

Required Qualifications

• Significant experience in managing complex projects.
• Proficiency in project management methodologies (PMI, Prince2, Agile).
• Experience in facilitating and leading working groups.
• Excellent management of relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• In-depth knowledge of the socio-economic environment in West Africa.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to manage stress effectively.
• Rigorous, organized, and analytical.
• Bilingual in French/English.

​

Education and experience

• Master’s degree (Bac +5) in project management, management, or a related field. 
• Certification(s) in project management (PMP, Prince2, etc.) required. 
• Advanced proficiency in the Office Suite, particularly PowerPoint. 
• Experience in a Delivery Unit and/or in the consulting sector is appreciated.

We offer

• An opportunity to become part of a highly professional, motivated, and dynamic team. 
• A unique opportunity to have a strong impact in building the African entrepreneurial sector. 
• An entrepreneurial adventure to be lived daily. 
• An unparalleled personal and professional growth as our longer-term objective is to train / Help the next generation of entrepreneurs. 
• A structuring and expanding initiative. 
• Access to a high-level network 
• A good opportunity to challenge and grow with a competitive rewarding package. 

How to apply

Please send your CV, cover letter and two (02) references to the following email address, specifying the job title:

esptalent@espartners.co