Chief of Staff

We are looking for a Chief of Staff to join our leadership group; as we scale up and drive digital and financial inclusion across our markets.

As Chief of Staff you will report directly to the CEO and will be responsible for supporting and acting on behalf of the CEO on core strategic and operational projects across the business. Working closely with the CEO and senior executive team, you will be a key member of M-KOPA management.

About Us

Our goal is to make financing for everyday essentials accessible to everyone.

M-KOPA offers financing for ‘Every Day Earners’ across Africa. Our relationship with customers begins with an initial loan for a smartphone, designed around their earning patterns.

Using a robust AI – Machine Learning model, we build individualised credit histories for customers throughout the repayment of their first loan. Based on this information, we then finance additional digital and financial products like digital loans, health insurance, and data bundles through our mobile app. With operations in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa, M-KOPA has provided over $1 billion in credit and reached 5 million customers. M-KOPA was named one of the FT’s Fastest Growing Companies in Africa three-years in a row, and one of TIME Magazine’s Most Innovative Companies in the world in 2024 and 2023.

About this role;

Problem-solving thought-partner

· Acting as a thought partner, strategic advisor and confidant to the CEO and leadership team

· Providing a wide-ranging and critical viewpoint, analysis and recommendations so that effective decisions can be taken by the CEO and broader leadership team

Setting company strategy and objectives

· Facilitating effective strategy meetings for the leadership team, and working hand-in-hand with the leadership team in the development and prioritisation of the company’s strategic plans and initiatives

· Championing the company’s vision and strategy, and creating the culture and momentum to deliver the agreed goals

· Spearheading special projects: managing and leading early-stage or high priority strategic projects that are prioritised by the senior executive team and CEO. The intention is to incubate new projects that can then be transitioned to permanent owners once they have been set up for success

Supporting the CEO with overall company and stakeholder management

· Acting as an integrator who provides two-way communication channels between less senior staff members and the CEO’s office/leadership team, and connects work streams to ensure that none get siloed

· Managing and nurturing relationships with key stakeholders, investors, and partners

· Leading the preparation of content for meetings with the senior executive team, and facilitating discussions during these meetings

· Managing relationships with the Board of Directors, including preparing strategic discussion materials for board meetings and engaging with Board members in between meetings to get their input on company strategy

· Work closely with the CEO’s Executive Assistant to ensure smooth delivery of administrative tasks including scheduling, travel, board material distribution, etc.

For Hybrid/On-site roles:

This is a (hybrid/on-site) role, you would be working from our offices in Nairobi, Johannesburg or London, partnering with a diverse group of employees from our different markets and locations across the UK, Europe and Africa. You will be reporting to the CEO

Expertise

What We’re Looking For:

· Passionate about our mission of making financing for everyday essentials accessible to everyone

· +/-5 years work experience, preferably including 2 year’s management consulting experience

· Prior exposure to senior management and Board of Directors

· Experience working in Africa

· A strategic outlook and ability to refine, communicate and execute business strategy

· Excellent problem-solving skills, with ability to analyse complex information and draw relevant conclusions

· Excellent stakeholder management skills, including the ability to set and communicate direction, and build strong external relationships

· Compelling communicator both orally and in writing, able to concisely articulate complex arguments and ideas

· Loves fast-moving environments and has the the drive, tenacity and ability to take charge of situations, work quickly and constructively on resolving problems and implementing systems and processes that are fit for purpose

· Education: minimum requirement a bachelor’s degree

Why M-KOPA?

At M-KOPA, we empower our people to own their careers through diverse development programs, coaching partnerships, and on-the-job training. We support individual journeys with family-friendly policies, prioritize well-being, and embrace flexibility.

Join us in shaping the future of M-KOPA as we grow together. Explore more at m-kopa.com.

Recognized thrice by the Financial Times as one Africa's fastest growing companies (2022, 2023 and 2024) and by TIME100 Most influential companies in the world 2023 and 2024 , we've served over 5 million customers, unlocking $1.5 billion in cumulative credit for the unbanked across Africa.

Important Notice

M-KOPA is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained staff. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

M-KOPA explicitly prohibits the use of Forced or Child Labour and respects the rights of its employees to agree to terms and conditions of employment voluntarily, without coercion, and freely terminate their employment on appropriate notice. M-KOPA shall ensure that its Employees are of legal working age and shall comply with local laws for youth employment or student work, such as internships or apprenticeships. 

M-KOPA does not collect/charge any money as a pre-employment or post-employment requirement. This means that we never ask for ‘recruitment fees’, ‘processing fees’, ‘interview fees’, or any other kind of money in exchange for offer letters or interviews at any time during the hiring process.