Managing Director

Launched in 2018 and headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, they’re a unique bunch of creative builders, designers, entrepreneurs and mentors, who bring a wealth of knowledge and years of experience to the founders and teams they work with.

Founders Factory has a heart for Africa. They are proud to be a part of its complex and flourishing fabric, and we are humbled by its history of individual and collective progress. Locally grounded and globally connected, they’re becoming the go-to innovation partner for startups, investors, governments, and corporates — throughout Africa and beyond.

The organization provides a rare opportunity to join a team of world-class thinkers, entrepreneurs, and creators. They provide the freedom and excitement of early-stage startups but the stability and resources of a large organization.

ROLE OVERVIEW

We’re seeking an experienced Country Managing Director that will work closely with our the and the leadership team as FFA scales into the North Africa region. You will be at the helm of FFA’s operations in Egypt/North Africa driving and overseeing the strategic growth initiatives, supporting day-to-day operations, and ensuring smooth coordination between various teams and stakeholders . This role requires a visionary leader with at least 10 years of experience in building and managing teams, Investments, along with a profound understanding of the VC industry. The ideal candidate should have a background in VC/PE and be adept at driving growth and maximising market potential. The ideal candidate should possess strong leadership skills, a proven track record of successful business management, and the ability to build and manage a team whilst managing different stakeholders.

This is a strategic leadership role for an inspired professional who will optimally represent the interests of FFA, grow the local and international networks and nurture the team of committed experts.

The role is based in Cairo, Egypt

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy:

• Enhancing FFA’s presence across Egypt and North Africa region.
• Formulating a Country Strategy that aligns FFA’s global strategy to the local context.
• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the country, setting clear goals and objectives in alignment with the overall vision and mission.
• Identify emerging trends and business opportunities and develop strategies to drive growth and market expansion.
• Lead and foster a collaborative, high-performance work culture to drive new initiatives.
• Cultivate relationships and strategic partnerships with investors and other stakeholders to foster collaboration.
• Deep understanding of the risks e.g. geopolitical climate that might impact our company objectives.
• Identify opportunities and partnerships to expand market presence.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and investors.

Operations:

• Oversee day-to-day operations, including financial management, budgeting, resource allocation, and project management.
• Standardize & implement SOPs for the smooth running of the office and largely the North Africa region.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance processes, workflows, and overall organizational efficiency.

Culture:

• Optimizing the work environment. Building systems to align the country office with
• FFA Culture. Familiarizing new hires, partners, and investors with “the FFA Way”.
• Lead and foster a collaborative, high-performance work culture to drive new initiatives.

What does success look like:

• Founders Factory Africa being a brand of choice for founders in the region.
• Ecosystem investors see FFA as a brand to collaborate with to build the ecosystem.
• North Africa talent to look at our brand as a place to be - to learn and grow Africa wide presence.
• Building investor confidence e.g. attract GCC capital to look at FFA as a brand to talk to in Egypt to unlock Africa investments.
• Our pan-African presence should be an opportunity for North Africa founders to find pathways to scale in the rest of the continent.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Role requirements:

• At least 10 years of experience in innovation, investments, finance, strategy or business administration.
• Regional expertise – Country Managers must also possess a deep understanding of their country’s local politics to enforce laws and regulations.
• Knowledge, enthusiasm and interest in technology and start-ups.

Skills/Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to build & manage a high performing team
• Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks simultaneously in time critical situations
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to synthesize complex information.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present ideas clearly and concisely.
• High level of discretion with integrity Immaculate organisational, project management and time management skills.
• Experience solving complex challenges across complex environments
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills. Ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders

‍