Chief of Staff - Johannesburg - M-KOPA

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will support and act on behalf of the CEO on core strategic and operational projects across the business.

About M-KOPA

M-KOPA's mission is to make financing for everyday essentials accessible to everyone.

We offer financing for 'Every Day Earners' across Africa, beginning with an initial loan for a smartphone designed around their earning patterns.

Using AI – Machine Learning, we build individualised credit histories for customers throughout the repayment of their first loan.

Based on this information, we finance additional digital and financial products like digital loans, health insurance, and data bundles through our mobile app.

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.

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.
• 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.
• Working closely with the CEO's Executive Assistant to ensure smooth delivery of administrative tasks.

Key Expertise

What We're Looking For:

• A passion for making financing for everyday essentials accessible to everyone.
• +/-5 years work experience, preferably including 2 years 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.
• Compelling communicator both orally and in writing, able to concisely articulate complex arguments and ideas.
• Loves fast-moving environments and has the drive, tenacity and ability to take charge of situations.

Why Choose 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, prioritise well-being, and embrace flexibility.

Recognised thrice by the Financial Times as one of 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.

M-KOPA is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained staff.

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.