Francophone Africa Expansion Lead

Title: Francophone Africa Expansion
Location: Francophone Africa
Reports To: Market Expansion Lead
Applicable Number of Posts: 1
Job Role Required Location: DRC
ABOUT UBONGO
UBONGO is Africa's leading producer of kids' edutainment. As a non-profit social enterprise, we create fun, localised, and multi-platform educational content that helps kids learn, and leverage their learning to change their lives. Ubongo reaches over 27 million kids across Africa through accessible technologies like TV, radio, and mobile phones. Our show’s Ubongo Kids and Akili and Me currently air in 23 countries across Africa in multiple languages.
POSITION OBJECTIVE (overall purpose of position)
The Francophone Africa Expansion Lead will drive the strategic expansion and implementation of our programs and products across assigned countries within their region (Francophone Africa). This role is critical in identifying growth opportunities, developing market entry and expansion strategies, and building strong distribution partnerships. The role shall also support market research & intelligence activities plus collaborate with the marketing team on brand-building and marketing initiatives to increase reach, impact, and brand affinity in new and existing markets.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy Development & Implementation
Business Development and Region Representation
Develop country-specific and regional expansion strategies, aligned with the organization’s 5-year growth plan, designed to achieve overall organizational reach and impact goals.
Implement the regional strategy by taking the lead on business development work including building new relationships across Francophone Africa, nurturing & maintaining these relationships and identifying new opportunities to grow our audiences in the region
Design and implement market entry and scaling plans annually across different growth phases (testing, entry, growth, expansion).
Track progress and adapt strategies based on market feedback and performance metrics
In collaboration with the marketing teams, develop relevant marketing campaigns and activities for countries in the region aimed at increasing brand awareness, loyalty and uptake.
Partnership Development & Relationship Management
Identify, approach, and negotiate partnerships with broadcasters, digital platforms, radio networks, government entities, NGOs, and community organizations to distribute our content.
Maintain and nurture strong, long-term relationships with key stakeholders and distribution partners.
Coordinate and lead work with said partners as needed, including Ubongo’s in-classroom projects of their content
Organize and oversee on the ground efforts for all Ubongo on ground activities including but not limited to in-school projects
Represent the organization in relevant industry events, forums, and meetings (including education sector partners and government ) to build visibility and credibility.
Marketing & Brand Development
Collaborate with the marketing team to plan and execute regional marketing campaigns, activations, and brand promotion activities tailored to local contexts.
Champion efforts to build brand awareness, trust, and loyalty among caregivers, children, educators, and other target audiences
Identify local influencers, media outlets, and community channels to amplify brand presence.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Work closely with content, education, research, and digital teams to align expansion activities with product development and impact goals.
Coordinate with the monitoring and evaluation team to track and report reach, engagement, and audience impact.
Support fundraising and reporting efforts by contributing regional insights and partner success stories.
General administration
Liaise with Head of Operations, SA and Remote on operational matters
Actively participate in annual budgeting cycles with a focus on Francophone markets
Procurement and expenditure
Expense reconciliation
Financial reporting
Company wide responsibilities:
Exemplify Ubongoers principles and norms
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
(Minimum knowledge, skills and behaviors to perform the job)
Physical
Significant travel in-country. Need to be flexible and prepared to be ‘uncomfortable’ as some of the areas to be reached are remote with minimal amenities
Educational:
Bachelor Degree holder
Experience:
At least 7 years’ related experience in media and broadcasting sales, marketing and communications, business development.
Skills:
Technical knowledge – a fair understanding of the media and education ecosystem in the region (the Expansion Lead will be expected to be able to tell the team what the situation on the ground in their region is)
Effective communication – Written and oral proficiency in English and major language(s) of the country. Good interpersonal and persuasive communication ability to be able to engage with internal and external stakeholders (role entails engaging with external stakeholders to sell the organization and content at various levels including the community level when doing eco-system interventions).
Initiative – self-starter, get-up-and go, knock on doors and keep on going even if doors don’t open right away.
Work independently – engage with frameworks and procedures to be able to engage with stakeholders
Proactive and solution oriented – very good at problem solving and decision making. There will be many circumstances that will require one to think on the spot to address issues and report back challenges faced and solutions applied (if any), to the center i.e. Ubongo afterwards
Planning and organisation – there are a lot of ‘moving parts’ as the role entails working with a lot of internal and external stakeholders. Having and delivering on clear plans, coupled with clear communication, will prevent wrong assumptions and expectations
Adaptability and flexibility – the role is constantly evolving
Have a passion for children as all Ubongo does is about the children.

Employment type
Full-Time

Work arrangement
No