Director, Enterprise Risk at Mastercard Foundation

ByMuhuddin Samaila

Mastercard Foundation is a global foundation based across four hubs in Kigali, Rwanda, Nairobi, Kenya, Accra, Ghana and Toronto, Canada. Our programs promote financial inclusion and advance education and learning in Africa, primarily for young people, and in Canada for Indigenous youth. The Foundation was established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. From inception, the Foundation was designed to be a separate entity and independent from Mastercard. Our policies, operations, and funding decisions are made by our President and Board of Directors.

The Foundation believes that youth employment is key to unlocking prosperity, both for youth and their societies. Enabling young women and men from disadvantaged communities to secure dignified and fulfilling work will ensure inclusive development and economic growth in Africa.

We are recruiting to fill the position:

Job Title: Director, Enterprise Risk

Job Requisition ID: JR-0000000523
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Job type: Full-time

The Opportunity

  • The Director Risk, Programs is responsible for leading the design, execution, and oversight of risk management activities across all programmatic activities of the Mastercard Foundation.
  • Reporting directly to the Senior Director, Risk and Resilience, the Director works closely with program teams, senior leadership, implementing partners, and other key stakeholders to ensure that program risks are proactively identified, assessed, mitigated, and monitored in alignment with the Foundation’s mission, values, and strategic goals.
  • This role requires strong collaboration across functions to embed a risk-aware culture and support effective decision-making at all levels of programming. The role holder will directly oversee and manage the Head(s) and Lead(s), Program Risks.
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Ways You Can Contribute

  • Develop and implement comprehensive risk management framework and strategies for all Foundation programs, positioning risk as a strategic enabler.
  • Communicate the Foundation’s risk appetite to stakeholders and help integrate it into decision-making processes across programs and Foundation functions.
  • Provide risk advisory services and insights to Foundation programs teams and implementing partners, offering guidance on risk identification, mitigation, and response strategies.
  • Ensure alignment of programmatic risk management practices with Foundation-wide policies and regulatory requirements.
  • Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to promote a risk-aware culture across the Foundation.
  • Prepare and present regular risk updates to senior leadership and the risk management committee, highlighting key trends and recommendations.
  • Monitor emerging risks and trends relevant to the Foundation’s programmatic work.
  • Foster a culture of risk awareness and continuous improvement through training, knowledge sharing, and sharing lessons learned across programs to support integration into other ongoing and future programs.
  • Support the Senior Director Risk & Resilience coordinate ERM activities as required across various stakeholder groups.
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing risk management team.
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Who You Are

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Risk Management, Business Administration, International Development, Public Administration, Economics, Finance, or related disciplines.
  • Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Risk Management, International Development, Public Policy, or related fields
  • Advanced professional certifications in risk management will be an added advantage.
  • Over 12 years of experience, with at least 8 years in senior leadership roles in ERM or the programs’ function/department preferably within the non-profit, philanthropic, or international development sectors.
  • Demonstrated experience leading teams and working across diverse geographic and cultural contexts.
  • Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing risk frameworks for complex, multi-country programs.
  • Experience collaborating with Senior Leadership on strategic risk management and stakeholder management skills.
  • Strong understanding of regulatory, operational, financial, and reputational risks in the context of international development.
  • Experience working in culturally diverse environments; proficiency in English required, French desired.
  • Cultural awareness and sensitivity, ensuring meaningful engagement and influence across diverse stakeholder groups.
  • Strategic and forward-thinking mindset.
  • Excellent facilitation and communication skills.
  • Strong integrity, courage, and confidence to uphold convictions even in challenging situations.
  • Ability to collaborate across the organization as well as drive capacity at the partner level.
  • Strong inter-personal skills and ability to engage with empathy and purpose.
  • Agile and adaptable to the Foundation’s strategic priorities, needs, and values.
  • Able to keep abreast of emerging issues, innovations, and trends in the development sector and risk management standards.
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Application Closing Date
11th March, 2026.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Go to Director, Enterprise Risk at Mastercard Foundation to Apply

Sama’ila Muhuddin is a dedicated Registered Nurse and humanitarian professional with over seven years of frontline experience. Since May 2018, he has served with prominent international non-governmental organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Holland, Spain, France projects and ALIMA, responding to emergencies and providing critical care in some of the most challenging humanitarian settings.

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