Location: Nairobi, Kenya, with regional travel and virtual engagement across Africa
Department/Programme: Inclusive Africa Program (IAP)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Level: Middle Level
Reports to: Programs Director
Direct Reports: Convening Lead and other staff supporting the Inclusive Africa Convening (IAC)
1. Position Purpose
The Partnerships Manager will serve as the primary partnerships builder for the Inclusive Africa Program (IAP) and the Inclusive Africa Conference (IAC), identifying, cultivating and bringing on board critical private-sector, corporate, public-sector, philanthropic, technical and civil-society partners required for their success. The role will lead strategic private-sector engagement by positioning IAP and IAC as platforms through which companies, industry associations, employers, financial institutions, technology firms and investors can advance disability inclusion, inclusive employment, accessible financial services, assistive technology, inclusive education, and digital accessibility. The role will ensure that private-sector actors understand and act on their critical role in making digital products, services, platforms, workplaces, financial channels, learning environments and public-facing technologies accessible across all IAP themes. The role will translate strategic relationships into visible and measurable commitments; connect partners to year-round stakeholder engagement and Working Group implementation; and ensure that the IAC functions as a high-impact convening platform that advances IAP priorities, partner commitments and inclusive disability outcomes across Africa.
2 Key ResponsibilitiesA. Partnership Strategy and Portfolio Management
·    Develop and implement an integrated IAP and IAC partnership and stakeholder strategy.
·    Identify & prioritise partners based on strategic fit, inclusion, safeguarding, value, sustainability, reputation and implementation capacity.
·    Maintain a complete CRM covering leads, engagement history, due diligence, agreements, commitments, deliverables, risks and renewals.
·    Prepare tailored partnership briefs, value propositions, concept notes, investment cases and engagement materials.
B. Private Sector Engagement and Strategic Growth
·    Secure co-funding, sponsorship, in-kind support, technical assistance, policy support, placements and long-term partnerships for IAP and IAC.
·    Coordinate proposals and negotiations with programme, finance, communications and leadership teams, ensuring realistic deliverables, budgets and compliance.
·    Diversify funding and sustain programme outcomes beyond grant period.
·    Monitor partnership related income and in-kind contributions against targets and support forecasting and reporting.
·    Position IAP and IAC as platforms for ESG, inclusive employment, accessible finance, assistive technology, education and digital transformation.
·    Develop and manage a structured private-sector engagement approach for sponsorships, employment, innovation and procurement, and market-shaping commitments.
·    Engage partners to adopt and champion digital accessibility across products, services, platforms, recruitment, customer channels, workplaces and supply chains.
·    Manage partner communication, governance, escalation and reviews, providing agreed updates, evidence and recognition.
C. Stakeholder Engagement and Ecosystem Implementation
·    Link strategic partners to relevant Working Groups, IAC sessions, policy opportunities and post-conference commitments.
·    Strengthen participation and follow-through across IAP Working Groups.
·    Build employer relationships supporting internships, placements, work-readiness, inclusive hiring and reasonable accommodation for young persons with disabilities.
·    Engage institutions, regulators, OPDs, universities, media and innovation hubs to support programme adoption.
·    Mobilise private-sector actors as solution partners, employers, sponsors, market-access partners, accessibility champions and advocates for disability-inclusive business.
·    Convert participation into accessible recruitment, finance, procurement, customer experience, standards and assistive-technology commitments.
·    Align IAC relationships, resolutions and commitments with year-round Working Group action plans and measurable institutional outcomes.
D. Inclusive Africa Conference Planning and Convening
·    Oversee IAC planning, partnership architecture and convening processes in line with IAP strategy, stakeholder commitments and Working Group priorities.
·    Coordinate sponsorships, sessions, speakers, exhibitions, accessibility and follow-up across internal teams.
·    Mobilise corporate, public-sector, employer, technology, financial, OPD and development-partner participation.
·    Document IAC outcomes, convert them into partner commitments and incorporate them into Working Group plans and stakeholder calendars.
E. Reporting, Risk and Team Contribution
·    Identify partnership risks, facilitate resolution and escalate material issues to the Programs Director.
·    Produce dashboards, pipeline forecasts, commitment trackers, briefing notes and contributions to donor and governance reports.
·    Ensure agreements address accessibility, safeguarding, data protection, anti-fraud, conflicts of interest and reputational risk.
·    Contribute to programme planning, budgeting, learning and risk management, and supervise assigned consultants or support staff.
·    Represent inABLE professionally at high-level meetings, conferences and sector platforms as delegated.
3. Education and Professional Qualifications
·    Master’s degree in a relevant field. A strong bachelor’s degree with substantial relevant experience may be considered.
·    Professional training in partnership management, fundraising, grant management, negotiation, project management or ESG/CSR is desirable.
·    Training in disability inclusion, safeguarding, gender equality or accessible communications is an advantage.
4. Required Experience
·    8-10 years of progressive experience in strategic partnerships, business development, fundraising, donor relations, sponsorship or ecosystem development.
·    Experience securing and managing cross-sector partnerships and senior-level relationships.
·    Proven experience negotiating agreements, developing proposals or investment cases, and managing partner commitments and deliverables.
·    Experience designing ESG, CSR, accessibility, market-access or shared-value propositions.
·    Private-sector experience in digital accessibility, inclusive technology, accessible finance or employment systems is strongly desirable.
·    Regional programmes, major convenings or disability-inclusion experience is strongly desirable.
·    Experience working with OPDs, youth-led organisations and persons with disabilities is an advantage.
6. Technical Knowledge and Skills
·    Partnership strategy and pipeline management
·    Resource mobilisation, sponsorship and proposal development
·    Private-sector engagement, corporate partnerships and shared-value design
·    Positioning digital accessibility as a business, compliance, innovation, market-access and inclusion priority
·    Negotiation, contracting, due diligence and relationship governance
·    CRM management, forecasting and partnership analytics
·    Commercial judgement aligned with development-sector values
·    Understanding of disability-inclusive education, employment, digital accessibility or youth livelihoods
·    Excellent writing, presentation, facilitation and executive-engagement skills
·    Budget literacy, risk management and donor-compliance awareness
7. Behavioural Competencies
·    Strategic and entrepreneurial thinking
·    Relationship building and diplomacy
·    Integrity and accountability
·    Results orientation and disciplined follow-through
·    Cross-functional collaboration
·    Respect for lived experience and youth leadership
·    Cultural intelligence across African contexts
·    Adaptability and sound judgement under pressure
Safeguarding & inclusion
inABLE has zero tolerance for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. All offers are subject to background checks and adherence to PSEA and Child/Adult Safeguarding policies. inABLE is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Women and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Job application and guidelines
Interested candidates should submit their cover letter, detailed CV, expected salary, to: careers@inable.org
Application Deadline: 15th October, 2026
Note: Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Early applications are encouraged.