Growth Lead – Institutional Partnerships, East Africa

About the role

APLYD is seeking a Growth Lead to establish and expand its institutional partnership pipeline across East Africa. You will be the first point of contact for ministries, regional bodies, multilateral agencies and development finance institutions, guiding conversations from initial outreach to signed contracts while meeting revenue targets.

Key responsibilities

• Identify, qualify and own institutional opportunities from problem definition through proposal, negotiation and contract signing.
• Decide which opportunities to pursue, ensuring alignment with APLYD’s technical capabilities and strategic goals.
• Set technical expectations, work with senior stakeholders to refine problem statements and assess AI, data and integration feasibility.
• Develop and own proposal content including scope, technical approach, timeline, risk assessment, commercial model and budget.
• Represent APLYD across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Ethiopia, traveling 40‑50% of the time.
• Build and lead the regional team, starting with an Associate, Growth.

Required profile

• Proven experience in business development or partnership management with governments, multilateral institutions or development finance organisations.
• Track record of achieving revenue targets and managing end‑to‑end sales cycles.
• Strong understanding of public‑sector AI and data‑driven service delivery.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills with senior public‑sector stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel extensively across East Africa.

Required skills

• Knowledge of AI, data analytics and system integration in public‑sector contexts.

What we offer

• Opportunity to shape APLYD’s presence in a high‑growth region.
• Revenue‑linked compensation with uncapped upside.
• Support from a global team of AI and public‑service experts.