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Partnerships & Private Sector Engagement Manager at inABLE
inABLE
October 5, 2026
Full-time
On-site
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.
Key Responsibilities
Partnership Strategy and Portfolio Management
Develop and implement an integrated partnership, stakeholder, and market-engagement strategy for IAP and IAC.
Map, segment and prioritize corporate and cross-sector prospects based on strategic fit, value, sustainability, inclusion, and implementation capacity.
Build and manage a qualified partnership pipeline and CRM covering engagement, due diligence, agreements, commitments, risks and renewals.
Develop tailored value propositions, partnership briefs, concept notes, investment cases and engagement campaigns.
Private Sector Engagement and Strategic Growth
Convene and engage stakeholders across Africa, including the private sector, governments, civil society, development partners and organizations of persons with disabilities, to exchange knowledge and lessons, build strategic partnerships and advance shared commitments to digital accessibility and disability inclusion.
Engage partners to adopt and champion digital accessibility across products, services, platforms, recruitment, customer channels, workplaces and supply chains.
Lead targeted outreach, pitches and negotiations, positioning IAP and IAC around clear business value, including ESG, talent, customer access and innovation.
Secure corporate partnerships, sponsorships, co-funding, in-kind support, technical assistance, and long-term strategic commitments.
Develop and manage a structured private sector, government, regulators, and financial institutions engagement approach for employment, innovation, procurement and market-shaping commitments.
Track partnership income, in-kind contributions, conversion, retention, and agreed deliverables against targets.
Stakeholder Engagement and Ecosystem Implementation
Connect partners to Working Groups, IAC sessions, policy opportunities, pilots and year-round implementation pathways.
Mobilize private sector companies as employers, supporters, market-access partners, accessibility champions and advocates for disability-inclusive businesses.
Build employer relationships that expand internships, work readiness, inclusive hiring and reasonable accommodation for young persons with disabilities.
Engage government, regulators, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), universities, development partners, media and innovation hubs to strengthen programme adoption.
Convert stakeholders' participation into measurable commitments across recruitment, procurement, finance, customer experience, standards and assistive technology.
Inclusive Africa Conference Planning and Convening
Lead IAC partnership strategy, audience development and convening processes in line with IAP priorities.
Mobilise corporate, private & public-sector, technology, financial and development-partner participation.
Lead sponsorships, partner activations, sessions, speakers, exhibitions and follow-up across internal teams.
Translate conference outcomes into partner commitments, Working Group actions and stakeholder engagement calendars.
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 staff.
Represent inABLE professionally at high-level meetings, conferences and sector platforms as delegated.
Education and Professional Qualifications
Must have a master's degree in marketing. A strong bachelor's degree with substantial relevant experience in marketing may be considered.
Professional certification or training in marketing, brand management, business development, partnerships, or sales is an advantage.
Training in disability inclusion, safeguarding, and gender equality is an advantage.
Required Experience
8 - 10 years of progressive experience in private-sector marketing, corporate partnerships, business development, sponsorship, sales or strategic engagement.
Demonstrated success developing market-facing propositions and securing high-value corporate or cross-sector partnerships.
Experience managing senior relationships, pitches, negotiations, agreements, and partner deliverables.
Experience designing ESG, CSR, shared-value, brand, customer, market-access or inclusion initiatives.
Regional programmes, coordination of major convenings, digital accessibility or disability-inclusion experience is desirable.
Technical Knowledge and Skills
Private sector engagement, corporate partnerships, brand positioning, and shared value design.
Partnership strategy, resource mobilization, sponsorship, proposal development, and pipeline management.
Value-proposition design, pitching, negotiation, contracting, due diligence, and relationship governance.
CRM management, forecasting, partnership analytics, budgeting, risk management, and compliance.
Digital accessibility and disability-inclusive employment, education and livelihoods, supported by strong writing, presentation, facilitation and executive engagement skills.
Behavioral Competencies
Strategic, commercial and entrepreneurial thinking
Relationship building, influence and diplomacy
Results orientation, accountability and disciplined follow-through
Cross-functional collaboration and respect for lived experience
Cultural intelligence, adaptability and sound judgement
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.
Key Responsibilities
Partnership Strategy and Portfolio Management
Develop and implement an integrated partnership, stakeholder, and market-engagement strategy for IAP and IAC.
Map, segment and prioritize corporate and cross-sector prospects based on strategic fit, value, sustainability, inclusion, and implementation capacity.
Build and manage a qualified partnership pipeline and CRM covering engagement, due diligence, agreements, commitments, risks and renewals.
Develop tailored value propositions, partnership briefs, concept notes, investment cases and engagement campaigns.
Private Sector Engagement and Strategic Growth
Convene and engage stakeholders across Africa, including the private sector, governments, civil society, development partners and organizations of persons with disabilities, to exchange knowledge and lessons, build strategic partnerships and advance shared commitments to digital accessibility and disability inclusion.
Engage partners to adopt and champion digital accessibility across products, services, platforms, recruitment, customer channels, workplaces and supply chains.
Lead targeted outreach, pitches and negotiations, positioning IAP and IAC around clear business value, including ESG, talent, customer access and innovation.
Secure corporate partnerships, sponsorships, co-funding, in-kind support, technical assistance, and long-term strategic commitments.
Develop and manage a structured private sector, government, regulators, and financial institutions engagement approach for employment, innovation, procurement and market-shaping commitments.
Track partnership income, in-kind contributions, conversion, retention, and agreed deliverables against targets.
Stakeholder Engagement and Ecosystem Implementation
Connect partners to Working Groups, IAC sessions, policy opportunities, pilots and year-round implementation pathways.
Mobilize private sector companies as employers, supporters, market-access partners, accessibility champions and advocates for disability-inclusive businesses.
Build employer relationships that expand internships, work readiness, inclusive hiring and reasonable accommodation for young persons with disabilities.
Engage government, regulators, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), universities, development partners, media and innovation hubs to strengthen programme adoption.
Convert stakeholders' participation into measurable commitments across recruitment, procurement, finance, customer experience, standards and assistive technology.
Inclusive Africa Conference Planning and Convening
Lead IAC partnership strategy, audience development and convening processes in line with IAP priorities.
Mobilise corporate, private & public-sector, technology, financial and development-partner participation.
Lead sponsorships, partner activations, sessions, speakers, exhibitions and follow-up across internal teams.
Translate conference outcomes into partner commitments, Working Group actions and stakeholder engagement calendars.
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 staff.
Represent inABLE professionally at high-level meetings, conferences and sector platforms as delegated.
Education and Professional Qualifications
Must have a master's degree in marketing. A strong bachelor's degree with substantial relevant experience in marketing may be considered.
Professional certification or training in marketing, brand management, business development, partnerships, or sales is an advantage.
Training in disability inclusion, safeguarding, and gender equality is an advantage.
Required Experience
8 - 10 years of progressive experience in private-sector marketing, corporate partnerships, business development, sponsorship, sales or strategic engagement.
Demonstrated success developing market-facing propositions and securing high-value corporate or cross-sector partnerships.
Experience managing senior relationships, pitches, negotiations, agreements, and partner deliverables.
Experience designing ESG, CSR, shared-value, brand, customer, market-access or inclusion initiatives.
Regional programmes, coordination of major convenings, digital accessibility or disability-inclusion experience is desirable.
Technical Knowledge and Skills
Private sector engagement, corporate partnerships, brand positioning, and shared value design.
Partnership strategy, resource mobilization, sponsorship, proposal development, and pipeline management.
Value-proposition design, pitching, negotiation, contracting, due diligence, and relationship governance.
CRM management, forecasting, partnership analytics, budgeting, risk management, and compliance.
Digital accessibility and disability-inclusive employment, education and livelihoods, supported by strong writing, presentation, facilitation and executive engagement skills.
Behavioral Competencies
Strategic, commercial and entrepreneurial thinking
Relationship building, influence and diplomacy
Results orientation, accountability and disciplined follow-through
Cross-functional collaboration and respect for lived experience
Cultural intelligence, adaptability and sound judgement