Program Manager - Digital Policy and Innovations

Job Announcement

Program Manager - Digital Policy and Innovations

Role and Purpose

ACET is seeking to recruit a Program Manager-Digital Policy and Innovations (Digital and Innovation Policy, Infrastructure and Investment, Green Industrial Innovation and Global Financial Architecture Reform). Working with the Director, the position holder will lead the implementation of ACET's initiatives across the various programs to support Africa's economic transformation.

About ACET

The African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) is a Pan-African economic policy institute supporting Africa's long-term growth through transformation. We work directly with African governments, businesses, and civil society—within countries and across borders—to remove policy barriers to sustainable, inclusive development.

We are headquartered in Accra, Ghana but boast of a diverse staff based across several continents. We are proud to be African led but globally connected, drawing on the expertise of our staff and partners to produce research, offer policy advice, and amplify Africa's voice through high-profile events, advocacy, and engagements. We work in collaboration toward the shared mission of delivering economic transformation that improves livelihoods for all Africans.

Learn more at www.acetforafrica.org.

Job Title

Program Manager- Digital Policy and Innovations

Reporting Line

Director of Digital Policy and Innovations

Location

Accra or Remote

Job Summary

The Program Manager Lead will drive implementation on ACET's work on a broad range of programs to include innovation and digital policy, infrastructure and investment, green industrial transformation and global financial architecture reform – all to support Africa's economic transformation. S/he will lead these programs under the direction of the Director and in support of project teams.

The Department prides itself on being at the frontier of the development agenda, often leading programs that have never been undertaken anywhere on the globe. It is also a diverse team across multiple continents and many disciplines that is agile while also focusing on world class quality. The Program Manager will be someone who likes to work hard, but also have fun and is deeply committed to Africa's economic transformation.

Roles and Responsibilities

While the Director is ultimately responsible for the team, deliverables, strategy, partnerships and corporate, the Program Manager will support the Director in these areas.

Coordinating Delivery

• Responsible for coordinating delivery across numerous teams and themes to ensure timeliness and world-class quality. This will include managing staff and overseeing work programs, timelines, drafts, convenings, inputs and deliverables.
• Expected to have a bird's eye view of all programs and work closely with project leads and technical coordinators to always know the status of activities.

Strategy and Partnerships

• Play a central role in developing and refining ACET's strategies and approaches across program areas, including emerging themes, while contributing to departmental and corporate brainstorming with thoughtful strategic inputs.

• Play a critical role in managing partner relations across a wide breadth of organizations from international financial institutions and the United Nations to African policy institutes and government counterparts.

Resource Mobilization

• Deeply involved in resource mobilization to raise funds for things that have never been done before or are not usually undertaken by African policy institutes. This includes working closely with the ACET Partnerships team in scanning and identifying opportunities, engaging prospective donors – or networks that lead to donors, writing proposals and presenting funding ideas.

Effective Teamwork

• Support the Director in ensuring a strong sense of team, effective collaboration, a positive culture of information sharing, early identification of teamwork challenges and staff wellbeing.

Corporate Stewardship

• Collaborate with Operational unit heads to oversee work programming, staff time allocation, procurement/consultant management, internal monitoring and evaluation, budget management, communications, corporate and partner reporting (Board updates/donor reports).

Project Implementation/Support

• Expected to have technical expertise in at least one of the pillars in the department. This will include encouraging innovation/ new approaches, and ensuring that ACET's work reflects world class thinking.
• Lead or support at least one technical project which might include writing a policy brief or organizing a policy dialogue.

Representation

• Represent ACET/ Director in a wide range of events and fora, both in-person and virtually.

Communication and Publications

• Contribute to articles, blogs, policy notes and papers for publications by ACET and its partners.
• Responsible for ensuing Departmental portions of the ACET website are updated regularly with events, reports, blogs, etc.
• Maintain an active presence on social media, promoting the Department's activities.

Any other duties that may be assigned from time to time in support of ACET's mission

The Talented Individual

Education/Experience

• PhD or Master's degree in Economics, Development Studies, Business, Technology, Life Sciences, Engineering, Finance or related fields.
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant post masters experience conducting policy oriented applied research
• Strong understanding of, and experience working in, African contexts
• Previous experience working on at least one of the pillars of the department (global finance, green industrialization, digital and innovation policy, infrastructure and investment)
• Proven experience managing portfolios and programs across a diverse set of themes with multiple teams.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Strong organizational and delivery skills in a fast-paced environment with multiple projects, themes and teams with a focus on timeliness and excellence.
• Ability to thrive with heavy workloads, working across time zones, and multi-tasking many simultaneous deliverables.
• Outstanding teamwork and proven track record of effective people and team management
• Proven skills in research and analysis.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. French, Arabic, or Portuguese language would be an asset.
• Experience writing proposals, reports to donors/others, and summarizing events/convenings.
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to synthesize complex information in written papers, reports, and presentations.

Personal

• Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise and communicate effectively with colleagues, partners and government officials at all levels and from different cultures.
• Intellectually curious.
• Strong competence in development economics.
• Ability to travel within the continent and internationally.
• Ability to handle technical, strategic and administrative tasks seamlessly.
• Ability to work, as needed, outside of normal office hours and a proven track record of working effectively with remote-based teams.

ACET Values

ACET strives to ensure an equitable and merit-based workplace. We promote ongoing employee development to strengthen staff capacity and further professional goals. We operate around five core values:

• Pioneering: We try to push the envelope in the spirit of being a think and do tank.
• Respect: We believe that in respecting each other, we will grow together.
• Integrity: We are transparent and accountable in our actions.
• Collaboration: We believe our best results are achieved by working well together.
• Excellence: We aspire to the highest level of critical thinking to solve difficult problems.

WORKING AT ACET

ACET is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to inclusion and diversity in the workplace. We have a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination and harassments of any kind. We draw from a highly diversified pan-African and global talent base. We are committed to ensuring that employees are remunerated, recruited, and developed based on skills and suitability for the work performed.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested applicants should email their CV and an accompanying Cover Letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the position via this LINK. The closing date for the receipt of applications is Thursday, 2nd April, 2026. Interviews will be held either virtually or in-person if the candidate is based in Ghana. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply!

Kindly note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.