Strategy & Program Design Consultant (SME & Enterprise Development)
Strategy & Program Design Consultant (SME & Enterprise Development)
Department: Strategy
Employment Type: Contract / Temp
Location: Africa
Description
Allied Talent Partners (ATP), a Three Cairns Group initiative, is a mission-driven, not-for-profit talent marketplace focused on solving the human capital bottlenecks slowing down sustainable development efforts in emerging economies, with an initial focus on Africa. ATP connects vetted, experienced, context-relevant professionals to high-impact opportunities in energy access and sustainable development – strengthening local capacity and fuelling economic vitality. We specialize in fixed-term, deliverable-driven engagements – from interim leadership and generalist projects to niche technical expertise – handling project scoping, talent vetting and matching, contracting, payroll, and compliance so that our clients can focus on impact.
High-Level Overview
The client is seeking a Strategy Associate to provide flexible strategy capacity across program design and impact reporting for SME development initiatives. The role will support increasingly complex enterprise and supplier development engagements where clients require more rigorous program design, commercial logic, and measurable impact outcomes. The ideal candidate will bring strong strategy capability, experience operating within SME support environments, and the ability to independently produce compelling client-ready concepts, proposals, and reporting materials with minimal oversight.
Role and Responsibilities
Role: Strategy & Program Design Consultant (SME & Enterprise Development)
Direct Report: TBC
Candidates Required: 1
Key Deliverables:
Lead end-to-end design of SME development programs in response to client briefs
Translate client objectives, constraints, and funding structures into clear program logic
Identify target sectors, SME segments, and key growth barriers
Define program architecture (cohort design, support model, funding allocation)
Develop implementation plans outlining delivery approach, timelines, and key activities
Embed performance measurement frameworks, including KPIs (revenue, profitability, job creation) and data collection mechanisms
Develop client-ready proposals and thought pieces that clearly articulate the program design, rationale, and expected impact
Produce end-of-program impact reports and strategic narratives
Synthesize program results into clear, compelling outputs for client reporting
Position outcomes to support follow-on funding and long-term client engagement
Requirements
Experience Required:
Prior strategy consulting, advisory, or program design experience, ideally within SME development, enterprise and supplier development, economic inclusion, or broader development-focused environments
Demonstrated experience designing commercially and operationally viable programs, initiatives, or strategic interventions within constrained or complex operating environments
Experience developing high-quality client-facing outputs, including proposals, presentations, concept papers, strategic narratives, and impact reports
Exposure to South African B-BBEE, enterprise and supplier development, or client-funded SME support initiatives, with sufficient understanding of the ecosystem to contribute credibly from the outset
Experience translating research, stakeholder engagement, and quantitative or qualitative insights into practical recommendations and actionable program approaches
Proven ability to operate independently in project-based or consulting environments, managing ambiguous briefs and delivering near client-ready outputs with minimal oversight
Technical Requirements:
Strong structured problem-solving capability, with the ability to translate ambiguous client needs into clear strategic frameworks, workstreams, and deliverables
Ability to design commercially and operationally realistic SME support programs within client, funding, and ecosystem constraints
Strong strategic and analytical judgment, including the ability to synthesize complex information and position recommendations credibly and persuasively
Ability to develop new concepts, program models, and client propositions that are both practical and commercially compelling
Advanced presentation and communication capability, including the ability to create polished slide decks, concept documents, and strategic materials from scratch
Ability to ramp up quickly on new client contexts, sector dynamics, and program requirements while operating with minimal supervision
Strong understanding of impact measurement principles, including how to structure and communicate program outcomes in a way that supports stakeholder engagement and future funding opportunities
Other Skills:
Working Arrangement
Location: Remote
Travel: Periodic travel as required for client meetings, workshops, or program activities.
Terms of agreement:
Start Date: TBD
Contracting Period:
Initial engagement expected to focus on a strategic project engagement (including pricing model design and an initial program design engagement) of approximately 6 weeks, with the potential for ongoing project-based support across an anticipated pipeline of additional program design work (intermittent and project-based) over the following 6 months.
Apply To This Job
Department: Strategy
Employment Type: Contract / Temp
Location: Africa
Description
Allied Talent Partners (ATP), a Three Cairns Group initiative, is a mission-driven, not-for-profit talent marketplace focused on solving the human capital bottlenecks slowing down sustainable development efforts in emerging economies, with an initial focus on Africa. ATP connects vetted, experienced, context-relevant professionals to high-impact opportunities in energy access and sustainable development – strengthening local capacity and fuelling economic vitality. We specialize in fixed-term, deliverable-driven engagements – from interim leadership and generalist projects to niche technical expertise – handling project scoping, talent vetting and matching, contracting, payroll, and compliance so that our clients can focus on impact.
High-Level Overview
The client is seeking a Strategy Associate to provide flexible strategy capacity across program design and impact reporting for SME development initiatives. The role will support increasingly complex enterprise and supplier development engagements where clients require more rigorous program design, commercial logic, and measurable impact outcomes. The ideal candidate will bring strong strategy capability, experience operating within SME support environments, and the ability to independently produce compelling client-ready concepts, proposals, and reporting materials with minimal oversight.
Role and Responsibilities
Role: Strategy & Program Design Consultant (SME & Enterprise Development)
Direct Report: TBC
Candidates Required: 1
Key Deliverables:
Lead end-to-end design of SME development programs in response to client briefs
Translate client objectives, constraints, and funding structures into clear program logic
Identify target sectors, SME segments, and key growth barriers
Define program architecture (cohort design, support model, funding allocation)
Develop implementation plans outlining delivery approach, timelines, and key activities
Embed performance measurement frameworks, including KPIs (revenue, profitability, job creation) and data collection mechanisms
Develop client-ready proposals and thought pieces that clearly articulate the program design, rationale, and expected impact
Produce end-of-program impact reports and strategic narratives
Synthesize program results into clear, compelling outputs for client reporting
Position outcomes to support follow-on funding and long-term client engagement
Requirements
Experience Required:
Prior strategy consulting, advisory, or program design experience, ideally within SME development, enterprise and supplier development, economic inclusion, or broader development-focused environments
Demonstrated experience designing commercially and operationally viable programs, initiatives, or strategic interventions within constrained or complex operating environments
Experience developing high-quality client-facing outputs, including proposals, presentations, concept papers, strategic narratives, and impact reports
Exposure to South African B-BBEE, enterprise and supplier development, or client-funded SME support initiatives, with sufficient understanding of the ecosystem to contribute credibly from the outset
Experience translating research, stakeholder engagement, and quantitative or qualitative insights into practical recommendations and actionable program approaches
Proven ability to operate independently in project-based or consulting environments, managing ambiguous briefs and delivering near client-ready outputs with minimal oversight
Technical Requirements:
Strong structured problem-solving capability, with the ability to translate ambiguous client needs into clear strategic frameworks, workstreams, and deliverables
Ability to design commercially and operationally realistic SME support programs within client, funding, and ecosystem constraints
Strong strategic and analytical judgment, including the ability to synthesize complex information and position recommendations credibly and persuasively
Ability to develop new concepts, program models, and client propositions that are both practical and commercially compelling
Advanced presentation and communication capability, including the ability to create polished slide decks, concept documents, and strategic materials from scratch
Ability to ramp up quickly on new client contexts, sector dynamics, and program requirements while operating with minimal supervision
Strong understanding of impact measurement principles, including how to structure and communicate program outcomes in a way that supports stakeholder engagement and future funding opportunities
Other Skills:
Working Arrangement
Location: Remote
Travel: Periodic travel as required for client meetings, workshops, or program activities.
Terms of agreement:
Start Date: TBD
Contracting Period:
Initial engagement expected to focus on a strategic project engagement (including pricing model design and an initial program design engagement) of approximately 6 weeks, with the potential for ongoing project-based support across an anticipated pipeline of additional program design work (intermittent and project-based) over the following 6 months.
Apply To This Job