About the Role
Rise Networks is seeking a proactive, strategic, and relationship-oriented Partnerships & Community Organisation Specialist to develop strategic partnerships, build and manage stakeholder relationships, and strengthen communities around our AI, technology, education, and social-impact initiatives.
The successful candidate will identify partnership opportunities, engage relevant organisations and individuals, coordinate community activities, support partnership development, and build sustainable networks that advance Rise Networks’ mission and programmes.
Key Responsibilities
Partnerships Development & Management:
Identify, research, and engage potential partners, including technology companies, government institutions, universities, development organisations, NGOs, foundations, startups, and private-sector organisations.
Develop and maintain strategic relationships that support Rise Networks’ programmes, projects, and organisational objectives.
Prepare partnership proposals, concept notes, collaboration frameworks, presentations, and engagement documents.
Support the negotiation and coordination of partnership agreements, memoranda of understanding (MoUs), and other collaboration arrangements.
Maintain a database of existing and prospective partners, including contact information, engagement history, opportunities, and follow-up actions.
Coordinate partner meetings, consultations, networking sessions, and stakeholder engagements.
Monitor partnership deliverables and ensure agreed commitments are followed through.
Identify opportunities for sponsorships, grants, joint programmes, funding, and resource mobilisation.
Community Organisation & Engagement:
Build, grow, and manage communities around Rise Networks’ AI, technology, innovation, education, and development programmes.
Develop community engagement strategies to attract and retain participants, innovators, students, professionals, developers, and other stakeholders.
Coordinate community events, meetups, workshops, webinars, networking sessions, and learning activities.
Establish effective communication channels to encourage participation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
Support the development of online and offline communities, including professional networks, alumni groups, innovation communities, and programme-specific groups.
Encourage active participation, collaboration, and peer learning among community members.
Gather community feedback and identify opportunities to improve engagement and programme delivery.
Develop initiatives that promote inclusion, accessibility, and meaningful participation.
Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Management:
Build relationships with public- and private-sector stakeholders, funders, programme beneficiaries, industry leaders, and ecosystem organisations.
Represent Rise Networks professionally at meetings, conferences, workshops, and other external engagements.
Coordinate stakeholder consultations and collaborative activities.
Maintain regular communication with partners and community members.
Identify opportunities for cross-sector collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Programme Support & Collaboration:
Work closely with programme, research, communications, technical, and operations teams to identify partnership and community engagement needs.
Support the planning and execution of programmes, hackathons, AI literacy initiatives, training sessions, innovation challenges, and ecosystem events.
Mobilise participants, speakers, mentors, facilitators, volunteers, and partner organisations for programme activities.
Support the development of partnership-led projects and collaborative initiatives.
Track participation, partnership contributions, engagement outcomes, and programme impact.
Reporting, Monitoring & Evaluation:
Develop regular reports on partnership activities, community growth, stakeholder engagement, and outcomes.
Maintain accurate records of partnership discussions, commitments, meetings, and deliverables.
Track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to partnership development and community engagement.
Monitor emerging trends, stakeholder needs, and collaboration opportunities within the AI and technology ecosystem.
Document lessons learned and recommend improvements to partnership and community engagement strategies.
Qualifications & Experience
3–5 years of relevant experience in partnerships, community management, stakeholder engagement, business development, ecosystem development, or programme coordination.
Demonstrable experience building and maintaining professional relationships with organisations, communities, or institutional stakeholders.
Experience developing proposals, partnership documents, presentations, and reports.
Strong understanding of community engagement strategies, networking, and relationship management.
Experience working within technology, AI, education, innovation, development, nonprofit, or social-impact organisations is an advantage.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace.
Familiarity with CRM systems, community platforms, email marketing tools, and project management applications is an advantage.
Experience coordinating events, workshops, stakeholder meetings, or community activities is desirable.
Key Competencies:
Strategic partnership development
Community building and engagement
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Relationship management and networking
Stakeholder coordination
Negotiation and persuasion
Proposal writing and presentation
Project coordination and execution
Research and opportunity identification
Organisation and attention to detail
Problem-solving and critical thinking
Data management, reporting, and documentation
Initiative, accountability, and professionalism
Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Passion for AI, technology, innovation, education, and social impact.