Head of Partnerships & Growth

Worldreader gets families reading through BookSmart, an equitable, subscription-free, often data-free app that fosters reading routines with culturally representative storybooks and play-based activities for young children. Since 2010, we've delivered 80+ million digital books and reached 22+ million readers in 100 countries, giving children the pre-literacy and social-emotional skills they need to start school and succeed.

About the Role
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Head of Partnerships & Growth will lead the growth, delivery, and impact of Worldreader's digital reading products across Kenya. This role blends market growth, strategic partnerships, programme delivery, and impact leadership, ensuring more children and families can access and engage with BookSmart.

This role is ideal for a mission-driven, product-oriented leader who thrives at the intersection of innovation and social change. The successful candidate will combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution, building partnerships, identifying opportunities for growth, and engaging directly with communities and partners.

Responsibilities

Growth & Market Development

• Design and lead Kenya market strategy for BookSmart, with clear growth, impact, and sustainability targets aligned with global goals.
  
• Drive growth and engagement by identifying new opportunities, channels, partnerships, and approaches to expand BookSmart's reach.
  
• Personally lead and take part in field programmes, activations, and community events including weekends to drive engagement and reach.
  
• Create a data-informed, innovative culture, using market, user, and programme insights to inform decisions and improve impact.
  
• Ensure insights continuously shape global product direction.
  
• Lead and mentor a team, cultivating high performance and inclusivity.
  
• Champion user, partner, and market insights within the product team.
  

Leadership & Organization

• Represent Worldreader in Kenya, engaging with government and regulatory bodies.
  
• Manage operating plans and budgets, ensuring strong financial and operational stewardship.
  
• Ensure compliance with all legal and governance requirements.
  
• Recruit, develop, and inspire a talented local team.
  

Partnerships & Representation

• Build high-value partnerships across education, FMCG, health, finance, telecom, and corporate innovation sectors.
  
• Identify, develop, and grow strategic partnerships that expand BookSmart's reach, impact, and sustainability.
  
• Deepen relationships with donors, UN agencies, NGOs, government leaders, and private sector partners.
  
• Identify and pursue business development and funding opportunities aligned with Worldreader's goals.
  
• Amplify Worldreader's storytelling, engagement, and visibility across relevant stakeholder groups.
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required, Master's degree preferred, in Business Administration, Communications, Marketing, Health, or a related field.
  
• 6+ years of experience in leadership, management, business development, partnerships, growth, or programme leadership across nonprofits, social enterprise, or corporate innovation.
  
• Track record in product-led growth, partnerships, business development, or programme leadership, ideally including experience scaling a product, service, or programme.
  
• Demonstrated success in building high-impact partnerships, developing business opportunities, or raising funds.
  
• Proven experience leading teams and managing budgets or operational plans.
  
• Strong interest in technology and experience using data and insights to inform growth and decision-making.
  
• Genuine interest in early childhood development and family engagement.
  
• Comfortable working hands-on, including direct involvement in field programmes and events.
  
• Experience in digital products, technology, emerging markets, or social enterprise is an advantage
  

Worldreader gets families reading through BookSmart, an equitable, subscription-free, often data-free app that fosters reading routines with culturally representative storybooks and play-based activities for young children. Since 2010, we've delivered 80+ million digital books and reached 22+ million readers in 100 countries, giving children the pre-literacy and social-emotional skills they need to start school and succeed.

About the Role
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Head of Partnerships & Growth will lead the growth, delivery, and impact of Worldreader's digital reading products across Kenya. This role blends market growth, strategic partnerships, programme delivery, and impact leadership, ensuring more children and families can access and engage with BookSmart.

This role is ideal for a mission-driven, product-oriented leader who thrives at the intersection of innovation and social change. The successful candidate will combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution, building partnerships, identifying opportunities for growth, and engaging directly with communities and partners.

Responsibilities

Growth & Market Development

• Design and lead Kenya market strategy for BookSmart, with clear growth, impact, and sustainability targets aligned with global goals.
  
• Drive growth and engagement by identifying new opportunities, channels, partnerships, and approaches to expand BookSmart's reach.
  
• Personally lead and take part in field programmes, activations, and community events including weekends to drive engagement and reach.
  
• Create a data-informed, innovative culture, using market, user, and programme insights to inform decisions and improve impact.
  
• Ensure insights continuously shape global product direction.
  
• Lead and mentor a team, cultivating high performance and inclusivity.
  
• Champion user, partner, and market insights within the product team.
  

Leadership & Organization

• Represent Worldreader in Kenya, engaging with government and regulatory bodies.
  
• Manage operating plans and budgets, ensuring strong financial and operational stewardship.
  
• Ensure compliance with all legal and governance requirements.
  
• Recruit, develop, and inspire a talented local team.
  

Partnerships & Representation

• Build high-value partnerships across education, FMCG, health, finance, telecom, and corporate innovation sectors.
  
• Identify, develop, and grow strategic partnerships that expand BookSmart's reach, impact, and sustainability.
  
• Deepen relationships with donors, UN agencies, NGOs, government leaders, and private sector partners.
  
• Identify and pursue business development and funding opportunities aligned with Worldreader's goals.
  
• Amplify Worldreader's storytelling, engagement, and visibility across relevant stakeholder groups.
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required, Master's degree preferred, in Business Administration, Communications, Marketing, Health, or a related field.
  
• 6+ years of experience in leadership, management, business development, partnerships, growth, or programme leadership across nonprofits, social enterprise, or corporate innovation.
  
• Track record in product-led growth, partnerships, business development, or programme leadership, ideally including experience scaling a product, service, or programme.
  
• Demonstrated success in building high-impact partnerships, developing business opportunities, or raising funds.
  
• Proven experience leading teams and managing budgets or operational plans.
  
• Strong interest in technology and experience using data and insights to inform growth and decision-making.
  
• Genuine interest in early childhood development and family engagement.
  
• Comfortable working hands-on, including direct involvement in field programmes and events.
  
• Experience in digital products, technology, emerging markets, or social enterprise is an advantage