Freelance Innovation Manager 9mo contract at Brink

🌍 𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 (𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡/𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡) 🌍

9‑month freelance contract (0.5–1 FTE) – ideally based in Rwanda or Sub‑Saharan Africa

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐞: 781,000 - 977,000 RWF per day or £400-500 per day

In a world of shrinking aid budgets, what business models can sustain new ideas in sectors such as education, climate, health and agriculture? What does it take to design and run great experiments, to learn what works with speed and rigour?

At Brink, we’re tackling these kinds of questions head on and, as part of that, we’re looking for a bilingual Innovation Manager to help guide African tech ventures from early success to sustainable scale.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞:

• Be the innovation coach behind two key programmes, supporting teams working on cutting edge solutions
• Help ventures design and run fast, rigorous experiments; test and validate innovations with users; and build growth-ready business models
• Coach teams with deep listening and practical questions; roll up your sleeves on data analysis or financial modelling when needed

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠:

• A master’s degree + at least 7 years experience, ideally in experimentation, action research or business modelling
• Expertise in methodologies like A/B testing, Lean Startup/Impact, design thinking, qualitative analysis and behavioural insight
• Hands-on experience with business models, including basic financial metrics
• Bilingual fluency in English and French; ideally based in Rwanda, or elsewhere in sub-saharan Africa
• Strong facilitation, clear communication, and a low-ego, collaborative style
• Curiosity, adaptability, and the ability to build trust and guide ventures through uncertainty

𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬: Contract: 9 months (with potential to extend) Rate: 781,000 - 977,000 RWF per day or £400-500 per day Time: 0.5 - 1 FTE Location: Ideally Rwanda or or elsewhere in sub-saharan Africa Start date: 18 August 2025