Chief of Staff at BFREE Africa

Are you an ambitious, driven operator with a passion for making a tangible impact in the dynamic African fintech landscape? BFREE Africa invites you to join its core leadership team as a Chief of Staff, a pivotal role designed for an individual ready to shape the future of financial health across the continent.

BFREE Africa is at the forefront of revolutionizing consumer financial health. We are building a tech-enabled, ethical credit management company committed to making collection processes in Africa more scalable, efficient, and user-friendly. Our mission is to empower individuals and foster a healthier financial ecosystem across the continent.

About the Role

The Chief of Staff position at BFREE is not merely an administrative role; it is a central operational engine, working directly alongside our founders and leadership team across every vertical of the business. This is a unique opportunity for an operator – someone who excels at identifying problems, structuring solutions, and driving initiatives to successful conclusions with minimal oversight and exceptionally high standards.

The scope of this role is deliberately broad and highly dynamic, adapting swiftly to the company's evolving strategic priorities. One week, you might be immersed in preparing critical investor materials and coordinating a comprehensive data room. The next, you could be on the ground in a new market, meticulously scoping a launch, or engaging in high-level discussions with regulators. This position offers unparalleled exposure to every dimension of a fast-growing African fintech – encompassing strategy, operations, commercial development, fundraising, and expansion – providing an accelerated growth trajectory unmatched by almost any other role at this career stage.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Partnership: Directly support the founders on key strategic priorities, adeptly structuring complex problems, building robust analyses, and ensuring seamless execution, leaving no detail unattended.
Project Ownership: Take full ownership of discrete special projects from inception to completion, which could include market entry assessments, operational deep-dives, partnership scoping, and process improvement initiatives.
Fundraising Contribution: Play an active role in fundraising efforts, developing compelling presentations and data packs, conducting investor research, coordinating logistics, and preparing comprehensive briefing notes for critical meetings.
Pan-African Expansion: Drive BFREE’s growth across Africa by conducting crucial on-the-ground research, cultivating local relationships, and actively supporting the establishment of new market operations.
Crisis Navigation: Step into challenging situations quickly when issues arise, diagnosing problems with precision, bringing immediate structure, and guiding the team efficiently through resolutions.
Stakeholder Engagement: Attend pivotal meetings with external stakeholders, including banking partners, regulators, and shareholders, ensuring you are prepared, attentive, and ready to facilitate crucial follow-through.
Executive Communication: Produce board-quality outputs, including concise memos, sharp slide decks, and structured analyses that empower leadership to make swift, well-informed decisions.
Cross-functional Alignment: Meticulously track cross-functional workstreams, proactively flag potential blockers, and ensure the entire organization remains aligned on top priorities.
Extensive Travel: Be prepared to travel regularly across the continent to support expansion efforts, stakeholder engagement, and wherever strategic work demands your presence.

Requirements

We are looking for an exceptional individual who meets the following criteria:

Professional Experience: At least 2 years of experience in a front-office role at a Tier 1 management consulting firm (such as McKinsey, BCG, Bain, or equivalent), a Tier 1 investment bank, or a Venture Capital / Private Equity firm. You possess rigorous training in structured thinking and the ability to work at an accelerated pace.
Technical Acumen: Knowledge of GenAI and prompt coding will be considered a significant advantage.
Analytical Prowess: Demonstrated strong analytical and structured thinking skills. You can dissect a complex problem, construct a clean model or framework around it, and articulate your findings with clarity.
Ownership & Follow-Through: Exhibit high ownership and exceptional follow-through. You are proactive, self-directed, and hold yourself accountable for outcomes rather than just activities.
Comfort with Ambiguity: Genuine comfort with ambiguity is essential. The brief will shift, priorities will evolve, and you must adapt effectively without losing momentum.
Professional Maturity: Possess the maturity required to engage professionally and autonomously with senior stakeholders, including founders, board members, institutional investors, and regulators.
Travel Readiness: A strong willingness to travel extensively across Sub-Saharan Africa as a regular and integral part of the role.
Language Skills: Fluency in English is mandatory. Proficiency in French, Arabic, or Swahili is a distinct advantage.
Sector Interest: A keen interest in, or an existing connection to, the African tech and financial services landscape.