Kigali, Rwanda
Program lead
at MASS Design Group
MASS Design Group is seeking a program lead to join its team in Kigali, Rwanda.
MASS Design Group is launching an ambitious, hands-on entrepreneurship and design training program that supports youth solopreneurs and SMEs in Rwanda’s furniture and creative industries, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
To ensure successful implementation, MASS is recruiting a critical full-time position: program lead to develop, run and oversee program management, coordination, and impact delivery.
This role will guide and support aspiring youth-led micro-enterprises and SMEs throughout a multi-phase, three-year program.
The program lead will play a pivotal role in designing and delivering a hands-on, interdisciplinary curriculum focused on design thinking, sustainability, product development, and entrepreneurship. This role combines leadership, instruction, mentorship, and industry insight, helping early-stage entrepreneurs in Rwanda’s creative sector gain critical knowledge and skills to scale their ventures.
Key responsibilities
The program lead will be responsible for:
- serving as the full-time program lead and manager
- overseeing multi-phase training, stakeholder relationships, and participant success
- interfacing with MASS.Made, external partners, and market access networks.
- developing curriculum modules and workshops aligned with program objectives
- delivering and facilitating training with a focus on design thinking, product development, sustainability, and entrepreneurship
- mentoring micro-enterprise participants through hands-on coaching, design reviews, and business planning
- leading in-studio workshops and on-site training at MASS.Made
- providing strategic input on access to markets, value chains, and sales channels for both micro entreprises as well as small and medium entreprises
Ideal candidate profile:
- education: bachelor’s or master’s degree in industrial design, product design, design strategy, business administration or development studies
- experience: minimum of five years’ of experience in at least two of the following areas: industrial design or product design, design instruction or curriculum development in industrial/product design, program or project management – preferably in entrepreneurship, creative industries, or development sectors, business development services (BDS) for creative enterprises
- technical expertise: proficiency in design thinking, leadership, product development, prototyping, sustainability, Rhino, AutoCAD, and Adobe. Full professional proficiency in English is required
- soft skills: demonstrated abilities in coaching, communication, problem-solving, systems thinking, and material knowledge
- bonus: familiarity with the Rwandan/African design/furniture sector, and proficiency in French or Kinyarwanda language skills.
With over 120 employees from almost a dozen countries, MASS lives our belief that only a diverse staff from widely varied cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds is properly equipped to tackle complex challenges in our communities. We aspire to create a more inclusive architecture profession and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.