INNOVATION CENTER YIRI PROGRAM OFFICER M/F

	INNOVATION CENTER YIRI PROGRAM OFFICER M/F

General informations

    ASCENS SERVICES is a company specialized in IT services, in particular the integration, deployment and support of software solutions and in the management of the technical infrastructures of the system information.

       It is a subsidiary of the AFRICA GLOBAL LOGISTICS (AGL) group, the leading integrated logistics network in Africa, present in 49 countries. Our group is a specialist in multimodal transport, offering logistics, port, maritime and rail solution. 

Job description

Mission description

COMPANY OVERVIEW:
Africa Global Logistics (AGL) is the leading multimodal logistics operator in Africa, covering port, logistics, maritime and rail activities. Now part of the MSC Group - a global leader in maritime and logistics - AGL combines over a century of expertise with a strong presence in 49 countries and a team of more than 23,000 employees. We deliver innovative, tailor-made logistics solutions to African and international customers, with the ambition of driving sustainable transformation across the continent. Beyond Africa, AGL also operates in Haiti, Timor-Leste, and Indonesia.

The MIS/IT Department (ASCENS) supports AGL's 250 subsidiaries from hubs in Paris, Abidjan, Johannesburg, and Kigali, ensuring the effective use, management, and continuous evolution of the Group's digital tools.

As part of our innovation drive, ASCENS launched its first Innovation Center - YIRI in Abidjan, a collaborative space dedicated to digital transformation and partnerships with internal teams, technology providers, universities and start-ups. Building on this success, a second Innovation Center will soon open in Kigali, aiming to become a hub for open innovation in East Africa, stimulating creativity, accelerating projects and strengthening regional synergies.

Established in 2025, the Kigali Shared Service Center (KSSC), which includes ASCENS as its dedicated MIS/IT department, is entering a strategic growth phase. To support this expansion and deliver high-value digital services across the AGL network, we are recruiting talented professionals to join our dynamic team. KSSC plays a key role in MIS activities through standardized service delivery, operational excellence, and strong cross-site collaboration.

Do you want to grow in a truly international environment and contribute to a company that places Africa at the heart of its mission?

Join KSSC and be part of the team shaping the future of logistics in Africa!

 

Profile

JOB FUNCTION & KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
As the Program Officer for the Yiri Innovation Center, your main mission will be to coordinate the center's various programs in support of the innovation center responsible. Your experience in innovation processes and programs will assist you in managing the different activities related to the Yiri Innovation Center.

Program Management and Support:

Contribute to the design of support programs: objectives, needs, deliverables, journey, toolkit, etc.

Analyze the specific needs of program beneficiaries (startups for the Accelerate program, students, internal staff).

Define, plan, monitor, and coordinate programs and their objectives.

Implement evaluation mechanisms to measure program effectiveness.

Suggest improvements to enhance program impact.

Startup Sourcing and Qualification:

Help develop an evaluation framework for selecting candidates for various programs.

Review collected information to assess and qualify the relevance of applications.

Participate in decision-making regarding the sourcing of applicants for different programs.

Coordination with Operational Partners:

Maintain an up-to-date list of internal and external partners (coaches, mentors, tutors, etc.).

Coordinate partner involvement in sessions (startup coaching, program follow-up, etc.).

Monitor partner performance and adjust expectations when necessary.

Contribute to communication plans related to the center's programs and activities, in collaboration with all stakeholders (communications, HR, etc.).

Operational Program Management:

Define onboarding processes for program participants.

Oversee the training plan for participants.

Collaborate with the innovation center responsible to define the event calendar and monitor the center's activities (webinars, hackathons, training sessions, masterclasses, open house days, etc.).

Governance:

Attend various meetings in support of or alongside the innovation center's teams.

Provide tactical assistance to different teams by identifying the needs of stakeholders involved in the center's activities.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE & SKILLS REQUIRED:
A Master's degree (from a top business school, engineering school, or equivalent program)

Minimum of 3 years' experience in managing innovation programs

Fluency in both English and French

Strong interest in the digital world and new technologies

Ability to design and facilitate workshops

Capacity to work proactively and independently, managing multiple tasks simultaneously

Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks

Strong communication and collaborative working skills

An entrepreneurial mindset

Creativity, imagination, initiative, and inventiveness

Passion, enthusiasm and vitality