Head of Marketing

Impact Africa Network (IAN) is a nonprofit startup studio (US 501(c)3) based in Nairobi on a mission to ensure young, talented Africans have a chance at participating in the digital transformation of Africa as creators and owners. 

We provide Innovation Fellowships to talented college graduates, providing them the opportunity to work on well-vetted ideas with like-minded peers, positioning them at the frontlines of the innovation economy. The vision is 2030 to develop 10 scaled-ups that provide 10K jobs with a combined value of $10B as a portfolio. Out of this will emerge 1000 Innovation Leaders equipped with the mindset, skills, networks and resources needed to transform our society, we call it the ‘1000 Lee Kuan Yews’

As we scale our portfolio and impact, we’re looking for a high-potential marketing leader to architect and execute the go-to-market (GTM) function across our growing ecosystem of startups.

As Head of Marketing, you’ll lead strategy and execution for marketing across all our brands—from early-stage startups to IAN’s institutional brand. You’ll play a key role in building brand equity, driving user acquisition, and telling powerful stories that move hearts and markets.

This role is ideal for a senior marketer ready to take the next step into executive leadership. You’ll work closely with the founder, the project leads and the marketing team, with the opportunity to grow into the Chief Marketing Officer role as the organisation and portfolio scale.

Function: Marketing Leadership, Go-To-Market Strategy

Seniority Level: Director (CMO-track)

• GTM Strategy & Execution: Develop and implement marketing strategies tailored to each startup’s growth stage and audience.
• Team Leadership: Build and lead a team of marketers, creatives, and growth talent across the portfolio.
• Brand Development: Craft compelling brand stories and visual identities that connect with target markets.
• Performance Marketing: Oversee digital campaigns (SEO, paid media, social, email, partnerships) to drive traffic, leads, and conversions.
• Data-Driven Optimisation: Build dashboards, track KPI's, and refine marketing efforts based on performance data.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with product, design, business development, and leadership to align marketing with overall business goals.
• Innovation & Experimentation: Champion creative, unconventional marketing approaches that deliver outsized impact.
• Institutional Marketing: Raise visibility of IAN as a thought leader and innovation studio advancing Africa’s digital future.

• 10–12+ years of marketing experience, ideally across startups, agencies, and/or innovation-focused organisations.
• Hands-on experience with performance marketing: SEO, SEM, social media, CRM, email automation, analytics.
• Strong creative and copywriting skills with a portfolio of impactful campaigns or brand work.
• Proven ability to lead or significantly shape brand development and GTM efforts.
• Data-savvy: skilled at interpreting campaign data, audience insights, and performance metrics.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and building from scratch in fast-paced environments.
• Experience in or with startups is required. Pan-African or global emerging markets experience is a strong plus.

• Entrepreneurial mindset – You’re a builder who thrives in unstructured environments.
• Creative and strategic – You can both imagine bold ideas and execute them effectively.
• Collaborative leadership – You elevate others and communicate across disciplines with ease.
• Growth-oriented – You’re ready to step into an executive role and grow with the organisation.
• Mission-aligned – You care deeply about Africa’s potential and want to shape its innovation narrative. 

• Opportunity to shape and lead the marketing function for a growing startup studio.
• Ability to work across multiple ventures, solving real-world challenges.
• A learning-driven, high-impact culture.
• Clear path to grow into the CMO role.
• Competitive compensation (salary + performance incentives + ESOP).

To apply for this position, please click the "Apply on Company Website" button to submit your application through the company's application system.

Application deadline: June 14, 2025