The Masakhane African Languages Hub is seeking an experienced Program Manager, Foundational AI to lead a portfolio of cutting-edge artificial intelligence projects focused on advancing African language technologies.
This fully remote opportunity is open to candidates based in Africa, offering an annual salary of US$62,400 while providing the chance to contribute to one of the continent’s most ambitious AI initiatives.
Reporting to the Programs Lead, the successful candidate will oversee strategic investments in datasets, speech technologies, benchmarking, model development, and AI research infrastructure that support the Hub’s mission of making artificial intelligence more inclusive for African languages.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and interested candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
About Masakhane
Masakhane is a pan-African research initiative dedicated to addressing the underrepresentation of African languages in Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The initiative brings together researchers, linguists, software developers, data scientists, and community members from across Africa to develop open, inclusive, and locally relevant AI technologies.
Through collaborative research and open-source innovation, Masakhane aims to democratize access to AI while ensuring African languages are represented in next-generation language technologies.
About the Masakhane African Languages Hub
The Masakhane African Languages Hub is a flagship initiative anchored by the Masakhane Research Foundation (MRF).
Its mission is to address the underrepresentation and misrepresentation of African languages in AI by developing:
- Community-centred open-source datasets
- Speech technologies
- Language models
- AI benchmarking tools
- Practical AI use cases
- Foundational AI infrastructure
The Hub supports AI innovation across sectors including:
- Healthcare
- Education
- Agriculture
- Digital public services
- Research and innovation
By 2029, the Hub aims to empower more than one billion Africans through locally relevant AI tools while preserving Africa’s rich linguistic diversity.
Position Overview
Position
Program Manager – Foundational AI
Location
Remote (Africa)
Travel
Continental and international travel as required
Contract
Full-time
Salary
US$62,400 per year
(Approximately US$5,200 per month, inclusive of applicable taxes and subject to statutory deductions)
Benefits
- Remote working setup support
- Opportunity to collaborate with leading AI researchers across Africa
- International travel opportunities
- Professional growth within one of Africa’s leading AI organizations
Key Responsibilities
The Program Manager will provide both technical and programme leadership across a portfolio of foundational AI investments.
Responsibilities include:
Portfolio Leadership
- Lead delivery of foundational AI investments
- Monitor project milestones and budgets
- Ensure technical quality and strategic alignment
- Identify risks and implementation opportunities
Awardee Management
- Serve as the primary liaison for funded research teams
- Support partners throughout project implementation
- Help resolve technical bottlenecks in AI development
- Coordinate technical assistance where needed
Quality Assurance
- Develop standardized quality assurance frameworks
- Promote interoperability across projects
- Maintain scientific rigor across datasets and AI models
- Support peer learning among project teams
Risk Management
- Monitor project implementation
- Resolve operational and technical challenges
- Coordinate cross-functional collaboration
- Maintain project delivery schedules
Stakeholder Engagement
The successful candidate will work closely with:
- Academic researchers
- AI engineers
- Data scientists
- Consultants
- Funders
- Technical partners
- Research institutions
The role also involves preparing reports, presentations, and strategic briefings for various stakeholders.
Learning and Continuous Improvement
The Program Manager will collaborate with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team to:
- Capture lessons learned
- Improve portfolio performance
- Support adaptive management
- Strengthen collaboration among awardees
Strategic Leadership
The role includes contributing to the long-term AI research roadmap while representing Masakhane at:
- International conferences
- AI workshops
- Research events
- Global policy discussions
Required Qualifications
Applicants should possess:
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in:
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Computational Linguistics
- Information Systems
- Or a related technical discipline
A Master’s degree in one of these fields is preferred.
Skills and Experience
Ideal candidates should demonstrate:
- Strong programme and portfolio management experience
- Experience working with AI, NLP, or digital innovation projects
- Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously
- Excellent stakeholder engagement skills
- Strong communication and reporting abilities
- Experience collaborating across multidisciplinary teams
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work independently within a remote environment
Although the role does not require candidates to be leading NLP researchers, applicants should have sufficient technical knowledge to understand and guide highly technical AI research projects.
Language Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Fluency in English
Knowledge of one or more African languages will be considered a significant advantage.
Why Join Masakhane?
This opportunity offers much more than a competitive salary.
Successful candidates will:
- Help shape one of Africa’s leading AI research initiatives
- Work with internationally recognized AI researchers
- Advance AI solutions for African languages
- Support open-source innovation
- Contribute to equitable AI development across Africa
- Influence the future of language technologies serving over one billion Africans
For professionals passionate about responsible AI and African innovation, this represents a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should prepare:
- An updated CV
- A brief cover letter highlighting:
- Relevant programme management experience
- Experience working with research or technical teams
- Motivation for joining Masakhane
- How they would strengthen the organization’s operational systems
Applications should be submitted through the official online application portal.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is strongly encouraged.
APPLY NOW
Final Thoughts
The Program Manager, Foundational AI role at the Masakhane African Languages Hub presents a rare opportunity to combine programme leadership with cutting-edge AI innovation that directly benefits African communities. With a competitive salary, fully remote work, and the chance to collaborate with leading researchers across the continent, the position is ideal for experienced professionals passionate about inclusive AI, open research, and Africa’s digital future.
Candidates with programme management expertise and a strong understanding of AI or NLP ecosystems are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
