Portfolio Jobs
Want to work with a fintech focused on creating a fair finance system? Check out these job openings across the globe.
Global Head of Mobile for Development, GSMA Foundation
gsma
London, UK
Posted on Nov 13, 2025
Department: Advocacy
Team: GSMA M4D Foundation
Location: London or Brussels
Position type: Permanent, full-time
What the hiring manager says
The GSMA Mobile for Development (M4D) Foundation offers a dynamic, mission-driven environment for leveraging the power of mobile technology to improve the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable populations around the world. With the backing of the global association for the mobile industry, the Managing Director, M4D Foundation role offers an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of digital development and drive meaningful impact – setting strategic direction, building partnerships with donors, and representing the GSMA M4D Foundation at major events and in the media. Today 84 percent of Internet connections happen via mobile – making it an ideal tool to deliver innovative digital solutions to development challenges.
Fundamental for success are a deep understanding of today’s complex global development levers, the priorities of GSMA member operators, and the new funding models that can best deliver large-scale impact, as well as the ability to spot and connect opportunities across all three.
This role calls for visionary leadership and agility at a time of rapid global change, including pressures on philanthropic aid budgets, shifting sources of funding, and the lightening-speed transformation of digital technologies with the rise of AI.
John Giusti, President of the GSMA M4D Foundation
About the Team
Established in 2007, the GSMA M4D Foundation brings together mobile operators, innovators, governments, and the international development community to demonstrate the positive social, economic and climate impact of mobile technology in low- and middle-income countries. The GSMA M4D Foundation enters into grant agreements with donors to deliver projects and programmes, particularly through the Mobile for Development (M4D) team.
Singularly positioned at the intersection of the technology sector and the international development ecosystem, the M4D team stimulates digital innovation to deliver socio-economic positive impact. The team’s in-market expertise informs partnerships between the mobile industry, tech innovators, governments, and the development sector. Their unique research and insights platform advances digital innovations and implementations that empower underserved and vulnerable populations to build a better future. With an unparalleled international voice and convening power, they foster dialogue and inspire action.
About the Role
The GSMA M4D Foundation is seeking a visionary and strategic leader to serve as Managing Director, M4D Foundation. This role will be responsible for developing the strategic direction of the M4D Foundation, under the leadership of the M4D Foundation President, cultivating high-level donor and industry relationships, and securing large-scale funding to advance digital innovation for social impact, with particular focus on low- and middle-income countries. The Managing Director, M4D Foundation will be a key external representative of the M4D Foundation, aligning its portfolio with GSMA’s broader strategy and industry trends.
Key Responsibilities include:
Strategic Leadership
Define and evolve the strategic direction of the GSMA M4D Foundation in alignment with the GSMA’s mission, mobile industry trends, and development sector priorities.
Lead horizon scanning and market intelligence to identify emerging opportunities and anticipate shifts in donor and industry landscapes.
Develop the M4D Foundation’s strategic plan, ensuring relevance, innovation, and impact.
Partnerships & Fundraising
Provide leadership to the fundraising team to secure multi-year, large-scale funding from philanthropic organisations, multilateral institutions, and private sector partners. This includes developing strategic donor proposals leveraging subject-matter expertise from M4D Foundation teams.
Engage strategically with existing donors to maintain strong, collaborative relationships and deliver on shared objectives.
Identify and cultivate new donor partnerships, expanding the M4D Foundation’s funding base, geographic reach, and thematic scope.
Collaborate with GSMA Advocacy and other internal teams to identify cross-cutting opportunities for fundraising and programme development.
External Engagement & Advocacy
Represent, in collaboration with the GSMA’s External Affairs team, the GSMA M4D Foundation at high-level forums, donor meetings, and global industry events.
Deliver thought leadership on the role of digital innovation in reducing inequalities, particularly in LMICs.
Serve as a public ambassador for the M4D Foundation, articulating its impact narrative and strategic vision.
Governance & Board Engagement
Advise the President of the M4D Foundation with GSMA M4D Foundation Board governance, including preparation of materials and engagement with Board members.
Internal & Cross-functional Collaboration
Support M4D’s Head of Operations to ensure strategic plans are effectively operationalised and programmes are delivered with excellence.
Collaborate with GSMA’s Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Technology Officer, and Advocacy team leads to align M4D Foundation initiatives with broader GSMA efforts.
Partner with GSMA’s Chief Marketing Officer to refine the M4D Foundation’s storytelling and visibility across digital platforms and events.
Collaborate with M4D Foundation’s Head of Compliance and Finance Director
Team Leadership
Provide leadership to M4D programme leads and the fundraising team, offering strategic guidance and fostering a culture of inclusion, performance, and professional development.
About Your Skills
Essential Experience & Skills
Proven track record in securing large-scale funding and building strategic partnerships in the development or philanthropic sector, with a strong focus on emerging markets
Deep understanding of digital innovation and its role in addressing development challenges.
Strong strategic thinking and ability to translate vision into actionable plans.
Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with experience representing organisations at senior levels and engaging with senior decision-makers, governments, and media
Demonstrated leadership in cross-functional and multicultural environments
Inspirational team leader
Desirable
- Experience working in partnership with or within the mobile industry or technology sector.
Familiarity with GSMA’s mission and global development frameworks.
Experience managing or engaging with governance boards.
Contract type
RegularWorker type
EmployeeWhat We Offer
Working at the GSMA offers you unparalleled access to the mobile industry. We offer a chance to truly shape the direction of mobile, whatever your role. By joining the GSMA, you will be exposed to a fast-paced rapidly evolving environment, working on global solutions, genuinely fascinating and industry-changing projects and a stimulating and dynamic environment designed to enable you to flourish.
In addition to architect-designed offices and competitive compensation, our benefits include fantastic learning & development opportunities, generous holiday allowances, four additional days off for professional development and many others.
To learn more about the GSMA, visit our career site, our LinkedIn page and our Twitter page.
Being You at the GSMA
We care deeply about diversity, equity and inclusivity and aspire to be the best at it. Your well-being and work/life balance is important, so flexi-time and remote working is available to all staff. We're keen to ensure everyone is equal, represented and connected so we particularly encourage applications from all demographics. The sucess of the GSMA year on year will continue to be contributed by people from all walks of life.
GSMA Values
Our values not only drive our culture – they shape how we work and interact inside and outside our global organisation.
Passionately driven
We approach everything we do with unparalleled capability, tenacity and commitment, knowing that the challenging scale, pace and complexity of our work is what leads to its world-changing impact.
Insightful leaders
We continually develop and engage our expertise, insight and creativity so that we’re always ready to respond to the changing landscape with authority, agility and nuance.
Stronger together
We lean on each other so the industry can lean on us, embracing our diversity by actively seeking out perspectives and skill sets beyond our own, fuelling each other’s successes and constantly asking how we can help.
Underpinning our values is our collective mindset to show up purposefully as good human beings every day, in every situation. When we’re at our best – we are collaborative, considerate and compassionate to others, and we create a safe space for one another to thrive, assuming positive intent in our colleagues. And if we aren’t at our best and the pressure is on – we feel free to be ourselves but still remain curious, lean into the tough stuff and we are always respectful to others and accountable for the part we play.