ABOUT ALU

ALU provides higher education for a higher purpose. Our students declare missions, not majors.They develop the real-world skills to take on the world’s most pressing challenges. And they take ownership of their learning from day one through our peer and student-led approach – because ALU believes in the power and agency of young people to start shaping the future right now. Together with a world-class faculty and staff, our students are igniting a ripple of positive impact across Africa and the world.

We are dedicated to fostering an open yet secure environment, balancing the safety of students, staff, and visitors with respect for individual rights, and safeguarding responsibilities.

HOW WE WORK

The ALU Team works in starkly different ways to traditional academic bureaucracies. We approach education from first principles, empower individuals to design, test, and implement creative new ideas, and work closely together to craft transformative learning experiences. We are deeply passionate about our students and excited by the challenge of building something entirely new.

The African Leadership University is committed to ensuring the safety and Well-being of all students under our care. As part of this commitment , we have a comprehensive safeguarding policy in place , which outlines our Zero-tolerance approach to any violation of safeguarding.

ABOUT THE TEAM 

The Financial Performance & Reporting team at ALU is being established from the ground up. Under the leadership of the Associate Director of Financial Performance & Reporting, the team's mission is to transform financial data into strategic insights that guide institutional decision-making. This encompasses areas such as financial planning, management reporting, revenue assurance, and performance analysis.

This is a small but high-impact team, where the work has a significant impact. The systems, frameworks, and processes you help develop will directly influence how ALU understands and manages its financial performance for years to come.

ABOUT THE ROLE 

The Financial Performance & Reporting team sits at the core of ALU’s finance transformation agenda, with a mandate to establish a disciplined, insight-driven approach to financial management across the institution.

Led by the Associate Director of Financial Performance & Reporting, the team is responsible for translating financial data into clear, actionable insights that support decision-making at both operational and leadership levels. This includes ownership of financial planning, management reporting, performance analysis, and the integrity of underlying financial data.

The team operates at the intersection of FP&A and financial control, working closely with the Finance Operations function to ensure that reporting is grounded in accurate, reconciled, and complete financial information. As such, the function plays a critical role in reinforcing month-end discipline, strengthening data integrity, and enabling ALU’s “report once” reporting framework.

This role reports directly to the Senior FP&A and ultimately to the Associate Director of Financial Performance & Reporting. As part of a small, high-impact team, you will contribute to building the systems, processes, and standards that will define how ALU manages and understands its financial performance going forward.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES 

1. COGS Analysis & Management

• Own the monthly COGS reporting cycle: extract, reconcile, and analyze all direct programme costs against budget, tracking variances by cost category, programme, and campus.
• Maintain the COGS master schedule, ensuring all direct costs, faculty fees, programme delivery costs, student-facing expenses, and contracted services are correctly coded, allocated, and reconciled to the NetSuite ledger.
• Prepare monthly COGS variance commentary for review by the Associate Director, highlighting key drivers, timing differences, and cost risks.
• Monitor cost per student and cost per programme metrics, flagging anomalies and trends for management attention.
• Drive identification of cost optimisation opportunities across programmes. 

2. Overhead Tracking & Departmental Cost Reporting

• Maintain the overhead tracker across all departments: HR, Technology, Finance, Facilities, Marketing, and Administration.
• Produce monthly departmental overhead reports with budget vs actuals, variance analysis, and narrative summaries for departmental leads and senior management.
• Reconcile overhead expenditure to NetSuite ledger entries monthly; identify and investigate mispostings, timing differences, and unbudgeted spend.
• Track committed spend and accruals to ensure completeness of the monthly overhead picture; maintain the accruals schedule.
• Challenge departmental spend against approved budgets and enforce cost discipline through proactive engagement with budget owners. 

3. Audit support  & Month-end close

• Prepare and maintain all core supporting schedules for the monthly and year-end close: prepayments, accruals, fixed assets, depreciation, and capitalized costs.
• Ensure all schedules are fully reconciled to the NetSuite trial balance and delivered to the Finance Operations Director within the agreed close timeline (by close +5).
• Maintain the fixed asset register: additions, disposals, depreciation runs, and year-end reconciliation.
• Support the Finance Operations Director in providing audit-ready schedules during statutory and donor audits.
• Proactively identify schedule discrepancies and reconcile items; investigate and resolve with the Finance Operations team.

4. Budgeting & Forecasting Support (Cost focus)

• Support the annual budgeting cycle: consolidate departmental cost submissions, validate assumptions, flag outliers, and prepare the cost budget for review by the Associate Director.
• Maintain rolling overhead and COGS forecasts, updating for actuals, known changes, and management decisions each month.
• Build and maintain cost scenario models: sensitivity analysis on key cost drivers (headcount, programme volumes, exchange rates) to support institutional planning.
• Provide cost-side inputs to the Senior Financial Analyst for integration into the consolidated financial model and Board reporting.
• Support business case preparation: model cost implications of new programmes, operational changes, and investment proposals.

5. Financial Performance Reporting (Cost contribution)

• Prepare the cost performance section of the monthly management accounts: a structured, clearly narrated view of COGS, overheads, and total expenditure vs budget.
• Deliver cost variance analysis for consolidation by the Senior Financial Analyst into the monthly Board pack and management reporting cycle.
• Produce the monthly expenditure dashboard: overhead burn rate, COGS efficiency, headcount cost trends, and key cost ratios.
• Contribute supporting data and cost schedules to donor reports prepared by the Senior Financial Analyst, ensuring budget vs actuals reconciliation for grant-funded programmes.
• Translate cost performance into actionable insights for management decision-making. 

6. CAPEX & Project Cost Tracking

• Track capital expenditure against approved budgets: maintain the CAPEX schedule, monitor spend against authorizations, and flag overspend risks.
• Reconcile CAPEX actuals in NetSuite to the project register; liaise with the Finance Operations Director on capitalization, depreciation, and disposal treatments.
• Prepare CAPEX progress reports for senior management, highlighting spend status, pending commitments, and forecast to completion.

7. Tools & Systems

• NetSuite (ERP):  Extract AR ledger, grant-coded transactions, deferred income data; run saved searches and exports
• Google Sheets / Google Suite: Primary working environment for all trackers, reconciliations, dashboards, and reporting files
• SQL: Working knowledge query writing for data extraction and reconciliation (advantage)
• Salesforce: Extract billing, opportunity, and payment data; validate against NetSuite; support donor register
• Google Suite (Slides / Docs): Format dashboards and reports for leadership and donor audiences

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

Essential Qualifications:

• • Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
  • 3–5 years of experience with demonstrated experience in overhead tracking, cost variance analysis, and supporting schedule preparation.
  • Strong proficiency in Google Sheets and/or Excel: advanced formulas, pivot tables, and structured financial models.
  • Experience working with ERP systems (NetSuite experience is a strong advantage).
  • Solid understanding of management accounting principles: accruals, prepayments, fixed assets, cost allocation.
  • Detail-oriented with a disciplined approach to reconciliation and schedule accuracy.
  • Clear written communication: able to present cost findings in plain language for management

Desirable qualifications

• • Part-qualified or fully qualified accountant (ACCA, CPA, CIMA, CA, or equivalent) preferred.
  • Experience in education, non-profit, or international development financial environments.
  • Exposure to CAPEX management, project cost tracking, or fixed asset accounting.
  • Understanding of grant budget tracking and donor fund allocation (supporting role).
  • Audit or assurance background (added advantage)

Personal Attributes

• • Cost disciplinarian: brings rigour and precision to expenditure tracking, reconciliation, and schedule ownership.
  • Proactive investigator: spots variances and discrepancies early and investigates root causes before being asked.
  • Structured and systematic: naturally organizes work into clean, version-controlled, audit-ready files.
  • Comfortable with foundational work: motivated by building clean systems in a function that is still being established.

ABOUT ALU

ALU provides higher education for a higher purpose. Our students declare missions, not majors.They develop the real-world skills to take on the world’s most pressing challenges. And they take ownership of their learning from day one through our peer and student-led approach – because ALU believes in the power and agency of young people to start shaping the future right now. Together with a world-class faculty and staff, our students are igniting a ripple of positive impact across Africa and the world.

We are dedicated to fostering an open yet secure environment, balancing the safety of students, staff, and visitors with respect for individual rights, and safeguarding responsibilities.

HOW WE WORK

The ALU Team works in starkly different ways to traditional academic bureaucracies. We approach education from first principles, empower individuals to design, test, and implement creative new ideas, and work closely together to craft transformative learning experiences. We are deeply passionate about our students and excited by the challenge of building something entirely new.

The African Leadership University is committed to ensuring the safety and Well-being of all students under our care. As part of this commitment , we have a comprehensive safeguarding policy in place , which outlines our Zero-tolerance approach to any violation of safeguarding.

ABOUT THE TEAM 

The Senior Financial Analyst brings business acumen and commercial judgment to the Financial Performance & Reporting team. This senior analyst owns the topline revenue intelligence function, tracking, interpreting, and communicating student revenue performance, collections trends, and financial outcomes to institutional leaders. Working under the Associate Director of Financial Performance & Reporting, you will transform reconciled data into performance narratives, manage the donor and grant reporting relationship, and serve as a thought partner to academic and operational stakeholders.

This is a role for a finance professional with strong business instincts, excellent communication skills, and the ability to comfortably sit at the intersection of numbers and strategy. You make the data mean something to the people who need to act on it.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Topline Revenue Performance Management

• Own the monthly revenue performance reporting cycle: student fee revenue, collections rates, discount trends, deferred income movements, and receivables ageing.
• Develop and maintain revenue intelligence dashboards tailored to senior management and Board audiences — translating complex data into clear performance narratives.
• Track and analyse student cohort revenue trends, segmented by programme, campus, scholarship status, and payment modality.
• Identify revenue risks and opportunities (collection gaps, billing anomalies, discount leakage) and present actionable recommendations to the Associate Director and VPF.
• Monitor and report on collections performance against targets; provide weekly/monthly collections summaries to the Finance Operations team and leadership.
• Partner with the Registrar and Enrolment teams to align financial forecasts with academic and student data, ensuring one coherent revenue picture.

Management Reporting & Financial Performance Analysis

• Lead the preparation of monthly management accounts commentary and quarterly Board financial packs — ensuring narrative clarity, actionable insights, and variance explanations.
• Conduct variance analysis and trend identification across revenue and expenditure lines; develop and present narratives for senior management and Board reporting.
• Reconcile statutory financial statements with management accounts to ensure consistency between compliance reporting and internal performance data.
• Support the Associate Director in preparing forward-looking analysis: investment cases, cost optimisation opportunities, and resource allocation recommendations.
• Produce ad-hoc financial analysis and scenario modelling to inform strategic decisions, new programme launches, and funding proposals.

Donor & Grant Reporting

• Own donor financial reporting end-to-end: prepare accurate, timely donor reports, ensuring transparency on fund receipt, allocation, and utilisation.
• Partner with the Fundraising and Programme teams to track fund collections, expenses, and budget vs actuals per grant — reconciling financial records with donor commitments.
• Develop new programme budgets for grant applications in collaboration with the Fundraising team, aligned with ALU's strategy and chart of accounts.
• Review draft financial reports from the Data Analyst, add narrative and context, and finalise for submission under the Associate Director's oversight.
• Serve as the relationship interface between the Finance team and Fundraising/Programme teams on grant compliance matters.

Financial Planning & Forecasting

• Co-lead the annual budgeting cycle with the Associate Director: facilitated departmental submissions, challenged assumptions, and consolidated institutional forecasts.
• Maintain rolling revenue forecasts, integrating enrolment projections, collections assumptions, and pricing changes into forward-looking models.
• Support sensitivity analysis and long-term sustainability modelling, contributing business judgment to technical models built by the Data Analyst.
• Translate strategic priorities into financial targets and contribute to the institutional performance framework.

Business Partnering & Stakeholder Management

• Act as a thought partner to academic and operational leaders on financial performance, surfacing risks and improvement opportunities in plain language.
• Support in preparing Board and ExCo financial presentations, ensuring data accuracy, visual clarity, and strategic framing.
• Partner with the Business Planning & Transformation teams to integrate financial KPIs into institutional performance dashboards and planning cycles.
• Collaborate with the Finance Operations Director (FOD) to ensure smooth handoffs between operational transactions and management reporting.
• Support external stakeholder reporting (Board, regulators, donors) with validated data and clear analysis.

Tools & systems

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

Essential qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of experience in financial management, FP&A, or management reporting — with demonstrated business partnering experience.
• Strong financial reporting and analysis skills: variance analysis, management accounts, Board reporting.
• Experience working with revenue-generating operations: student fees, subscriptions, project-based income, or equivalent.
• An excellent written and verbal communication applicant needs to be able to translate financial complexity into clear narratives for non-finance audiences.
• Experience managing donor or grant financial reporting, including budget vs actuals and utilisation tracking.
• Strong grounding in financial accounting and reporting principles, with the ability to challenge and validate underlying numbers
• Prior experience in audit (Big Four preferred) or a role with significant exposure to financial close and reporting processes
• Demonstrated experience supporting or owning month-end close processes in a structured environment
• High attention to detail with a focus on data integrity, controls, and completeness
• Ability to operate across both analytical (FP&A) and control/reporting environments
• Comfortable working with ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite) and large datasets, with an understanding of how transactions flow into reporting
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to enforce deadlines and challenge slippage constructively

OTHER COMPETENCIES

Desirable qualifications

• Experience in education, non-profit, or international development financial environments.
• Familiarity with Salesforce for revenue and pipeline tracking.
• Exposure to institutional performance frameworks, KPI design, and balanced scorecard approaches.
• Understanding of revenue recognition principles, deferred income, and student receivables accounting.
• Power BI or data visualisation tool experience (consuming dashboards and shaping requirements).

Personal Attributes

• Commercial and strategic thinker: connects financial data to institutional outcomes and business decisions.
• Exceptional communicator: writes and speaks with clarity and precision for executive audiences.
• Relationship builder: trusted by academic and operational leaders as a credible finance partner.
• Ownership mindset: takes accountability for the quality and timeliness of reporting outputs.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and foundational work: able to build structure in a function that is still being established.

ABOUT ALU

ALU provides higher education for a higher purpose. Our students declare missions, not majors.They develop the real-world skills to take on the world’s most pressing challenges. And they take ownership of their learning from day one through our peer and student-led approach – because ALU believes in the power and agency of young people to start shaping the future right now. Together with a world-class faculty and staff, our students are igniting a ripple of positive impact across Africa and the world.

We are dedicated to fostering an open yet secure environment, balancing the safety of students, staff, and visitors with respect for individual rights, and safeguarding responsibilities.

HOW WE WORK

The ALU Team works in starkly different ways to traditional academic bureaucracies. We approach education from first principles, empower individuals to design, test, and implement creative new ideas, and work closely together to craft transformative learning experiences. We are deeply passionate about our students and excited by the challenge of building something entirely new.

The African Leadership University is committed to ensuring the safety and Well-being of all students under our care. As part of this commitment , we have a comprehensive safeguarding policy in place , which outlines our Zero-tolerance approach to any violation of safeguarding.

ABOUT THE ROLE

About Leadership Core and Foundations

The Leadership Core and Foundations Program provides all students with a transformative, leadership-focused academic experience. The program is structured into modules that integrate foundational skills and leadership competencies, equipping students with essential 21st-century skills such as communication for impact, critical thinking, problem-solving, quantitative reasoning, logical thinking, self-directed learning, and self-leadership.

Through experiential learning, collaborative projects, and reflective thinking, students develop the capabilities and resilience required to excel academically and thrive in their personal and professional lives.

Responsibilities:

Teaching Responsibilities:

• To plan, design, re-design, deliver and assess high-quality teaching, learning, and assessment that comply with the module descriptors, and the institution’s teaching and learning strategy, learning model, and quality standards & regulations whilst incorporating the latest subject and pedagogical advancements.
• To set, mark and assess coursework and examinations; select appropriate assessment instruments and assessment criteria where required to do so; and provide constructive and comprehensive feedback to students.
• To supervise the work of undergraduate students, providing them with advice on study skills, projects, fieldwork, and placements, and referring as appropriate to services providing further assistance.
• To undertake academic advising (including personal tutoring and dissertation) duties, referring as appropriate to services providing further assistance.
• To undertake and complete administrative duties required in the delivery of the module, including regular meetings with the LCF Programme Manager to ensure academic delivery meets required standards.
• To adopt an approachable and accessible attitude towards students, offering office hours, informal advice, etc.
• To contribute fully to the institution by participating in meetings, working groups, committees, and other institutional activities, such as the assessment board meetings; and
• Such other duties in respect of the Company as may be reasonably assigned by your manager.

Educational Qualifications

Master’s Degree in relevant fields such as Entrepreneurship, Business Administration, Innovation, Social Enterprise, or related disciplines.

Experience:

• Teaching and Facilitation: Proven experience in teaching or facilitating workshops, courses, or training programs in entrepreneurship, business development, projects or  innovation, particularly in higher education or professional development contexts. This includes designing engaging curriculum, delivering practical and interactive sessions, and adapting teaching approaches to meet diverse learner needs.
• Coaching and Mentoring: Demonstrated ability to mentor students or colleagues in entrepreneurial thinking, guiding them through idea development, business model design, and venture creation. Experience in providing hands-on support for student ventures, pitch preparation, and problem-solving in real-world contexts is highly valued.
• Curriculum Development: Experience in designing and developing entrepreneurship-focused programs, ensuring alignment with learning outcomes and pedagogical best practices. This includes integrating experiential learning, case studies, simulations, and practical projects to enhance student engagement and the application of entrepreneurial concepts.
• Program Evaluation: Experience in assessing student outcomes, analyzing feedback, and refining program content to ensure relevance, innovation, and alignment with current entrepreneurial trends and market demands.
• Collaboration and Program Support: Ability to work with cross-functional teams, support induction or training for new staff, and collaborate with external partners, industry mentors, or incubators to enrich the entrepreneurship learning experience.

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and collaboration skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Strong commitment to increasing educational access on the Continent.
• Proficiency in utilizing educational technologies and data-driven decision-making.
• Excellent coaching and project management skills.
• Conflict resolution and problem-solving skills, especially within group or team settings.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, for working across various teams.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Organizational skills for coordinating events, managing program adoption, and handling day-to-day operational tasks.

ABOUT ALU

ALU provides higher education for a higher purpose. Our students declare missions, not majors.They develop the real-world skills to take on the world’s most pressing challenges. And they take ownership of their learning from day one through our peer and student-led approach – because ALU believes in the power and agency of young people to start shaping the future right now. Together with a world-class faculty and staff, our students are igniting a ripple of positive impact across Africa and the world.

We are dedicated to fostering an open yet secure environment, balancing the safety of students, staff, and visitors with respect for individual rights, and safeguarding responsibilities.

HOW WE WORK

The ALU Team works in starkly different ways to traditional academic bureaucracies. We approach education from first principles, empower individuals to design, test, and implement creative new ideas, and work closely together to craft transformative learning experiences. We are deeply passionate about our students and excited by the challenge of building something entirely new.

The African Leadership University is committed to ensuring the safety and Well-being of all students under our care. As part of this commitment , we have a comprehensive safeguarding policy in place , which outlines our Zero-tolerance approach to any violation of safeguarding.

ABOUT THE ROLE 

We are looking for a software engineer who is motivated to develop the next generation of Computer Scientists and Software Engineers through building, not just teaching. Teaching at ALCHE is hands-on and project-based. Students don’t just learn concepts. They build solutions, work with constraints, and engage with real-world problems. You will guide this process by drawing on your industry experience while maintaining high academic standards.
This role goes beyond delivery. You will contribute to curriculum development, mentor students as they grow into professionals, and continuously adapt the programme to reflect evolving industry practices in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES 

Deliver high-quality instruction across modules across the institution’s Software Engineering and Computer Science programmes, using practical, hands-on, and real-world teaching approaches aligned with programme learning outcomes. 

• Facilitate project-based learning by guiding students in applying technical skills to real-world problems, including stakeholder engagement, solution development, and presentation of outputs. 
• Design, review, and continuously improve learning materials, assessments, and activities to ensure alignment with academic and industry standards. 
• Mark and moderate student submissions accurately and fairly, and provide timely, constructive, and actionable feedback to support student progression and mastery of concepts. 
• Hold regular office hours to provide academic support, guidance, and feedback to students outside of class sessions. 
• Contribute to curriculum development and enhancement, ensuring modules remain relevant, up-to-date, and aligned with programme objectives and industry needs.
• Collaborate with Programme Managers, relevant faculty across the Software Engineering and Computer Science Programmes, and other internal and external stakeholders as required to ensure alignment with academic standards, quality assurance processes, and programme delivery expectations. 
• Participate in department meetings, assessment boards, and academic governance processes, contributing to student progression and academic decision-making.
• Support student employability and career readiness, including portfolio development, exposure to industry practices, and integration of real-world contexts into teaching.
• Engage in continuous professional development to remain current with emerging technologies, tools, and trends in Software Engineering and Computer Science.
• Contribute to student life and engagement initiatives, including a willingness to mentor and support student-led clubs and activities related to technology, innovation, and Software Engineering. 

Essential Requirements 

• A PhD or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a closely related field is required. 
• Experience in industry within software development or related fields is required.
• Strong subject matter expertise in core Software Engineering and Computer Science.
• Ability to teach across foundational and advanced topics in Software Engineering and Computer Science programmes. 
• Demonstrated ability to deliver practical, hands-on teaching using real-world problems, case studies, and application-based learning approaches. 
• Experience in project-based or experiential learning environments, ideally including supervision of student projects. 
• A strong student-centred mindset, with the ability to engage learners as active participants in their educational experience. 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly and effectively to diverse learners. 
• Adaptability, openness to innovation, and comfort with non-traditional and technology-enabled teaching methods, including the integration of AI tools in education.
• A mentorship-oriented approach to teaching, supporting student growth and real-world application of knowledge. 
• Cultural awareness, empathy, and a deep appreciation of diverse contexts and student backgrounds, aligned with the institution’s mission and learning culture. 

Desirable 

• Prior experience teaching, mentoring, or supervising students in a higher education setting. 
• Industry experience in software development or related fields. 
• Experience with modern development tools, version control systems (e.g. Git), and collaborative workflows. 
• Experience contributing to curriculum design or programme development.
• Interest in integrating emerging technologies and AI-supported learning approaches into teaching practice. 
• Research experience, including publications in relevant fields, or a willingness to engage in research initiatives and contribute to scholarly activities aligned with the programme.
• An entrepreneurial mindset, or experience in developing or contributing to technology-related ventures.

ABOUT ALU

ALCHE provides higher education for a higher purpose. Our students declare missions, not majors.
They develop real-world skills to take on the world’s most pressing challenges. They take ownership of their learning from day one through our peer and student-led approach – because ALCHE believes in the power and agency of young people to start shaping the future right now.
Together with a world-class faculty and staff, our students are igniting a ripple of positive impact across Africa and the world.

We are dedicated to fostering an open yet secure environment, balancing the safety of students, staff, and visitors with respect for individual rights, and safeguarding responsibilities.

HOW WE WORK

As a high-growth start-up, we work in starkly different ways from other academic institutions. We approach education from first principles, empower individuals to design, test, and implement creative new ideas, and work closely together to craft transformative learning experiences. We are deeply passionate about our students and excited by the challenge of building something entirely new.

The African Leadership College of Higher Education (ALCHE) is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all students under our care. As part of this commitment, we have a comprehensive safeguarding policy in place, which outlines our Zero-tolerance approach to any violation of safeguarding.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The International Business and Trade (IBT) Manager is accountable for the end-to-end student experience, including the design, delivery, and assessment of the BSc (Hons) International Business and Trade programme at the ALCHE. The manager will also be responsible for implementing the programme's quality assurance and enhancement processes, line-managing the faculty, and undertaking other associated activities to ensure the successful operationalisation and delivery of the programme.

The ideal candidate will possess strong communication, organisational, and problem-solving skills, with experience in higher education and leadership development. This position is essential for enhancing the student learning experience and contributing to the institution’s mission.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Leadership and Management

• Oversee Program Delivery: Manage the end-to-end student and faculty experience for the BSc (Hons) International Business and Trade in alignment with the teaching and learning strategy.
• Team Leadership: Lead and manage a team responsible for delivering the teaching, learning and assessment to students throughout their learning journey.
• Faculty Development: Oversee the development and performance management of the faculty team, ensuring continuous professional growth and alignment with the programme’s objectives.

Curriculum Design and Delivery

• Curriculum Development: In collaboration with the Learning Experience, Design and Implementation team, the curriculum committee, the faculty and the Quality Assurance team, review and redesign the curriculum to meet the evolving needs of students, industry partners, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Evidence-based Educational Practices: Ensure the programme utilises evidence-based pedagogical approaches, aligned with the students’ needs and the institution's teaching and learning strategy.
• Content Curation: Collaborate with global experts to curate and maintain cutting-edge learning experiences.
• Learning Facilitation: Facilitate learning through class sessions, office hours, written feedback, and other teaching methods, fostering an engaging and effective educational environment.

Quality Assurance and Enhancement

• Program Review: Lead the annual program review to keep the programme and its modules up-to-date and aligned with the institution’s learning model and strategy, implementing the necessary changes based on review findings.
• Teaching and Learning Enhancement: Implement teaching and learning enhancements based on feedback from periodic reviews, student evaluations, and other quality assurance instruments.
• Quality Compliance: Ensure that learning materials, assessments, and other relevant components meet both internal and external quality standards.

Student Experience and Support

• Student Support: Regularly review Learning Management System reports to identify students who may require intervention and collaborate with the relevant student support teams to provide necessary assistance.
• Seamless Experience: Collaborate with other teams to ensure a seamless and supportive student experience throughout their learning journey.

Institutional Service and Academic Governance

Assessment Board Participation: Actively participate in decision-making processes as a member of the assessment board.Senate Engagement: Contribute to institutional service by engaging in the Senate and its sub-committees, providing valuable input and leadership.

Other Responsibilities

• Additional Duties: Perform other activities as required to ensure the successful delivery of the programme and carry out any other reasonable duties as assigned by the line manager.

Requirements

Essential

• Master’s degree or higher in Business Management, Business Administration or related subjects.
• At least 5 years of experience in leadership development, experiential education, or similar roles within higher education.
• Proven experience in curriculum design, development, and quality assurance in higher education.
• Strong communication (oral and written), interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability in team leadership, mentoring, and performance management.
• Proficiency in Learning Management Systems (LMS) and educational technologies, such as Canvas.
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to multitask, prioritise own work, and work independently.

Desirable

• Experience in programme management and leadership at a higher education institution.
• Experience with innovative learning techniques in higher education.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment, demonstrating high comfort with self-directed work and navigating ambiguity effectively.
• Openness to critique and curiosity to learn from other perspectives.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Strong regional and international network, inclusive of industry, startup incubators, accelerators, etc.
• Additional industry or educational credentials, particularly in education, leadership, or entrepreneurship.

ABOUT ALU

ALU provides higher education for a higher purpose. Our students declare missions, not majors.
They develop the real-world skills to take on the world’s most pressing challenges. And they take ownership of their learning from day one through our peer and student-led approach – because ALU believes in the power and agency of young people to start shaping the future right now.
Together with a world-class faculty and staff, our students are igniting a ripple of positive impact across Africa and the world.

We are dedicated to fostering an open yet secure environment, balancing the safety of students, staff, and visitors with respect for individual rights, and safeguarding responsibilities.

HOW WE WORK

The ALU Team works in starkly different ways to traditional academic bureaucracies. We approach education from first principles, empower individuals to design, test, and implement creative new ideas, and work closely together to craft transformative learning experiences. We are deeply passionate about our students and excited by the challenge of building something entirely new.

The African Leadership University is committed to ensuring the safety and Well-being of all students under our care. As part of this commitment , we have a comprehensive safeguarding policy in place , which outlines our Zero-tolerance approach to any violation of safeguarding.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Given that the team at the School of Wildlife Conservation (SOWC) is small,   each team member has a clearly designated role, but we do expect all team members to multitask and mutually support other members of the team as needed (and within reason) across the functions of the School.  The team is led by an Executive Director and is focused on the following key areas:

• Delivery of educational support and the “conservation ecosystem” (guest speakers, conservation “boot camps”, centres of conservation excellence, internships) to the Undergraduate School of ALU in support of all students who choose a planetary health pathway, currently led by Dr Victor Muposhi as the Head of Academics
• Delivery of the conservation specialisation to the ALU MBA program - electives, capstone projects, guest speakers also currently led by Dr Victor Muposhi with support from Richard Vigne (Executive Director of the SOWC)
• Development and delivery of professional development courses to the African conservation sector including “generic” courses and bespoke courses (for various organisations including South Africa National Parks, the African Natural Capital Alliance and African Parks).  Led by the Head of Professional Development and Consultancy
• Research and thought leadership into the Wildlife Economy of Africa, culminating in regular iterations of the Wildlife Economy Investment Index for Africa and advocacy work, supplemented by the Conservation Debate series and the Lessons Learned series led by Dr Sue Snyman.  This section also secures and delivers consultancies in the African wildlife sector.
• Coordination of all SOWC operations inclusive of management of the internship program, all logistics for students attending conservation boot camps and centres of conservation excellence, financial oversight, partnership and network oversight and management, all social media, PR and marketing efforts inclusive of the SOWC website.  Led by the Operations and Fundraising Manager, Tiavina Ramandavola
• Development, management and delivery of the annual Business of Conservation Conference (BCC) - this is a team effort that runs throughout the year and includes other ALU team members.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Manager, Professional Development Courses and Consultancy will lead the development and execution of SOWC’s professional development and consultancy portfolio. The role will focus on winning, managing, and delivering contracts for professional development training and consultancy projects, as well as developing, marketing, and scaling open and bespoke courses for conservation professionals and organisations across Africa. Working closely with adjunct faculty, partner institutions, and internal and external stakeholders, the Manager will ensure that all offerings meet client needs, uphold ALU’s brand standards, and contribute to the School’s financial sustainability. As with all SOWC roles, this position will require flexibility, collaboration, and a proactive “startup” mindset.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Business Development and Client Engagement

• Identify, pursue, and secure new professional development and consultancy opportunities with conservation organisations, government agencies, NGOs, and private sector partners across Africa.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships, ensuring long-term partnerships and repeat engagements.
• Prepare high-quality proposals, expressions of interest, budgets, and contracts for consultancy and training assignments.
• Represent SOWC in external meetings, conferences, and networks to expand visibility and business opportunities.

Professional Development Courses

• Design, market, and manage a portfolio of short courses and leadership programs for conservation professionals, including open-enrolment and bespoke offerings.
• Coordinate course logistics, marketing, participant recruitment, and delivery, ensuring a seamless learning experience.
• Work with adjunct faculty, subject-matter experts and the ALU Learning Experience Design and Implementation (LEDI) teams to develop course content and facilitate delivery.
• Develop and implement marketing strategies and partnerships to expand enrollment and reach new audiences across Africa.
• Monitor and report on course impact and feedback, ensuring continuous improvement and relevance to the sector’s evolving needs.

Consultancy Services

• Manage end-to-end delivery of consultancy assignments, including project planning, coordination of experts, reporting, and client communication.
• Ensure timely and high-quality outputs that meet contractual obligations and strengthen SOWC’s reputation for excellence.
• Maintain accurate financial and administrative tracking and reporting for each consultancy project in coordination with the Operations and Finance teams.

Operational and Financial Management

• Working with the Fundraising and Operations department, oversee project budgets, invoicing, and reporting, ensuring compliance with ALU’s financial policies and donor requirements.
• Contribute to the development of annual workplans, revenue targets, and financial forecasts for the professional development and consultancy portfolio.
• Maintain centralised systems for proposal tracking, client communication, contracts, and project documentation.

Partnerships and Collaboration

• Work closely with the Fundraising and Operations Manager to align fundraising, communications, and partnership strategies with the professional development agenda.
• Collaborate with the ALU Marketing and Communications and the ALU Business Development team to produce marketing materials, alumni stories, and success narratives that strengthen brand visibility
• Contribute to SOWC-wide initiatives such as the Business of Conservation Conference (BCC) and other external stakeholder engagements.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• A Bachelor’s degree in Business, Conservation, Environmental Management, Education, or related field (Master’s degree an advantage).
• 5+ years of experience in professional education, training, business development, consultancy management, or project management — ideally within conservation, sustainability, or related sectors.
• Demonstrated success in securing and managing contracts or partnerships with large institutions, government bodies, or international NGOs.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders and deliver on time and within budget.

Required Competencies

• Strong business development and client relationship management skills.
• Excellent project management, coordination, and organisational abilities.
• Strong communication, proposal writing, and presentation skills.
• Financial acumen and experience in budgeting and contract management.
• Familiarity with digital learning tools, CRM systems, and workplace platforms such as G-Suite, Slack, Salesforce, or equivalents.
• Entrepreneurial mindset: proactive, adaptable, results-driven, and comfortable with ambiguity.
• A strong interest in conservation, sustainable development, and leadership in Africa.
• Excellent interpersonal and intercultural communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a small, distributed, and agile team.

How you will make an impact

As Transformation Director, you will lead Instiglio’s organization-wide transformation agenda - strengthening the systems, operating models, and change capabilities that enable us to scale impact globally.

This role sits at the intersection of strategy, systems-building, technology, and execution. It is designed for a leader who thrives in complexity and is equally comfortable designing transformation roadmaps and rolling up their sleeves to ensure adoption and results.

A member of Instiglio’s Executive Team is accountable for each substantive transformation initiative, so while reporting to the COO, you will also work closely with the CEO and Chief Impact Officer (CIO) on specific initiatives, agreeing and assuring strategies together prior to execution. You will also partner with fellow members of Instiglio Leadership Team to leverage their experience and expertise, and to ensure transformation efforts are coherent, integrated, prioritized, and embedded across the organization.

Key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Lead Organization-Wide Transformation & Change Management

• Own and drive Instiglio’s Transformation & Change Management Program  end-to-end.

  • Diagnose organizational challenges and opportunities, design solutions, prioritize execution in line with Instiglio’s strategic goals, and ensure successful adoption.

  • Act as the integrator across teams (e.g., Partner Group, Leadership Team, People Committee, Finance Committee), ensuring transformation initiatives are aligned, sequenced, and mutually reinforcing.

• Establish clear success metrics and track progress, learning, and impact over time. 
  

AI Integration & Digital Transformation

• Lead the design, pilot, and scale of AI-enabled tools that enhance decision-making, productivity, and service delivery.

• Drive organization-wide AI adoption, capability-building, and change management.

• Translate emerging AI opportunities into practical workflows, operating model shifts, and strategic advantages.

• Ensure ethical, responsible, and effective use of AI across the organization.

Impact Management Systems (in partnership with the CIO)

• Strengthen how Instiglio measures organizational performance, learning, and results.

• Design and refine frameworks, tools, and processes that clarify goals, drive alignment, and support strategic decision-making.

• Improve visibility and coherence across impact data, organizational learning, and performance management.

Partnerships Development Systems

• Build and refine systems that strengthen how Instiglio develops, manages, and sustains partnerships across donors, governments, and the private sector coordinating with the Partnership Development Centre and Business Development Teams.

• Develop processes that improve pipeline visibility, institutional engagement, and strategic prioritization.

• Enable leadership teams with better data, tools, and decision frameworks for partnership growth.

Internal Operating Model & Process Evolution

• Lead the evolution of Instiglio’s internal operating model as the organization scales.

• Redesign workflows, governance rhythms, collaboration structures, and decision-making processes.

• Embed AI and digital tools across core operational systems to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

• Ensure changes are practical, adopted, and sustained in day-to-day operations.

Hands-On Execution & Delivery

• This is not a strategy/transformation-only role.

• You are accountable for seeing transformation initiatives from idea to execution to sustained adoption. On internal strategies, systems & processes, you will work closely with Internal Services teams and management to see through and sustain excellence in a sustained role that is necessarily operational in nature.

• You will personally:

  • Build tools, templates, and dashboards;

  • Draft frameworks and operating models;

  • Run complex, cross-functional projects;

  • Facilitate alignment and decision-making;

  • Troubleshoot operational bottlenecks; and

  • Ensure implementation sticks beyond launch.

Who you are

We are building a team of thoughtful, driven professionals who are motivated by our mission and excited to grow with the organization. An ideal candidate will have:

• Experience: At least 10 years of relevant experience in:

  • Organizational transformation and change management.

  • AI or technology implementation in organizations.

  • Systems-building in high-growth or complex environments.

  • Management consulting, public sector reform, or international development.

  • Designing and scaling operating models, decision systems, and workflows.

  • Working closely with senior leaders to translate strategy into execution.

• Languages:

  • Professional working proficiency in English (C1).

  • Working proficiency in French and/or Spanish would be an added advantage.

• Skills & Competencies:

  • Strong builder mindset - energized by designing systems from scratch and iterating toward excellence.

  • Exceptional project management and coordination skills across multiple high-stakes initiatives.

  • Hands-on operator who can move seamlessly between strategic thinking and detailed execution.

  • Structured thinker who brings clarity to ambiguity and complexity.

  • High emotional intelligence, humility, and adaptability.

  • Creative and innovative leader comfortable in fast-changing environments.

  • Cross-cultural fluency and effectiveness working across geographies and diverse teams.

  • Deep alignment with Instiglio’s mission and commitment to public-sector transformation.

• Mindset & Culture Fit

  • Thrives as a resourceful, sleeves-rolled-up doer; not an armchair strategist.

  • Calm and effective in moments of organizational pressure and uncertainty.

  • Collaborative, influence-oriented, and committed to building strong relationships.

  • Values purpose over spotlight.

How you will grow with us

Your work will be driven by impact and purpose, within a dynamic culture rooted in inclusion, collaboration, and high performance. You will partner closely with teams delivering complex, high-impact projects, gain exposure to a wide range of approaches and contexts, and collaborate across a diverse, international organization. You will be encouraged to take ownership, exercise judgment, and contribute meaningfully to shaping how Instiglio operates and grows.

As a Director at Instiglio, you will continue to develop and deepen your leadership, systems-thinking, and transformation capabilities. You will lead internal initiatives and organizational priorities, with support and guidance from senior leadership. Instiglio has a strong feedback culture, including bi-annual, structured performance reviews complemented by ongoing, real-time feedback. Mentorship and individual development plans are embedded in our people model to ensure sustained professional growth and support.

With Instiglio’s planned continued growth there are also progression opportunities for high-performing candidates.

Working model and benefits

Instiglio has adopted a hybrid working model (i.e., minimum of two (2) days a week at the office for face-to-face connections). Instiglio offers generous benefits, which include personal days, remote workdays, travel and health insurance, pension, a company end-of-year holiday additional to vacation, and parental leave, among others.

Join Us 

To apply, please submit your CV in English and answer the application questions listed. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.