Job description
The future of peace and stability in East Africa lies
in the hands of young women who have the leadership skills and wisdom to create
jobs and build businesses that will lift their communities out of poverty. At
Akilah, we bring together the most promising female leaders from Rwanda and
Burundi for an innovative three-year program that prepares
them for professional careers and leadership roles. Ninety-seven percent of our
current students are the first in their family to go to college. One-third of
our current students are the heads of their households. This is particularly
noteworthy because in East Africa, 85% of women work in subsistence
agriculture, living on less than $2 per day. Furthermore, only 1% of the
population enters university, and less than one-third of those students are
female. We believe that educating young women is simply the wisestand most
effectiveinvestment a developing country can make. We also know that women will
invest 90%of their income into their families, as opposed to 30-40% for men.
Similarly, educated women are less likely to contra
in the hands of young women who have the leadership skills and wisdom to create
jobs and build businesses that will lift their communities out of poverty. At
Akilah, we bring together the most promising female leaders from Rwanda and
Burundi for an innovative three-year program that prepares
them for professional careers and leadership roles. Ninety-seven percent of our
current students are the first in their family to go to college. One-third of
our current students are the heads of their households. This is particularly
noteworthy because in East Africa, 85% of women work in subsistence
agriculture, living on less than $2 per day. Furthermore, only 1% of the
population enters university, and less than one-third of those students are
female. We believe that educating young women is simply the wisestand most
effectiveinvestment a developing country can make. We also know that women will
invest 90%of their income into their families, as opposed to 30-40% for men.
Similarly, educated women are less likely to contra
ct HIV, and will also earn
more money and have fewer and healthier children.
Akilah aims to build future generations of women
leaders and professionals in East Africa through the development of a network
of campuses. Akilah will graduate 1,200 students by the year 2020. By the fall,
Akilah will serve 280 students on campus in Rwanda and 150 students on our new
Burundi by January 2015. Our hands-on and project-based curriculum is developed
in partnership with the local private sector. Students start with a
foundational year of English, math and leadership immersion before choosing a
specialized track in Entrepreneurship, Information Systems (IS), or
Hospitality. Students graduate with the market-relevant skills required for
meaningful employment in the fastest growing sectors of the economy.
leaders and professionals in East Africa through the development of a network
of campuses. Akilah will graduate 1,200 students by the year 2020. By the fall,
Akilah will serve 280 students on campus in Rwanda and 150 students on our new
Burundi by January 2015. Our hands-on and project-based curriculum is developed
in partnership with the local private sector. Students start with a
foundational year of English, math and leadership immersion before choosing a
specialized track in Entrepreneurship, Information Systems (IS), or
Hospitality. Students graduate with the market-relevant skills required for
meaningful employment in the fastest growing sectors of the economy.
92% of our graduates have been placed in jobs since
our inception. Specifically, 35 of Akilah’s graduates are employed by Marriott International. They are being trained to assume leadership
roles at Marriott’s first sub-Saharan African hotel in Kigali, Rwanda. Other
graduates have launched their own entrepreneurial ventures, including a
clothing and handicrafts company.
our inception. Specifically, 35 of Akilah’s graduates are employed by Marriott International. They are being trained to assume leadership
roles at Marriott’s first sub-Saharan African hotel in Kigali, Rwanda. Other
graduates have launched their own entrepreneurial ventures, including a
clothing and handicrafts company.
The Position
The Akilah Institute’s Chief Academic Officer (CAO)
will have a unique opportunity to reimagine higher education for women in
Rwanda. In a post-genocide era in which women have assumed significant
leadership roles in both Parliament and a booming business community, Akilah is
poised to develop the next set of Rwandan leaders. The CAO will play a critical
role in shaping the educational experience of these aspiring women leaders by
overseeing and implementing the academic vision of Akilah. More specifically,
the COA will oversee any outstanding coursework that needs curriculum design,
facilitate an effective roll out of newly designed curriculum to faculty,
manage a team of 5-6 staff who support academics on campus, manage a teaching
staff of 12-15, and help to create a suite of metrics that will track our
overall success. The DoA will supervise and support growing faculty who are
using a hands-on, project-based approach to teaching and learning.
will have a unique opportunity to reimagine higher education for women in
Rwanda. In a post-genocide era in which women have assumed significant
leadership roles in both Parliament and a booming business community, Akilah is
poised to develop the next set of Rwandan leaders. The CAO will play a critical
role in shaping the educational experience of these aspiring women leaders by
overseeing and implementing the academic vision of Akilah. More specifically,
the COA will oversee any outstanding coursework that needs curriculum design,
facilitate an effective roll out of newly designed curriculum to faculty,
manage a team of 5-6 staff who support academics on campus, manage a teaching
staff of 12-15, and help to create a suite of metrics that will track our
overall success. The DoA will supervise and support growing faculty who are
using a hands-on, project-based approach to teaching and learning.
Reporting
·Report directly to the national Country Director of
the Rwanda campus.
the Rwanda campus.
Managing and Coaching Faculty
- Manage a full time instructional coach and work
with h/she to determine a coaching plan for faculty to get ongoing
feedback on their teaching. - Develop ambitious goals for student performance.
Assess faculty against student goals on weekly, monthly, quarterly, and
annual basis. - Support instructors in building their capacity to
design rigorous assessments and track academic progress for each student
on a weekly basis. - Ensure that all faculty members are reporting
student grades each week for each marking period. - Collaborate with an Academic Director in Burundi
on training, coaching, and student outcomes on both campuses.
Staff Management
- The CAO will manage a team of 5-6 people who will
support in all matters related to academics and the overall student
experience on campus. The positions that will report to the CAO include:
Instructional Coach, Guidance Counselor, Director of Careers and Partnerships,
Database Coordinator, Operations Coordinator, and Assistant. - The CAO will manage these key staff members and
streamline all of the support that students receive on campus from
beginning to end.
Academic Operations
- Manage an operations associate to help oversee
all academic calendars, class schedules, and course outlines. - Work with the relevant ministries of the Rwandan
government regarding the accreditation process to ensure compliance with
all relevant laws and regulations. - Oversee faculty in reporting of student grades
and attendance in Akilah’s student management system - Oversee implementation of all Student Handbook
policies
Admissions
·Oversee the process of grading all incoming student
candidate exams and oversee the process of interviewing all candidates through
our admissions process.
candidate exams and oversee the process of interviewing all candidates through
our admissions process.
Culture
- Create a collaborative work environment among
staff members. Lead and inspire Akilah faculty by championing and modeling
organizational values. - Ensure that the Akilah campus is a learning
friendly environment for students: clean, visually engaging, and
organized.
Capacity Building and Professional Development
- Work with instructional coach to develop and lead
rigorous professional development on effective teaching strategies for all
instructors on the Rwanda campus in collaboration with the Burundi site. - Help identify areas for growth for each
instructor and design personal learning plans to help instructors improve
their practice. - Conduct regular performance reviews of faculty
- Coordinate peer learning among faculty through
regular meetings and opportunities for knowledge exchange - Support and manage the three department heads for
the entrepreneurship, Information Systems, and Hospitality Management
tracks.
Curriculum Development
- Ensure successful implementation of the newly
designed curriculum. - Oversee the department heads for the newer
diploma tracks at Akilah – Information Systems and Entrepreneurship.
Manage these department heads as they work on the curriculum build out. - Analyze feedback from students, instructors, and
hiring partners on curriculum and instruction. Modify curriculum based on
data and outcomes.
Student Management
- For students on academic probation, work with
faculty to develop a student support plan. - Manage and resolve student behavior, discipline,
or attendance challenges that may arise. - Serve as a role model for students: dressing
professionally, demonstrating the importance and relevance of learning,
assuming responsibility, and demonstrating pride in the Akilah mission. - Organize and supervise after school tutoring
program with volunteer tutors.
External Relations
·Support school visits with donors or private sector
partners.
partners.
- Serve as point-person in the education community
at relevant meetings and conferences.
Desired Skills and Characteristics:
·Exemplary instructional and classroom management
skills.
skills.
·Proven track record of meeting extremely high
standards for student achievement.
standards for student achievement.
·High level of personal organization and planning.
·Proven track record for managing small to mid size
teams.
teams.
·Excellent communication skills with diverse
constituents (teachers, parents, students, board members); clear writer,
facilitator and public speaker.
constituents (teachers, parents, students, board members); clear writer,
facilitator and public speaker.
·Proven ability to proactively lead by example,
effectively manage faculty, and seek out feedback.
effectively manage faculty, and seek out feedback.
·Team player; maturity, humility, strong work ethic,
follow-through, sense of humor, and “roll-up-my-sleeves” attitude.
follow-through, sense of humor, and “roll-up-my-sleeves” attitude.
·Intellectual interest in curriculum development,
assessment and models of instruction.
assessment and models of instruction.
·Strong belief in the Akilah mission and educational
model.
model.
Qualifications
·A bachelor’s degree from a competitive college or
university; master’s degree preferred.
university; master’s degree preferred.
·At least 3 years of teaching experience with a record
of high student achievement.
of high student achievement.
·Experience leading teacher training/coaching programs
– both design and implementation.
– both design and implementation.
·At least 3 years of management experience.
- In compliance with the Rwandan government’s
regulations, the title of this role in Rwanda will be Principal.
How to apply
Please apply directly through Akilah’s website.
