Vacancy title:
Strategy Officer

Jobs at:
Kepler

Deadline of this Job:
23rd August 2018

Duty Station:
Kigali, Rwanda

Summary
Date Posted: 9th August 2018 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed , Employment Type: Full-Time

In 2013, we launched a new venture to build the first pan-African network of high-quality, affordable university programs, enabling even students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds to succeed. Nearly 300 students are now enrolled in Kepler.
Africa has the fastest-growing youth population in the world, but its education systems are not ready to unleash what could be the transformative generation of talent that permanently changes the face of the continent. Studies show that more earning potential is unlocked with each year of higher education than any other period of study. We aspire to help unleash a generation of African students who otherwise would lack the opportunity to achieve their potential.

JOB DETAILS:

About Generation Rwanda/Kepler

• The problem: All across sub-Saharan Africa, millions of young people struggle every day with access to education and employment – and the kinds of livelihoods that lead to economic security and mobility for themselves and their families. Every young person deserves the chance to be educated; every young person deserves the opportunity to have a meaningful job
• Who we are: Kepler is a nonprofit university program that is building a transformative model of education-to-employment services for these young people across the region. Our ultimate goal is to contribute to the economic mobility of thousands of individuals, families and communities in all of our countries of operation. We want to reimagine what higher education can look like in sub-Saharan Africa.
• What we do: Through a rigorous curriculum of in-person, online and on-the-job learning, Kepler students graduate with the relevant skills and the right attitude to meet the needs of the changing global economy. We partner closely with Southern New Hampshire University - a global leader in higher education - which allows our students to attain affordable, internationally recognized degrees while studying in East Africa.
• Our history: Kepler launched in Rwanda in 2013. Our 50+ staff currently serve 550 students across two campuses in Rwanda – our flagship campus in Kigali, as well as a second campus in the Kiziba refugee camp in Western Rwanda, where we serve refugee learners.
• The future: Kepler has an ambitious new strategy for the next five years, which will include launching in two new countries; expanding our academic offerings; partnering with other public and private sector universities; and reaching a new level of organizational sustainability.
  About the position
  Kepler is seeking a driven and entrepreneurial young professional to be a critical part of the Kepler story over the next five years. The Strategy Officer will partner with Kepler’s C-level staff to ensure we stay on time and on target against our ambitious goals.
  Responsibilities include:
  General:
• Support the management team as we execute our new five-year strategy (2018-2022)
• Provide high-quality research, analysis and presentations on a wide variety of strategy-related issues (e.g., research the higher education landscape in sub-Saharan Africa; analysis on detailed beneficiary calculations; presentations on country scoping, etc.)
• Manage and continually refine Kepler’s five-year strategy documents – including our detailed cost model; presentations; grant documents, etc.
  Strategy Area 1 – Service Delivery:
• Help scope and decide on Kepler’s two new countries of expansion in an analytically rigorous manner
• Help prepare the systems and processes needed to launch new Kepler campuses in two new countries
  Strategy Area 2 – Indirect Impact:
• Help design an entirely new stream of work around partnerships with public and private universities – in Rwanda and elsewhere – to collaborate with other institutions on the sharing of best practices and curriculum
  Strategy Area 3 - Sustainability:
• Support Kepler’s efforts to shift towards modest revenue generation and sustainability, including the launch of a new lending program and the collection of tuition
  Required Qualifications:
  The ideal candidate will be full of energy and ready to dedicate the next several years to transforming higher education in Africa.
• 5+ years of professional experience
• The combined desire and work ethic that are required to deliver real and meaningful change to Kepler’s students
• The ability to work with staff of different backgrounds and cultures with the utmost respect
• Several years of financial or management consulting experience, including top-of-class skills in XLS and PPT as well as written documents
• The ability to work as a core part of a dynamic team – while exhibiting strong interpersonal skills and the ability to lead and/or follow, depending on the situation
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, including the ability to thrive in a start-up environment without the need for daily direction, and the ability to manage upwards relative to a busy and often-traveling management team, and
• Candidates who are able to uphold the core Kepler values of teamwork; integrity and honesty; constant learning; balance; and empowerment
• Candidates who can thrive in an unstructured and often-changing environment
• Experience supporting the execution of an multi-year strategic plan
  Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience in working in Africa and/or in a cross cultural environment
• Experience working in education
• Experience working in a nonprofit environment
• French and/or Kinyarwanda language abilities are useful
  Reports to:
  The position reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer.
  Kepler is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.