Leadership Core/Foundations Coach Senior Associate

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

As a high-growth start-up, 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 FOUNDATION PROGRAMME

The Leadership Core and Foundations Programme at African Leadership University (ALU) is a comprehensive, signature learning experience designed to equip students with the essential skills, mindsets, and competencies needed to thrive across diverse academic, professional, and societal contexts. Structured across 8 modules (160 credits), the programme integrates 12 foundational tracks that students engage with throughout their degree journey. It focuses on developing core capabilities in Reflective Thinking, Learning Processes, Self-Leadership and Team Dynamics, Responsible Enterprise, Critical Thinking, Quantitative Reasoning, Computational Thinking, Managing Complex Tasks, and Communication for Impact.

At its heart, the programme emphasises holistic leadership development, cultivating self-awareness, ethical decision-making, effective communication, analytical thinking, teamwork, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a strong commitment to social impact. Rather than focusing on technical or vocational training, it builds transferable, future-ready skills that empower students to navigate complexity, lead with purpose, and drive meaningful change.

Aligned with ALU’s mission, the Leadership Core and Foundations Programme prepares students not only for professional success but also for responsible leadership in Africa and beyond.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Leadership Core/Foundations Coach Sr. Associate is essential for the effective and efficient operations of the Foundation modules. The Sr. Associate guides students through their foundational learning journey, providing academic support and assessing their progress. By analysing feedback and performance data, the Sr. Associate implements improvements to enhance programme delivery and student experience while serving as a key point of contact between the Leadership Core/Foundations and other specialisations. They also facilitate the onboarding process for new coaches, support their professional growth, and ensure adherence to university policies.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Team Leading

• Engage in the Leadership Core/Foundations programme induction and re-induction of other coaches. 
• Engage with developmental and performance management processes for learning coaches.
• Conduct administrative duties associated with managing other personnel in alignment with University policies and best practices, such as conducting performance reviews based on departmental objectives set by the Undergraduate Leadership team (‘Dean’s Council’).

Students and Programme-related

• Deliver the student programme induction for the Leadership Core/Foundations modules for each new intake and support any redesign by providing feedback and implementing changes approved by the line manager.
• Provide academic and mission support to students individually and in groups throughout their foundation learning journey.
• Engage in the assessment of students’ modules' summative submissions
• Contribute to the annual programme review to ensure content is up-to-date, valid, and relevant, and reflects current and future trends in the 14 grand challenges and great opportunities, whilst considering pedagogical approaches suited for online learning.
• Conduct regular student-staff consultative group meetings to capture student feedback and implement recommendations to enhance the quality of programme delivery.
• Regularly review the Learning Management System analytical reports to identify students who may require intervention from coaches throughout the foundation learning journey.
• Implement modifications to learning materials, assessments, and other relevant components to meet internal and external quality assurance requirements.
• Other relevant activities to ensure the successful delivery of the programme
• Contribute to decision-making as a member of the assessment board.
• Any other reasonable duties that may be allocated from time to time by the line manager.
• Other reasonable duties as assigned by the Dean.
• Act as the contact person between Leadership Core/Foundations and other specialisations (BEL/BSE/IBT) 

Ensure the safety and well-being of all young persons and vulnerable adults with whom we deal,  by adhering to ALU’s comprehensive safeguarding policy, maintaining a zero-tolerance approach to any violations of safeguarding standards. 

REQUIREMENTS

Educational Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in relevant fields such as Education,  Business Administration, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, or any other related field.d.

Experience:

• Experience in leading or facilitating workshops, classes, or training programmes, particularly in higher education or professional development contexts. This includes designing curriculum, delivering engaging content, and adapting teaching methods to meet the diverse needs of learners.
• Proven track record in coaching or mentoring students or colleagues, providing academic support, and guiding individuals through their learning journeys. This may involve one-on-one sessions or group mentoring, focusing on personal and professional development.
• Experience in designing and developing curricula for educational programmes, ensuring alignment with learning outcomes and pedagogical best practices. This includes creating engaging and inclusive content that caters to diverse learners' needs and integrates innovative teaching methods to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to support teams, engaging in facilitating induction or training for new staff. Acting as a liaison between different departments to enhance programme delivery.
• Experience in analysing feedback and performance data to assess programme effectiveness. This includes implementing improvements based on insights gathered from student assessments and learning management systems, as well as contributing to programme reviews to ensure relevance and alignment with educational trends.

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 utilising 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 written and verbal communication skills for working across various teams.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Organisational skills for coordinating events, managing programme adoption, and handling day-to-day operational tasks.
• Based in Kigali, Rwanda (or willing to relocate).