Director of Active Learning Project US Non-profit Careers – The African SOUP
Job Title: Director of Active Learning Project
Organisation: African SOUP
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Reports to: US Executive Director of The African SOUP
About US:
The African SOUP through the Active Learning Project (ALP) is implementing hands-on, student directed, activity-based teaching methods where creativity, critical thinking and classroom innovation play a crucial role in the learning process. Founded in 2009, The African SOUP is a registered NGO working to implement a national education initiative called the Active Learning Project as well as four community programs in Namutumba District. By engaging teacher training colleges, primary school teachers, and education officials in active learning training and technical support, The SOUP hopes to equip and empower Uganda’s future leaders with increased content knowledge, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, and positive attitudes and enthusiasm towards learning.
About the Active Learning Project:
Traditional teaching methods of education in Uganda include rote memorization and lecturing, which can lead to difficulty in the synthesis of information by young students especially those who are not just auditory learners. The Active Learning Project provides innovative teaching methods coupled with local curricula and materials in order to address the vast needs and learning styles of children. By embedding this new style of teaching within Uganda’s local curriculum, teachers can depart from traditional methods of teaching and engage learners in critical and creative thinking and ethical practices.
In response to the 2015 Millennium Development Goals Report, the Ugandan Government developed a five-year plan called the Second National Development Plan to help Uganda stay on track to reach the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Within this five-year plan, the first two educational objectives are:
- To achieve equitable access to relevant and quality education and training and,
- To ensure delivery of relevant and quality education training.
To meet this demand, The African SOUP is scaling our successful approach to primary teacher education implementation of the Active Learning methodology. Our rural primary school saw 100% graduation rate for its primary 7 class in 2015 a 14% percent increase since 2014 as compared to a 20% average national graduation rate. Active Learning engages students in meaningful learning activities that encourages the processing of knowledge for themselves. It also emphasizes high order thinking skills such as creative thinking, critical analysis and ethical practices and serves as the ideal bridge to transfer the content of the curriculum to the learner, ultimately increasing pupil understanding and improving performance on exams.
Job Summary: As part of this expanding project, ALP is seeking a new Director of Active Learning Project to continue to grow and fine tune this project. The role is suitable for executives who have 5 or more years of experience working in education and in leadership positions with NGO’s, bi-lateral, or multilateral organizations. This person will assume responsibility of overseeing all of ALP’s arms (government, partner schools, SOUP school, external partnerships and the PTC program). The Director of ALP position is an important link between our in-country teams and our USA office. To be successful, you will need to effectively manage the priorities and demands of both. Ultimately, you will be responsible for ensuring that high quality outputs and outcomes are delivered in line with the requirements of the project, funding sources and SOUP’s organizational priorities. Management of internal and external stakeholders, and collaboration with funders, government and other partners, will be a key part of the role. This is a senior position with a high level of responsibility, suited to someone with extensive experience in program management, team coordination, education and NGO experience, knowledge of Ugandan education in particular, and with competence in budgeting, financial monitoring and reporting.
Key Duties and Responsibilities: More specifically, the responsibilities of the Director of ALP will be including but not limited to:
- Designing, monitoring and evaluating a budget for the project
- Overseeing the work of a multinational team in varying areas of the project (M&E, facilitation of trainings, design of trainings and materials, execution of project activities)
- Foster and nurture relationships will high-level government and university employees
- Seek new and effective ways to expand the project
- Design strategic plans and monitor them throughout a fast changing project
- Providing dynamic and inspirational leadership to all SOUP staff
- Maintaining oversight of, and coordinating, all ALP activities to ensure that project activities are delivered on time, on budget, to a high standard and meet the requirements of funders and other relevant stakeholders.
- Assuming responsibility for day to day decision making in relation to activities carried out by ALP and communicating clearly and effectively with SOUP staff (USA and UG) to resolve issues with significant operational or strategic implications.
- Other tasks will be required.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The applicant must hold an MA degree in International Education, Policy or Development, NGO or Non-Profit Management or other relevant field
- Work or study experience in the USA or experience working with international teams
- Strong intellect, as evidenced by a higher degree or similar qualifications in a relevant field and performance at interview (MA preferred)
- Previous experience (3-5 years minimum) of managing and inspiring a team.
- Previous experience delivering complex projects or programs, including delivering a range of outputs on time and on budget, ideally with direct experience in Uganda.
- Previous experience of project level financial management.
- Ability to work effectively in collaboration with partners and other stakeholders (internal and external), including those with differing agendas.
- Self-motivated with the confidence to take the initiative. Resilient and good-humored under pressure.
- Fluency in English (written and spoken). Able to convey complex technical and non-technical material in an engaging manner appropriate to the audience.
Reporting: This position will report directly to the US Executive Director of The African SOUP and will work closely with the Ugandan Country Director of The African SOUP.
Salary and Benefits: Commensurate with experience. Please include any firm salary requirements in your application.
How to Apply:
Please send a cover letter and CV to alison@theafricansoup.org. subject: Application for Director of ALP.
Deadline: Open until filled.
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