Project Manager, Rwanda AI Innovation for Schools and Education

The context: 

Rwanda has made significant strides in education, improving enrollment and access over the past two decades. However, despite these achievements, learning outcomes remain low, with only a portion of students meeting grade-level expectations in literacy and numeracy. Rising Academies launched the Rwanda AI Innovation for Schools (RAISE) project to tackle this challenge, focusing on deploying AI-powered tools to address key educational gaps.

The RAISE initiative builds on Rising’s successful work in foundational literacy and numeracy, aligning with national priorities and partnering closely with the Rwandan Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) and the Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB). By harnessing AI, the project aims to personalize learning, streamline teacher workloads, and enhance data-driven decision-making across Rwanda’s education system.

About us:

Rising Academies was founded in 2014 with a mission to close learning gaps and deliver high-quality, accessible education to underserved communities. Beginning in Sierra Leone and expanding across Sub-Saharan Africa, Rising has grown into a recognized leader in educational innovation, operating over 900 schools and reaching more than 250,000 students across Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, and Rwanda.

In Rwanda, Rising has already demonstrated significant improvements in foundational literacy and numeracy through initiatives like FasterReading and FasterMath. Recently, Rising entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Rwanda to expand these efforts across public schools, focusing on scalability, sustainability, and alignment with national educational goals. Rising is a Certified B Corp®, committed to creating social impact through a purpose-driven model, and strives to use data-driven insights and partnerships to enhance program outcomes.

About the role:

The Project Manager, RAISE will play a critical role in implementing the Rwanda AI Innovation for Schools initiative. This position involves leading the development and deployment of AI tools that support students, teachers, and administrators, ensuring that each tool is tailored to local needs and contributes meaningfully to learning outcomes. The Project Manager will be responsible for coordinating with government partners, overseeing project logistics, and tracking the impact of these tools in selected schools.

The role will also include aligning project activities with the objectives set out by the Rwandan Ministry of Education and REB, ensuring that the RAISE project supports Rwanda’s national goals for foundational learning. The ideal candidate will work closely with the Head of Programs and a dedicated team to meet ambitious goals, delivering a project that has the potential to transform educational practices and outcomes across Rwanda.

The Project Manager, RAISE will:

• Lead the deployment of Rori AI Tutor, Teacher Support Bot, and Automated Assessment Tool, ensuring effective integration and training in schools.
• Coordinate with REB, MINEDUC, and other key stakeholders to align project goals with national education priorities.
• Oversee project logistics and daily operations, ensuring smooth implementation of AI tools.
• Collect and analyze data from schools to measure impact, using insights to improve tool effectiveness.
• Manage team performance, providing guidance to meet project milestones and objectives.
• Build and maintain relationships with education officials through regular communication and engagement.
• Ensure timely, high-quality reporting to stakeholders, meeting all guidelines from the Rockefeller Foundation.
• Proactively identify and address project risks to ensure seamless delivery.
• Supervise procurement and distribution of materials and devices, resolving issues promptly.
• Oversee project budget, conducting regular reviews to ensure financial accuracy and accountability.

Location and reporting:

This is a full-time position based in Rwanda with occasional travel required to the districts involved in the RAISE project. The Project Manager will report to the Head of Programs and work closely with government stakeholders, the Rising Academies leadership team, and school staff to ensure the successful implementation of AI-powered educational initiatives.

Application deadline: 
The deadline for application is November 25, 2024.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Education Technology, Business Management, Project Management, or a related field; Master’s degree is a plus.
• 3-5 years of experience in project management within technology, AI, or educational innovation, ideally with exposure to large-scale or donor-funded projects.
• Proven track record of managing projects from concept to completion, with strong skills in planning, budgeting, and timely delivery of complex projects.
• Experience working with multi-stakeholder partnerships, particularly in collaboration with government entities, NGOs, or educational institutions.
• Familiarity with AI technologies, data-driven decision-making, or educational technology tools, and a strong understanding of the potential of AI to transform education.
• Knowledge of data privacy and security practices, particularly within education or public sectors.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in relevant software tools, such as Google Workspace, MS Project, Asana, or similar project management platforms.
• Experience with monitoring, evaluation, and reporting to meet donor requirements, with attention to detail in financial tracking and compliance.

About You:

• You are a skilled communicator, adept at building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including government officials, academic institutions, and local communities.
• You have a passion for educational impact and are motivated by the opportunity to bring AI innovation to underserved communities.
• You are proactive and adaptable, comfortable working in an environment where priorities may shift as the project evolves.
• You set high standards for yourself and the team, promoting accountability, quality, and professionalism.
• You are an organized, detail-oriented leader, with a knack for balancing big-picture goals with day-to-day project tracking.
• You excel in problem-solving, finding creative solutions to overcome challenges, and continuously seeking ways to improve project processes.
• You thrive in a collaborative, cross-functional environment and are willing to go above and beyond to ensure project success.
• You are culturally sensitive, empathetic, and respectful of the communities in which you work, demonstrating a deep understanding of Rwanda's educational and operational contexts.

Compensation and Benefits:

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package. We regularly benchmark our compensation against comparable businesses, social ventures and non-profits. 

Rising’s goal is to be transparent about salaries at all levels of the organisation and have a standard, global pay scale for all positions that is non-negotiable. 

The benefits we offer are built to have a strong added value on our staff’s well-being and we are excited to discuss this further with you in the process.

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Rising is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to providing a work environment that is inclusive and free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, national origin, family or parental status, veteran or disability status.

Rising is committed to creating a culture within the organisation, and its schools, that recognises the importance of safeguarding children and prioritising their rights and needs. We strive to uphold international safeguarding standards, and keep the safety and well-being of our students at the heart of what we do. All Rising employees are expected to abide by the Child Protection Policy, and to have the same level of commitment to protect children from harm. Safeguarding questions are part of every interview process and all Rising employees undergo reference checks before joining the organisation.