School Performance Manager, IWW

The context:

Across the developing world, more children than ever are in school – but they are not learning. A recent study estimated that less than 1% of school children in Sub-Saharan Africa attend a school where the teaching meets basic standards of quality. At Rising Academies, we’re changing that, and we want your help. Our mission is to create the best schools and the most powerful teaching and learning tools for the people that need it most. We’re one of the fastest-growing quality-focused education companies in Africa, and a Certified B Corp®.

About us:

We own and operate our own great value private schools, partner with governments to improve the quality of public school systems, and use our content and technology to help other education providers. Founded in Sierra Leone in 2014, we provided emergency education to children kept out of school by the Ebola Epidemic before opening our first school in April 2015. Today, we serve more than 250,000 students across more than 900 schools in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana and now Rwanda.

Through great curriculum, intensive teacher coaching and actionable data, we help teachers and school leaders bring quality to every classroom. And we get results: show Rising students make more than twice the progress of their peers in comparable schools.

About the role:

We are seeking an exceptional School Performance Manager to maintain and improve the quality of education in our schools starting January 2025. As a School Performance Manager, you will join a motivated team that strives to create the best schools and teaching tools for those who need them the most. You will be responsible for ensuring the continuous progress of Rising Academies students and the effective delivery of the curriculum, through managing and coaching teachers and school leaders, and engaging with school communities. We are looking for someone who is passionate about education and committed to making a positive impact on the lives of children and young people in Sierra Leone.

The School performance Manager will:

• Monitor and evaluate the performance of each school in the assigned area, through regular school visits and the analysis of data and reports.
• Interpret data and provide feedback to school leaders and teachers on areas of strength and improvement, and support them to create and execute improvement plans.
• Conduct regular coaching and training sessions for school leaders and teachers, to develop and improve their understanding and practical application of the curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment practices.
• Develop and implement systems for tracking and recording the progress of individual students and cohorts, and use this information to inform teacher practice and decision-making.
• Work closely with the recruitment team to ensure that schools have the right number and quality of teachers and support staff, and that all staff are appropriately trained and supported.
• Collaborate with other departments, such as the Curriculum Team and the Data Team, to ensure that schools have access to relevant and high-quality teaching and learning materials, and to promote the use of data-driven decision-making in schools.
• Establish and maintain positive relationships with school communities and stakeholders, including parents, local authorities, and community leaders.

Location and reporting:

This is a full-time position. The role will be based in our operating office in Sierra Leone. The role will report directly to the Program Manager, IWW in Sierra Leone. The school performance manager will be assigned to schools by the Program Manager.

Application deadline: 20th December, 2024. The plan start date for this role is Mid January 2024.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Education, or in a related field such as Leadership or Management.
• At least 3 years of experience in education management, preferably in a low-resource context.
• Experience in coaching and developing the capacity of school leaders and teachers to deliver quality education.
• Familiarity with curriculum development and assessment practices.
• Passion for education and social impact, and promoting equality and diversity.
• Proven track record of improving student outcomes.
• Experience working with key stakeholders and management teams on school performance.
• Experience with safeguarding children and upholding international safeguarding standards.

About You

• Passionate about Rising’s mission.
• You have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and interpersonal skills.
• You demonstrate people skills; must be able to collaborate effectively with diverse personalities and skill sets, and enjoy constructive conflict.
• You have a strong track record of professionalism, trustworthiness and working independently sometimes.
• You possess strong analytical and reasoning skills with ability to adapt to changes in a fast-paced environment.
• You are proactive, self-driven and can take initiative and problem-solve.
• You are comfortable working with senior leadership, reporting on data and outcomes.
• You are willing to take risks, fail, learn, give and receive feedback, and try new approaches.
• You are passionate about improving the quality of education across Africa.

Compensation and Benefits:

We offer a competitive 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.

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.