Country Manager

Aga Khan Education Services (AKES) is one of the largest private educational networks in the developing world, currently operating over 200 pre-schools to higher secondary schools across Asia and Africa. For more information, visit www.agakhanschools.org. AKES operates under a regional umbrella in East Africa, with its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. It currently has 18 schools in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda catering to to close to 7,200 students and employing over 500 teachers.

The origins of the Aga Khan schools in Tanzania go back to 1905 when a girls’ school was started in Zanzibar. During the colonial era, AKES schools were the first to admit students of all faiths, ethnicities and origins. Today, their commitment to pluralism is still at the heart of the services they offer. Currently, AKES operates four schools, from nursery to secondary levels in Tanzania. The schools offer both national (NECTA) and international curriculums (International Baccalaureate & Cambridge), with a student strength of approximately 230 and 1,230 respectively. Each school aims to provide quality education that imparts a broad set of skills and knowledge and which develops independent and critical thinking abilities.

Position Summary

The Country Manager will be responsible for leading the ambitious change agenda for Aga Khan Education Service, Tanzania (AKES,T). This will include improving the quality of education in both international and national streams, bringing efficiencies to the management and operations of the schools and raising the profile of the Aga Khan Schools in Tanzania. This is a vitally important role with genuine transformational potential.

Key responsibilities:

• Collaborating with the AKES global and regional leadership to articulate a clear educational vision and strategic direction for AKES,T to establish the positive standing and positioning of the school as one of the leading schools in Tanzania, as well as providing leadership in rolling out a strategy which drives improvements in student results;
• Working with the school heads, and the AKES academic leadership to establish school quality indicators based on the AKES Standards for Schools, to oversee the development, implementation and achievement of short-term and long-term school development plans; 
• Overseeing, guiding and monitoring the implementation and achievement of school development plans, and reporting to the management on quality indicators, student learning outcomes and anticipated future issues;
• Supporting the school heads in guiding and monitoring the delivery of curricula and ensuring quality delivery, as well as collaboration with AKES,EA academic leadership, developing and implementing appropriate systems to meet and maintain authorization requirements for the IBO, CIE and CIS;
• Ensuring that country and school operations are managed in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; 
• Making recommendations on policy, programmes, resource allocation and management, based upon a clear understanding of what makes for an effective school as well as AKES,T's portfolio and using market intelligence;
• Facilitating the recruitment, retention and professional development of the highest quality staff throughout AKES,T, ensuring that the organization evaluates staff performance on a regular basis;
• Directing the development of AKES, T’s annual budgets in collaboration with the Finance Manager, and in line with agreed strategic and operating plans, solid performance data and market intelligence.
• Identify, develop and maintain effective stakeholders and external linkages

Requirements

The Country Manager will be a visionary and dynamic leader with entrepreneurial instinct, a strong background in and knowledge of teaching and learning, and a proven ability to lead strategic change within an education system. S/he will be expected to possess the following qualifications, experience and specific attributes:

• A relevant Master’s degree in Education or Management;
• A minimum of ten years of experience in international curriculum schools, including experience in the International Baccalaureate system, with at least five years in a senior leadership position; 
• Demonstrable experience and success in managing operations, financial and human resources; 
• Experience of successfully leading and managing significant change; 
• A thorough understanding of contemporary developments in the global education arena and of effective frameworks for school improvement; 
• Cultural awareness, understanding and sensitivity; 
• The ability to establish and sustain strong relationships with parents, students, teaching and non-teaching staff, alumni and other stakeholders;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• The personal impact and presence required to represent the organization externally; 
• Energy, enthusiasm and a passion for delivering high quality services to children and their families; 
• Experience in the developing world and in Africa will be highly desirable.

Please apply by 31st July, 2018 to jmunguti@akesk.org