Director of University Access

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Director of University Access will join an organization with the ambition to demonstrate impact early. Reporting to a committed and passionate CEO, the ideal candidate will oversee the further development of schools across the continent. The leadership team is excited to welcome a skilled university access professional and colleague who will enhance the tertiary education knowledge and experience across the organization. They will inspire alumni and facilitate their access to leading global universities and generous scholarships. The role holder will foster strong partnerships with universities, scholarship providers, and other stakeholders. Additionally, they will provide career support for alumni. This role will entail significant levels of travel and will largely be remote work. Ideally, the successful candidate will also have experience developing and implementing a comprehensive and innovative career counselling curriculum.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS

• Cultivate relationships with admissions teams at highly selective universities worldwide
• Advocate for consideration of alumni during admissions processes
• Represent our school(s) on global university visits and strategic national and international conferences
• Facilitate visits from university representatives and guest speakers, who provide insights on studying abroad, application processes, and visa requirements

UNIVERSITY APPLICATION PREPARATION

• Provide guidance to enable students to navigate university applications and access funding options
• Hold information sessions for students regarding university research, admissions processes, application systems, and application procedures
• Coordinate training on standardized tests, personal statements, mock interviews, university fairs, and related aspects of the application process
• Use online platforms such as Scoir for managing and tracking university applications efficiently, submitting necessary school documents, and troubleshooting issues during the process
• Empower students to identify appropriate universities that are a good fit and match and present themselves to those universities in ways that highlight their abilities and strengths
• Connect current students with alumni/students at global institutions to share university experiences and provide mentorship
• Update resources for career and aptitude exploration regularly, ensuring students have access to the latest information
• Collect and analyze data on university applications, using the information to improve guidance services

ALUMNI SUPPORT

• Assist alumni with processes such as visa applications, travel logistics, etc
• Maintain relationships with alumni at universities to understand their experiences
• Perform related duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate will have university admissions and leadership experience that will enable the continent’s future leaders to secure post-secondary opportunities and scholarships.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Three years minimum of university counselling and/or admissions experience
• Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills
• Effective organizational skills
• Strong commitment to safeguarding children’s well-being and creating safe spaces
• Respect for diversity and inclusion, with a commitment to treating all individuals fairly, regardless of their role, gender, age, sexual orientation, or ethnicity
• Agility with Microsoft Suite products

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Extensive knowledge of international financial aid at global tertiary institutions
• Experience developing and implementing a comprehensive and innovative career counselling and development curriculum
• Prior teaching experience in a secondary school
• Experience assisting high-performing students from challenging backgrounds who have beaten the odds of structural barriers of poverty
• Proven commitment to expanding educational access in Africa

PROCEDURE FOR CANDIDACY