Academic Associate

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.

We have recently closed our and won a multi-year, multi-million dollar grant to accelerate the development of our digital ed-tech solutions for low-income students across the globe. Our ‘Bambai’ suite of digital tools already includes a school information system, school observation tool, chatbot tutor, accelerated learning program and teacher coaching app. This is just the start. We want to expand our range of digital products to help improve the quality of education for millions of students around the world. If you want to make a difference to the lives of teachers, students and parents, then we are the right place for you.

About the role:

We are on the search for an exceptional and experienced Academic Associate to join our team in Sierra Leone. The Academic Associate will play a pivotal role in supporting our students and teachers to achieve the best learning outcomes. The ideal candidate will help keep our children safe, deliver high-quality curriculum and assessments, and create a high-performing teacher workforce. 

The Academic Associate will ensure we achieve outstanding learning outcomes in SLEIC and FCC projects, and will help improve the gains on RisingFaster programs across all our schools. 

The Academics Associate will:

• Train teachers on the use of FasterReading and FasterMath materials including ensuring access to quality teacher guides for teaching.
• Ensure monthly child protection checks are effectively carried out, and teachers and school leaders receive the necessary child protection training.
• Ensure school assessments/materials are sourced, printed, and delivered on time to be used.
• Provide guidance and support to every teacher in the programme to pass the Rising Institute.
• Support the review of termly data to inform Professional Development priorities and areas for improvement.
• Keep the overall academics team on budget, while keeping the cost of program delivery low.
• Ensure schools regularly assess students' learning levels, and make recommendations for specific interventions.
• Conduct routine feedback sessions and provide reports to the Impact Team to strengthen the design and delivery of RisingFaster programs.  

Location and reporting:

This is a full-time on-site position. This role will be based in our HQ Office in Sierra Leone and will report directly to Rising’s Director of Programs.

Application deadline: 

The target start-date for this role will be August 2024.

Qualifications and Experience:

• 4+ years as an Academic Associate or in a similar role or field (teaching, school support, school lead etc.)
• Bachelor's degree in Education, Social Sciences, or related field
• Prior experience in managing educational programs, preferably in low-resource settings.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection principles and practices.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills.
• Experience analyzing data and using it to drive decision-making and program improvement.
• Experience in budget management and cost control measures.

About You:

• You are a strong communicator who can effectively engage with diverse stakeholders.
• You possess a solutions-oriented mindset and thrive in dynamic environments.
• You are passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of children and communities.
• You demonstrate strong leadership skills and can motivate teams towards achieving shared goals.
• You have a track record of driving results and delivering high-quality programmes in challenging contexts.
• You have the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• You are committed to the mission and values of Rising Academy Network.
• You are passionate about education and Edtech in Africa.

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.