Director of Active Learning Project US Non-profit Careers – The African SOUP

Organisation:
African SOUP
Duty Station:
Kampala, Uganda
Reports to: US
Executive Director of The African SOUP
About US:
The African SOUP
through the Active Learning Project (ALP) is implementing hands-on, student
directed, activity-based teaching methods where creativity, critical thinking
and classroom innovation play a crucial role in the learning process. Founded
in 2009, The African SOUP is a registered NGO working to implement a national
education initiative called the Active Learning Project as well as four
community programs in Namutumba District. By engaging teacher training
colleges, primary school teachers, and education officials in active learning
training and technical support, The SOUP hopes to equip and empower Uganda’s
future leaders with increased content knowledge, critical thinking and
problem-solving abilities, and positive attitudes and enthusiasm towards
learning.
About the Active Learning Project:
Traditional teaching
methods of education in Uganda include rote memorization and lecturing, which
can lead to difficulty in the synthesis of information by young students
especially those who are not just auditory learners. The Active Learning
Project provides innovative teaching methods coupled with local curricula and
materials in order to address the vast needs and learning styles of children.
By embedding this new style of teaching within Uganda’s local curriculum,
teachers can depart from traditional methods of teaching and engage learners in
critical and creative thinking and ethical practices.
In response to the 2015
Millennium Development Goals Report, the Ugandan Government developed a
five-year plan called the Second National Development Plan to help Uganda stay
on track to reach the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Within this
five-year plan, the first two educational objectives are:
·        
To achieve
equitable access to relevant and quality education and training and,
·        
To ensure
delivery of relevant and quality education training.
To meet this demand,
The African SOUP is scaling our successful approach to primary teacher
education implementation of the Active Learning methodology. Our rural primary
school saw 100% graduation rate for its primary 7 class in 2015 a 14% percent
increase since 2014 as compared to a 20% average national graduation rate. Active
Learning engages students in meaningful learning activities that encourages the
processing of knowledge for themselves. It also emphasizes high order thinking
skills such as creative thinking, critical analysis and ethical practices and
serves as the ideal bridge to transfer the content of the curriculum to the
learner, ultimately increasing pupil understanding and improving performance on
exams.
Job Summary:  As part of this expanding project, ALP is
seeking a new Director of Active Learning Project to continue to grow and fine
tune this project. The role is suitable for executives who have 5 or more years
of experience working in education and in leadership positions with NGO’s, bi-lateral,
or multilateral organizations. This person will assume responsibility of
overseeing all of ALP’s arms (government, partner schools, SOUP school,
external partnerships and the PTC program). The Director of ALP position is an important
link between our in-country teams and our USA office. To be successful, you
will need to effectively manage the priorities and demands of both. Ultimately,
you will be responsible for ensuring that high quality outputs and outcomes are
delivered in line with the requirements of the project, funding sources and
SOUP’s organizational priorities. Management of internal and external
stakeholders, and collaboration with funders, government and other partners, will
be a key part of the role. This is a senior position with a high level of
responsibility, suited to someone with extensive experience in program
management, team coordination, education and NGO experience, knowledge of
Ugandan education in particular, and with competence in budgeting, financial
monitoring and reporting.


Key Duties and Responsibilities:  More
specifically, the responsibilities of the Director of ALP will be including but
not limited to:
·        
Designing,
monitoring and evaluating a budget for the project
·        
Overseeing
the work of a multinational team in varying areas of the project (M&E,
facilitation of trainings, design of trainings and materials, execution of
project activities)
·        
Foster
and nurture relationships will high-level government and university employees
·        
Seek new
and effective ways to expand the project
·        
Design
strategic plans and monitor them throughout a fast changing project
·        
Providing
dynamic and inspirational leadership to all SOUP staff
·        
Maintaining
oversight of, and coordinating, all ALP activities to ensure that project
activities are delivered on time, on budget, to a high standard and meet the
requirements of funders and other relevant stakeholders.
·        
Assuming
responsibility for day to day decision making in relation to activities carried
out by ALP and communicating clearly and effectively with SOUP staff (USA and
UG) to resolve issues with significant operational or strategic implications.
·        
Other
tasks will be required.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 
·        
The applicant
must hold an MA degree in International Education, Policy or Development, NGO
or Non-Profit Management or other relevant field
·        
Work or
study experience in the USA or experience working with international teams
·        
Strong
intellect, as evidenced by a higher degree or similar qualifications in a
relevant field and performance at interview (MA preferred)
·        
Previous
experience (3-5 years minimum) of managing and inspiring a team.
·        
Previous
experience delivering complex projects or programs, including delivering a
range of outputs on time and on budget, ideally with direct experience in
Uganda.
·        
Previous
experience of project level financial management.
·        
Ability
to work effectively in collaboration with partners and other stakeholders
(internal and external), including those with differing agendas.
·        
Self-motivated
with the confidence to take the initiative. Resilient and good-humored under
pressure.
·        
Fluency
in English (written and spoken). Able to convey complex technical and
non-technical material in an engaging manner appropriate to the audience.
Reporting:
This position will report directly to the US Executive Director of The African
SOUP and will work closely with the Ugandan Country Director of The African
SOUP.
Salary and Benefits: Commensurate with experience. Please include any firm salary
requirements in your application.
How to Apply:
 Please send a cover letter and CV to
alison@theafricansoup.org. subject: Application for Director of ALP.
Deadline:  Open until
filled.
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