Education Manager
Wells Mountain Initiative (WMI) is seeking a highly organized and motivated individual with strong experience in program management. You are eager to learn, adapt and implement system improvements. The Education Manager is a leader, collaborates with remote co-workers and is able to multitask efficiently. You believe in the power of education and community-led development. Attention to detail and learning quickly are your strong suits. You are familiar with and comfortable working diligently in a remote environment and are excited to work with a multicultural and multinational team as we continue to grow. This position will work remotely with a preference for the individual to live in Nairobi, Kenya.
Minimum Qualification: Bachelor
Experience Level: Mid level
Experience Length: 8 years
Job Description/Requirements
WHAT YOU’LL DO
The full-time remote position is a member of a very dynamic international team. The position is responsible for the following areas and other duties as assigned:
● Implement the annual online scholarship application, the review process with volunteer reviewers, and the selection and award process
● Ensure all bi-annual required reporting is received from scholarship recipients
● Coordinate the bi-annual sending of scholarship funding installments with US staff
● Engage with supporting specific scholar programming areas
● Manage a team of remote program support staff
Scholarship Application Management (Primary months from October - August)
● Serves as the direct contact with the scholarship management software company.
● Participates in the annual scholarship application software renewal process.
● Leads the staff brainstorming process to revise the application and review methodology.
● Edits all application materials and landing page content within the application portal.
● Ensures WMI webpages and social media promote accurate information.
● Recruits qualified volunteer reviewers in collaboration with the development team.
● Prepares instructions and support materials for reviewers and serves as their direct point of contact throughout their reviewing process.
● Analyzes advancing applications to confirm they meet WMI criteria and launches subsequent rounds of review.
● Leads trainings for staff to conduct final interviews and plagiarism/artificial intelligence checks on written application materials.
● Creates targeted questions for finalist interviews to collect additional information highly relevant in order to determine financial need and confirm application authenticity.
● Conducts finalist reference checks.
● Leads the final selection process in collaboration with the Executive Director and Director of Global Operations in accordance with organizational targets and budget.
● Performs finalist verification checks with known organizations that also provide university level scholarships in our target nations.
● Timely transitions relevant application data to WMI systems for record keeping.
● Provides periodic statistical reports to the executive director and board of directors.
● Collaborates with the development team to communicate with reviewers of the selected scholarship recipients.
Student Scholarship Administration (All year)
● Maintains a master student scholar roster and is responsible for Salesforce updates.
● Implements award communications, collection of new scholar required documents and onboarding activities for new scholarship recipients.
● Ensures integration of new scholars with existing WMI Fellowships.
● Reviews scholarship financial adjustment requests based upon organizational policy.
● Compiles all verified scholarship installment wiring of funds information and follows the standard process for sending of funds.
● Manages staff in the review of bi-annual required community service and academic reports and the verification of financial receipts prior to approving additional scholarship installments.
● Improves due-diligence systems related to enrollment, tuition fees, university calendars, use of scholarship funds, completion dates, etc.
● Provides a pipeline of student scholar highlights and stories to communication staff.
● Sends transition of WMI Scholar status emails and certificates based upon scholar completion of studies dates.
● Responsible for writing WMI Student and Graduate Scholar recommendation letters.
● Develops Scholar Review Board case documents for student scholar-related cases.
● Institutes the termination process of student scholars if necessary, based upon organizational policies.
Scholar Program Support
● Provides guidance on defining and actively reaching target beneficiaries to encourage their scholarship application submissions.
● Manages remote program support staff responsible for WMI Fellowships, WMI Global Advisory Board, WMI Scholar Review Board, WMI Online Academy, and internal and external mentorship programs.
● Implements the annual graduate scholar survey with the assistance of program staff.
● Contributes requested information to Educate to Lead support staff regarding scholar status and completion of study dates.
● Leads the development and structuring of educational workshops and panel discussions during the Dream Big Conference, held every three years (upcoming August 2026).
● Responsible for representing the organization at Kenya networking events and potential for conference travel on the continent.
QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS
● Minimum of a bachelor's degree
● At least four years of relevant program management experience
● Eight years of full-time professional work experience
● Staff management experience with hybrid/remote employees
● English fluency required
● This position is required to have overlapping working hours Monday-Friday with US staff between the hours of 8am-12pm EST (New York)
● International nonprofit work experience with a multinational team is a plus
● Prior work experience in a hybrid or remote capacity is a plus
SKILLS
● Excellent organizational skills; ability to plan workflows, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, manage details, problem solve, provide progress reports and meet deadlines
● Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and also independently
● Strong computer skills with specific software (Google Suite) and demonstrated database management systems experience (preferably Salesforce)
● Strong oral, written and interpersonal skills
LOCATION AND SALARY
This position is located on the continent of Africa throughout the duration of employment with WMI. There is a strong preference for this position to be based in Nairobi, Kenya. The monthly salary will be based upon experience and competitive local wages within the locality of the employee. Benefits include paid time-off, sick leave, and national holidays inline with Kenyan labor laws. National labor laws will be applied if the position is not based in Kenya. A monthly stipend for private health insurance and home office stipend is provided.
TO APPLY
If this opportunity speaks to you, please apply by sending your 1) cover letter that explains why you are the right person for this role in relation to your relevant experience, 2) CV, and 3) contact details for two professional references (name, title, email, phone number, brief description of your working relationship).
ABOUT THE HIRING PROCESS
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until January 15, 2024 or until the position is filled. The full hiring process is inclusive of a screening interview, a panel interview with existing staff and a final interview with the executive director. The target start date for this employee is by February 15, 2024. All candidates will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. WMI values a diverse workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. Our hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and organizational needs at the time of hire. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, or pregnancy. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization.
