We are looking for an dynamic, analytic and committed Head of Programmes, with the skills and experience to lead the logistical organisation of EduSpots’ programmes as we enter into an exciting period of growth.

About EduSpots

EduSpots is an innovative, dynamic, and community-driven UK and Ghanaian registered charity which connects, trains, and equips voluntary community educators to drive community-led change through education spaces named ‘Spots’. Our vision is of our world where communities unite to create the futures they want to see, through education.

Since 2016, through collaborating with over 300 local volunteers named ‘Catalysts’, who take a central leadership role in the development of the network, we have supported 50 communities in creating and running community-led and owned education spaces named ‘Spots’’. Together, we are developing a model for a community-led education space with accompanying network engagement that could have global relevance. Read our model of change document here. 

Our Ghanaian-based team creates collaborative learning opportunities through three leadership programmes for Catalysts: the Ignite, Catalyse and Inspire Mentoring Programmes. These enable them to lead DigLit, EduSTEM, EduKidz and Ignite Equity clubs, alongside locally designed education projects, involving over 10,000 students of all ages annually. Read our 2023 Impact Report here.

We are in an exciting period of our development, having more than doubled our income, programme breadth and reach in the last year. We have been recently selected for two accelerator programmes, who are supporting us as we consider the scaling potential of our model. We won the Tes International Award in 2018 and the Big Give Supporters’ Choice Award in 2022, and we were selected as a finalist for the 2023 Theirworld Scale-Up Innovation Prize. In 2021, our Founder/CEO was a Finalist in UNESCO-backed The Varkey Foundation’s $1 million Global Teacher Prize and selected as a 2024 Gratitude Network Fellow. 

We are excited by our future. Do visit www.eduspots.org for further information.

About this role

Location: Remote working (home-based in Ghana, with some travel)

Reporting to: CEO

Hours: Full-time

Salary: Competitive, in line with experience

We are looking for an organised, analytic and IT-savvy leader and team player, with the skills and experience to lead the logistical organisation of EduSpots’ programmes as we enter into an exciting period of growth.

This integral Ghana-based leadership role, reporting directly to the CEO, will involve responsibility for management of most of our programmes in Ghana and beyond, with a focus on advancing the quality, sustainability and reach of outcomes, underpinned by a strong understanding of our collaborative and community-driven approach to programme delivery. In this role, you will manage the full-time Programme Manager, and a team of four regional coordinators, also working closely with the Education & Research Manager (who will lead on educational content and delivery) and the Head of Operations, feeding into activities led by over 300 Catalysts reaching 10,000+ learners. 

We are looking for an efficient and organised team leader, able to inspire their reports to lead their respective areas effectively in line with our organisational goals, with a strong sense of work accountability and constantly looking to improve the depth and quality of impact of programmes through effective use of systems and data management strategies. You will have a strong understanding of the rural community context, and share our values of promoting community ownership, and ensuring that we adopt cost effective strategies to enable the learners to gain as much benefit from EduSpots’ programmes as possible.

The individual will be flexible, adept at problem-solving, and able to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, with the ability to respond to feedback quickly. They will be highly independent and self-motivated, able to manage multiple tasks concurrently and produce high quality outcomes within a mainly remote working environment, with strong IT skills, able to manipulate data effectively using excel, and work effectively alongside our Head of Operations on the effective roll-out of the EduSpots app.

There will likely be future opportunities for internal promotion in this role for outstanding candidates – EduSpots is a fast-evolving environment, with a strong commitment to the professional development of staff, and the promotion of a positive working culture with well-being at its heart. The postholder does not need to have experience of programmes management in the area of education, although this may be an advantage.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To oversee four regional coordinators, ensuring that they offer outstanding support and mentorship to enable Spots to meet core requirements and deliverables, and progress towards our Dream Spot Model. 
• To manage our Programmes Manager to ensure the effective delivery of the Catalyse  Leadership Programme, and Spot Lead strand. 
• To work with the Programmes Manager and regional coordinators to ensure the effective recruitment,  induction and tracking of Catalysts at local and central levels. 
• To work alongside our Education & Research Manager, ensuring the effective delivery of the Ignite Programme. 
• To lead directly on the Peer Mentoring programme, recruiting, inducting, and training a team of 8 Peer Mentors into semi-staff part-time roles. 
• (Dependent on skill-set), Leading the monitoring, evaluation and learning across our programmes, leading on programme reporting, both internally and externally.
• Oversight of all participant data effectively, working with the Education & Research Manager, Programmes Manager, strand and regional coordinators, and the Head of Operations. 
• Ensuring child protection and safeguarding, and wider risk management and promotion of positive well-being is at the heart of all our programme planning, potentially taking a leadership role in safeguarding, dependent on experience. 

• To support the creation of handbooks, resources & PowerPoints to meet organisational needs as requested, working with the Education & Research Manager. 
• Leading the professional development and appraisal of programme-focused staff team members, and contributing to the development of the wider team.
• Work with the team to develop partnerships with NGOs, corporates, government departments, individuals and wider funders to enhance the delivery of programmes.
• To play a key part of the leadership team, offering strategic insight to the development of the organisation, including joining scale-up strategic planning meetings. 

• To carry out all other duties as reasonably required under the job role, supporting the wider work of the organisation.
• To act at all times in line with the expectations of staff as set out in the Staff & Volunteers Handbook, and other relevant policies and procedures.

Personal Specifications

Knowledge & Experience

• Strong skills and experience in programme development and management with an ability to ensure a large team meet their task deadlines, and produce high quality outcomes.
• An outstanding ability to independently create systems to improve quality of programme delivery and volunteer engagement at an organizational and local level.
• Strong personnel management experience, including experience having difficult conversations and managing performance of diverse staff.
• Knowledge of different monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches.
• Experience in online working environments and home-based working. 
• Strong IT knowledge and skills with exceptional skills in data analysis. 
• Experience of working with volunteers to drive change.
• Experience delivering programmes across various regions of Ghana, including rural and remote locations.
• Experience preparing high quality reports on project targets and deliverables.

Personal Qualities & Skills

• Excellent team management and leadership skills, with the ability to support and inspire staff to improve performance outcomes and hold staff firmly to account where needed, with limited intervention from the CEO.
• A team player with a belief in the value of collaborative approaches to learning.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work to maintain a high standard of performance with minimum supervision.
• Likely to be a strong facilitator, able to lead collaborative and inspiring training and professional development sessions for both staff and volunteers. 
• Exemplary written and verbal communication skills
•  Ability to work under pressure, prioritise and meet deadlines.
• Ability to respond to feedback effectively, always looking for improvements in their work, and that of the organisation.
• Flexible with the ability to react to change and be adaptable.
• An ability to understand and meet agreed international standards of working and promote strong professional standards in their team.
• A strong personal affinity with EduSpots’ mission, vision and values (community leadership, play, care, passion, teamwork and sustainable impact) with a genuine passion for educational equity and community-led development, with the ability to work collaboratively with grassroots volunteers who are the leaders of our network.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a multicultural team
• Masters qualification in a related field
• Volunteer experience and commitment

How to apply:

Please send a tailored covering letter and updated CV addressed to the CEO, Cat Davison at recruitment@eduspots.org by Monday 12th August with a hope to meet shortlisted candidates for a first-round interview shortly afterwards, with a planned start date in early September. For further information please see www.eduspots.org or contact us at recruitment@eduspots.org Also follow us on social media – @eduspots on Twitter and Facebook

This job description will be reviewed annually and may be subject to amendment or modification at any  time in consultation with the post holder. It is not a comprehensive statement of procedures and tasks but sets out the main expectations of the role.
EduSpots is committed to the safeguarding of children. Appointment will be subject to child protection screening appropriate to the post.