We are looking for an experienced, data-driven and energetic Head of Leadership Programmes, with strong team management and programme design skills, to oversee our leadership programmes and Spot development work as we continue to expand our Ghana-based team.
About EduSpots
EduSpots is an innovative, dynamic, and community-orientated UK and Ghanaian registered charity which connects, trains, and equips grassroots voluntary educators (named ‘Catalysts’) to drive community-led change through education spaces named ‘Spots’. Our vision is of a world in which communities unite to create the futures they want to see, through education.
Since 2016, through collaborating with over 400 local voluntary community educators and actors – 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 Ghana-based team creates collaborative learning opportunities through three leadership programmes for Catalysts which are increasingly facilitated by the EduSpots app: the Ignite, Catalyse and Inspire Mentoring Programmes. These enable the Catalysts to lead EduKidz (early years education), DigLit (digital literacy), EcoSTEM (STEM and environmental education) and Ignite Equity (gender equity) clubs for learners typically aged 3-16, alongside locally designed education projects, reaching over 10,000 learners of all ages annually. Read our 2023 Annual Report here and our recent independent evaluation here.
We are in an exciting period of our development, having more than doubled our income, programme breadth and reach in the two years, with a recent independent evaluation by Expectation State offering further evidence in support of our model’s outcomes. 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 recently selected as a finalist for the 2023 Their World Scale-Up Innovation Prize. In 2021, our Founder was a Finalist in UNESCO-backed The Varkey Foundation’s $1 million Global Teacher Prize.
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
We are looking for an organised, analytic and IT-savvy leader and team player, with the skills and experience to take oversight of EduSpots’ Leadership Programmes and Spot development work, 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 our leadership 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, the candidate will manage the full-time Leadership Programmes Manager, and a team of four regional coordinators, also working closely with the Head of Programmes (Education & Research) and the Head of Operations, feeding into activities led by over 400 Catalysts reaching 10,000+ learners, with plans to double this reach in the next period.
The post holder will have leadership responsibility of our Ignite Programme, the Catalyse Leadership Programme, alongside the coaching/mentorship of Catalysts and ensuring that all our Spots are safe spaces to learn as the designated safeguarding lead in Ghana.
We are looking for the following core competencies:
- Strong team management skills in a remote working setting, able to ensure that the key deliverables and goals of their team are met, with effective prioritisation and advanced work planning support. They will be able to have difficult conversations, nurture positive staff working habits and enable goal-oriented performance; ultimately they will inspire the team to thrive and be problem solvers and energisers within the wider network.
- Highly experienced at creating and managing spreadsheets, and using data strategically and independently to track, manage and evaluate our progress. This will include working with the Head of Operations to develop and increase uptake of the EduSpots app as a pivotal tool in supporting EduSpots’ educational outcomes.
- Able to thrive in working in a fast-paced environment, with multi-directional requests on their time and shifting priorities with a high expectation on volume of work deliverables, including constant detailed review of programme and strategy documents, with strategic input constantly offered into our programme and wider organizational development.
- Experienced in facilitation with strong session and programme design skills across a range of capacity building areas stretched across leadership, teamwork, entrepreneurship, operations and community engagement, with creative instinct on how to inspire local Catalysts to lead positive change.
- For this role, it is vital to have experience working with teachers, students and community members in a grassroots Ghanaian context, with the skills, knowledge and crucially, passion, needed to work alongside local change makers in developing their own strategies to meet their aspirations for their community’s future.
In a fast developing organisational context, in time, there will likely be opportunities ahead for outstanding candidates to apply for internal promotions in this role, including, for full oversight of programmes or wider organisational leadership roles at the country level or beyond.
EduSpots is an impact-driven working environment, with a strong commitment to the professional development of staff, and the nurturing of an optimistic, supportive and caring working culture with well-being, teamwork and creativity at its heart – all whilst striving towards the best possible outcomes for all members of this collaborative organisation.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- To oversee four regional coordinators, ensuring that they offer outstanding coaching and mentorship support to Catalysts to enable community teams to meet core requirements and deliverables, and progress towards our Dream Spot Model.
- Leading on the tracking of Spot outcomes and development, using data effectively to inform the wider team’s strategic decision-making.
- To manage our Leadership 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 Head of Programmes (Education & Research), ensuring the effective delivery of learner programmes via the regional coordinators team.
- To support the continued refinement of the Spot Model, using learnings to constantly feed into the agreed approach, creating supporting material to enable all staff, Catalysts and Peer Mentors to understand the intended approach at community level.
- Leading the monitoring, evaluation and learning across our leadership programmes, writing reports and contributing to funding proposals.
- Ensuring child protection and safeguarding, and wider risk management and promotion of positive well-being is at the heart of all our programme planning, taking a leadership role in safeguarding, dependent on experience.
- To support the creation of sessions, handbooks, resources & PowerPoints to meet organisational needs as requested, working with the Head of Programmes (Education and Research).
- Leading the professional development and appraisal of their team members, and contributing to the development of the wider team.
- To play a key part of the leadership team, offering strategic insight to the development of the organisation at a high level, 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
- An outstanding ability to independently create systems to improve quality of programme delivery and volunteer engagement at an organizational and local level.
- Strong IT knowledge and skills with exceptional skills in data analysis.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- A strong session facilitator, able to lead collaborative and inspiring training and professional development sessions for both staff and Catalysts.
- 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 foundational changemakers 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 Friday 9th May 2025 with a hope to meet shortlisted candidates for a first-round interview shortly afterwards, with a planned start date in early June 2025. For further information please see https://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.
