VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Job Title: Assistant Lecturer for Project Management                   Location: Kigali

Employment status: Full – Time                                                    Contract type: Open- ended

 Reports to: Subject Manager for Project Management                 Deadline: 15^th October, 2021

Institution Information

Kepler is a nonprofit university program that is building a transformative model of education-to-employment services for these young people across the region. Our ultimate goal is to contribute to the economic mobility of thousands of individuals, families, and communities in all of our countries of operation. We want to reimagine what higher education can look like in sub-Saharan Africa.

Through a rigorous curriculum of in-person, online, and on-the-job learning, Kepler students graduate with the relevant skills and the right attitude to meet the needs of the changing global economy. We partner closely with Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) – a global leader in higher education – which allows our students to attain affordable, internationally recognized degrees while studying in East Africa.

All across sub-Saharan Africa, millions of young people struggle every day with access to education and employment – and the kinds of livelihoods that lead to economic security and mobility for themselves and their families. Every young person deserves the chance to be educated; every young person deserves the opportunity to have a meaningful job.

Kepler launched in Rwanda in 2013. Our 50+ staff currently serve 550 students across two campuses in Rwanda – our flagship campus in Kigali, as well as a second campus in the Kiziba refugee camp in Western Rwanda, where we serve refugee learners. Kepler has an ambitious new strategy for the next five years, which will include launching in two new countries; expanding our academic offerings; partnering with other public and private sector universities, and reaching a new level of organizational sustainability.

Job Summary 

Kepler is hiring an Assistant Lecturer for Project Management to teach in the Faculty of Management. We are looking for a talented educator with strong skills in project management, operations management, asset management, and related fields. The role will focus on facilitating student-centered learning and conducting project-based assessment.

The Assistant Lecturer will also conduct related activities to support students and Kepler as an organization in constant learning and improvement, including creating, documenting, and sharing best practices. The role includes developing structured lessons, adapting curriculum to best meet student needs, analyzing and utilizing data to support diverse learners, and collaborating with colleagues to holistically develop and support all students at Kepler.

In contrast to traditional lecturing positions, Assistant Lecturers at Kepler are focused on creating student learning experiences that are active and encourage students to be self-guided learners.

Reports to: Subject Manager for Project Management

Duties and Responsibilities

• Teach project management related modules in compliance with Kepler policies and procedures;
• Regularly evaluate student learning through competency/project-based assessments, including both formative and summative assessments, and provide clear and actionable feedback to students;
• Conduct and facilitate other forms of assessments as specified in Kepler academic and assessment policies;
• Utilize student data to make informed decisions to guarantee all student progress through the curriculum;
• Create or modify lesson plans as needed in the specified format provided;
• Build courses (curriculum delivery and communication regarding curriculum) through a Learning Management System;
• Under the direction of the Faculty leadership, collaborate with the Learning and Design team in planning and implementing new learning content;
• Conduct student office hours and create other channels for open and positive communication with students;
• Participate in various activities such as meetings, workshops, and seminars as may be scheduled from time to time;
• Undertake any other activities assigned from time to time by the Subject Manager for Project Management.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Project Management or related fields;
• 1 year of experience teaching preferably at higher education level in East Africa;
• Ability to support students in their various learning needs;
• Knowledge of trends and development in the fields of Project Management as well as the skills most sought by employers in Rwanda and East African region;
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational, and networking skills;
• Good command of English as a language of instruction;
• Demonstrated problem-solving and critical thinking skills;
• Proven ability to work independently as well as work collaboratively with colleagues to productively contribute to teams with less or minimal supervision;
• Ability to coordinate and manage multiple projects and competing and conflicting priorities in a fast-paced, changing environment;
• Working knowledge of Microsoft, Google suites, and conferencing software such as Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Zoom, etc;
• Passion for education and interaction with students;
• Demonstrated understanding of how students learn and how to support the most struggling ones;
• Willingness to experiment, try things out, fail fast, and learn constantly
• Functional knowledge of project management information systems/software

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• At least 3 years of teaching experience at university level, preferably in the East African Community or demonstrated a strong ability to support the learning of others in a professional setting;
• Experience teaching in non-traditional, learner-centered teaching environments;
• Experience in program or training curriculum development, either in academic or other professional settings, ideally with a focus on employability and using competency/project-based learning;
• Demonstrated adaptability and commitment to innovation in learning and teaching pedagogy;
• Experience evaluating the effectiveness of programs and making recommendations for improvements;

 Benefits:

• Competitive salary (calculated in USD) commensurate with experience
• Eighteen (18) days of Paid Time Off (PTO) or an annual vacation, which will need to be planned with your supervisor;
• 5 weeks of leave during campus breaks;
• Local medical insurance for you, spouse, and 4 children maximum;
• Kepler will pay for work-related expenses and trips that have been initially approved by your line manager.

All applicants must apply using our online application system, CVs received via email or standard post will NOT be considered. The deadline for applying is October 15th, 2021 before the end of the day, all late applications will not be considered.

Kepler values diversity as a paramount aspect of growth and provides equal opportunities. Discrimination against employees based on gender, race, religion, physical abilities, social status, beliefs, and cultural values is strictly forbidden.