VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Job Title: Career Guidance and Internship Coordinator       Location: Kigali

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

Reports to: Director of Careers & Alumni Affairs                    Deadline: 01^st 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:

The career Guidance and Internship Coordinator position is one of the most essential positions in the organization to help Kepler fulfill its vision to innovate higher education through a dynamic blended-learning model. The career Guidance and Internship Coordinator is the first point of contact to support students’ career preparation and learning, and their transition to the labor market/ make them ready for the workplace and the application of classroom learning on the job.

The role includes developing and strengthening structures and protocol for internship and job placement, designing and implementing a revised internship and career coaching model that increases various stakeholder engagement,  supporting employers as they seek to fill key roles by creating efficient and user-friendly methods of engagement and communication, supporting students through workshops, advising and coaching in varying group sizes, networking through external forums to expand the Kepler Employer base and coordinating with CfA and other departments to create job opportunities through staff networks.

This position has non-traditional work hours that may require starting work early or finishing work late, and/or working weekends. The position is equivalent to 45 work hours/week with some fluctuation throughout the year.

Reports to: Director of Careers & Alumni Affairs and Career Guidance Manager

Duties and Responsibilities

• Implement the coaching protocol and documentation process for all students to engage a variety of stakeholders both internally and externally e.g. workplace mentorship program.
• Work with the career team to design and implement student career support to facilitate career awareness, career exploration, and career preparation.
• Conduct individual and group coaching sessions to assist students in determining their interests, abilities, make an informed career decision, and guide their career development preparation
• In collaboration with the Careers Guidance Manager, and other career team members to implement alumni big sibling/little sibling coaching protocol
• Collaborate with the Curriculum Team and Dean of Faculty to create and teach careers-based courses.
• Create and support the development of relevant courses and support systems to target student learning needs e.g. Kiziba vs. Kigali, Males vs. Female, National vs. International, etc.
• Plan and facilitate professional development and workshops to support buy-in and gather feedback from staff.
• Liaise with employers, and elicit feedback from the Employer Advisory Board on curriculum and student/graduate performance.
• Create and participate in networking events and other opportunities for students to engage with employers.
• Create and maintain a structured feedback loop that contributes to strategy and decision-making for expanding the internship and employment program.
• Collaborate with other departments at Kepler to improve communication with the careers team, both internally and externally.
• Grade competency-based work and provide student feedback on time (48-hour turnaround max).
• Utilize student data to make informed decisions to guarantee all student’s progress through the curriculum
• Conduct optional and mandatory office hours through a variety of formats: workshop, 1:1 conference, group supported work time, etc.
• Collaborate with the careers team to seek internship and job opportunities in alignment with the Director of Careers and Academic Campus Directors.
• Collaborate with the Data department to track, utilize and communicate employment data to the broader academic team
• Create and facilitate specific workshops to support students career preparation, and job, coaching to find success
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Careers and Alumni Affairs/Career Guidance manager.

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Human Resources, Counseling, or related field
• At least one year of experience in career services, recruiting
• Analytical thinker with strong problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.
• A motivational leader who displays sound judgment and attention to detail.
• Detail-oriented with excellent time-management skills.
• Confident interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills in English. Fluency in French, Kinyarwanda, or Swahili is an added advantage.
• Demonstrates a strong desire to implement education through a process model of learning, implementing, reflecting, revising and re-implementing
• Has the ability to be creative and innovative in the way that education can be created and delivered to students
• Possesses functional knowledge and/or personal experience with technology: Microsoft Suite, Google Drive, Google Chrome
• Comfortable with not having or providing answers to students through an inquiry-based model where the facilitator of the class is not the “keeper” of all knowledge
• Finds comfort in discussing and promoting Kepler and its students.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Health insurance
• 18 days/year for annual leave
• Additional days of vacation during December and April break
• The position is Kigali, Rwanda based

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 01^st, 2021 before the end of the day, all late applications will note 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.