Student Ventures Program Senior Associate

ABOUT ALU

At the African Leadership University (ALU), we're more than just an institution—we're a catalyst for transformation. Our mission is to develop a new generation of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders who will shape Africa's future. Through our innovative curriculum, focus on experiential learning, and vibrant pan-African community, we empower students to become changemakers, problem-solvers, and innovators. At ALU, we're not just teaching; we're nurturing the leaders who will drive Africa's progress and prosperity in the 21st century

We are dedicated to fostering an open yet secure environment, balancing the safety of students, staff, and visitors with respect for individual rights, and safeguarding responsibilities.

HOW WE WORK

The ALU Team works in starkly different ways to traditional academic bureaucracies. We approach education from first principles, empower individuals to design, test, and implement creative new ideas, and work closely together to craft transformative learning experiences. We are deeply passionate about our students and excited by the challenge of building something entirely new.

The African Leadership University is committed to ensuring the safety and Well-being of all students under our care. As part of this commitment , we have a comprehensive safeguarding policy in place , which outlines our Zero-tolerance approach to any violation of safeguarding.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The SVP Associate plays a central role in supporting ALU’s student entrepreneurs. The role focuses on developing, managing, and improving the end-to-end student venture support
pipeline, from venture discovery and incubation to mentorship, funding preparation, and post-program tracking. This role ensures that ALU’s Student Ventures Program builds high-
quality founders, accelerates promising startups, and maintains strong engagement across the ALU entrepreneurial ecosystem.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Operations & Coordination (Core Function)

• Support planning, coordination, and delivery of SVP activities, events, and learning sessions.
• Manage day-to-day operations for student founder cohorts, ensuring a smooth weekly program experience.
• Maintain accurate program documentation, reports, attendance logs, and compliance records.
• Coordinate logistics for workshops, masterclasses, pitch days, and mentorship sessions.

Founder Support & Venture Development:

• Serve as the primary contact point for student founders within SVP.
• Conduct venture check-ins: reviewing progress, identifying barriers, escalating red flags. Provide guidance on product development, customer discovery, business strategy, and traction milestones. 
• Support ventures in building high-quality data rooms, pitch decks, business models, and traction plans.
• Prepare founders for demo days, pitch sessions, and investment readiness checkpoints.

Mentorship Program Management:

• Identify, onboard, and support mentors working with SVP ventures.
• Match mentors to founders based on identified needs and expertise.
• Track mentorship engagements, outcomes, and follow-up actions.
• Ensure mentors have the materials needed (pitch decks, summaries, documents).

Events & Ecosystem Engagement:

• Assist in planning and executing entrepreneurship events including GEW, founder showcases, hackathons, and networking events.
• Represent CEL in ALU-wide events and collaborations.
• Support outreach to ecosystem partners, industry experts, accelerators, and investors.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting:

• Collect and analyse venture performance data, traction, revenue, milestones, mentor feedback, needs assessments.
• Prepare weekly and monthly reports for internal leadership.
• Track long-term founder progress

Administrative & Cross-Functional Responsibilities:

• Respond to founder email queries, Slack communication, and program support requests on time.
• Support in maintaining CEL databases, folders, and document repositories.
• Collaborate with Admissions, Marketing, E-Lab, Careers, and Academic teams when needed.
• Ensure compliance with ALU policies, safeguarding procedures, and program standards.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

Educational Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Entrepreneurship, Management, Innovation, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating entrepreneurship programs, running ventures, or startup ecosystem involvement.
• Experience building or supporting early-stage ventures (preferred).

Entrepreneurial Competencies:

• Understanding of startup life cycles, MVP development, traction building, and market research.
• Ability to assess venture quality and identify gaps and risks.
• Communication &Facilitation: Ability to facilitate sessions.Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Operational Skills: Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple moving parts.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage tight timelines.

Professional Attributes:

• High emotional intelligence and ability to work with diverse student founders.
• Proactive, solutions-oriented, and adaptable.
• High integrity and strong work ethic.

ROLE OUTCOMES / SUCCESS INDICATORS.

• High student satisfaction in SVP programs.
• Quality and completeness of founder data rooms.
• Improved venture traction and measurable performance growth.
• Strong mentorship engagement metrics.
• Smooth execution of SVP events and activities.
• Timely reporting and program documentation.