Co-Curricular Programmes Manager

ABOUT ALU

ALU provides higher education for a higher purpose. Our students declare missions, not majors.
They develop the real-world skills to take on the world’s most pressing challenges. And they take ownership of their learning from day one through our peer and student-led approach – because ALU believes in the power and agency of young people to start shaping the future right now.
Together with a world-class faculty and staff, our students are igniting a ripple of positive impact across Africa and the world.

HOW WE WORK

As a high-growth start-up, 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 Co-Curricula Programmes Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for ALU Rwanda’s co-curricular and non-academic programmes, ensuring they are high-quality, integrated with academic programmes, financially sustainable, and strongly aligned with ALU’s mission.

The role leads the operations, delivery, and continuous improvement of co-curricular functions, including the Writing Centre, Student Success, Career Services (Student Professional Development), and Further Studies Support, as well as non-academic offerings such as Leadership Core (LC) Bootcamp and bridging programmes (e.g. English Immersion).

Working closely with the Director of Academics, programme managers, careers, and external partners, this role ensures students are well prepared for ALU, supported throughout their journey, and successfully transitioned into our graduate pathways.

Responsibilities 

1. Leadership of Co-Curricular Programmes

• Provide strategic and operational oversight for ALU Rwanda’s co-curricular offerings, including Writing Centre, Student Success, Career Services, Competitions, Ethics Course, Further Studies and Postgraduate Support etc. 
• Ensure these offerings are well-coordinated, student-centred, and integrated into the broader academic experience.
• Establish clear goals, delivery standards, and performance metrics for each function.
• Strengthen the coherence and impact of co-curricular programmes across the student lifecycle.

2. Non-Academic Offerings & Bridging Programmes

• Lead the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of non-academic programmes, including Leadership Core (LC) Bootcamp, Bridging and preparatory programmes (e.g. English Immersion).
• Ensure these offerings effectively prepare students for success at ALU Rwanda, both academically and holistically.
• Collaborate with admissions and academic teams to align entry pathways with programme expectations and student readiness.
• Explore opportunities to expand or refine non-academic offerings to meet institutional and market needs.

3. Career Pathways, Internships & Further Study Pipelines

• Deliver an annual, structured pipeline of internships and support postgraduate and further study opportunities for ALU Rwanda students.
• Work closely with Career Services and external partners to build and maintain relationships with employers, universities, and scholarship providers.
• Ensure students receive effective preparation, guidance, and placement support for internships and post-graduation pathways.
• Track outcomes and use data to improve placement rates and student success.

4. Financial Sustainability & Growth

• Ensure co-curricular and non-academic offerings contribute meaningfully to ALU Rwanda’s financial sustainability.
• Support pricing, enrolment, and delivery models that balance access, quality, and revenue generation.
• Collaborate with finance and leadership teams on budgeting, forecasting, and cost optimisation for these programmes.
• Identify opportunities for innovation, partnerships, and scalable offerings.

5. Operational Excellence & Systems

• Build strong operational systems, planning cycles, and reporting structures for all co-curricular and non-academic offerings.
• Ensure clarity of roles, timelines, and accountability across teams.
• Use data and feedback to drive continuous improvement in programme delivery and student experience.
• Ensure alignment with institutional policies, quality standards, and accreditation considerations where relevant.

6. People Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead, manage, and develop teams responsible for co-curricular and non-academic programme delivery.
• Foster strong collaboration with academic programme managers, student support teams, admissions, and central operations.
• Build a culture of ownership, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a trusted partner to the Director of Academics, enabling focus on academic quality, faculty leadership, and strategy.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Master’s degree in Education, Higher Education Administration, Leadership, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Significant experience (5+ years) in higher education programme management, student success, careers, or co-curricular leadership.
• Demonstrated experience leading student-facing programmes at scale.
• Strong understanding of career development, internships, and postgraduate pathways.
• Experience managing budgets and contributing to financially sustainable programme models.
• Proven people leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Key Competencies

• Student-centred and outcomes-focused leadership
• Strong operational and systems thinking
• Strategic execution and prioritisation
• Stakeholder and partnership management
• Financial and programme sustainability mindset
• Clear communication and people leadership

Success in this Role Looks Like

• Co-curricular and non-academic offerings are high-quality, coherent, and well-integrated with academic programmes.
• Students are well prepared for ALU, supported throughout their journey, and successfully transitioned into our graduate pathways.
• Non-academic programmes contribute to institutional sustainability and growth.
• Programme managers and academic leaders are effectively supported through strong operational leadership.