Associate Director of Operations, ALUSB

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.

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Operations Team at ALU School of Business (ALUSB) is the backbone of our educational excellence, ensuring that our programs and events run seamlessly. We are a dynamic and collaborative group, committed to creating an engaging and supportive learning environment for our students. Our culture is defined by innovation, efficiency, and a relentless pursuit of operational excellence. Together, we’ve successfully launched and managed multiple postgraduate programs, donor-funded fellowships, and bespoke corporate initiatives, consistently delivering high-quality experiences that align with ALU’s mission and values.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Associate Director, Operations provides strategic and operational leadership across the ALU School of Business, with end-to-end oversight of the ALUSB portfolio, including the EMBA, postgraduate programmes, Executive Education, and special initiatives such as the Public Sector Fellowship (PSF). The role ensures effective programme delivery, resource utilisation, and high-quality outcomes across academic programmes, intensive weeks, events, and other School initiatives. Working closely with academic, finance, procurement, and other relevant teams, the Associate Director leads operational planning, resource coordination, continuous improvement, and the strengthening of systems and processes. The role drives consistent, scalable operations across the School while fostering a culture focused on learner success, stakeholder satisfaction, and operational excellence.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Programme Operations Management

• Provide operational leadership and oversight of ALUSB’s eMBA and other postgraduate programmes, ensuring alignment with guidelines provided by Product Design and Quality Assurance teams.
• Lead end-to-end operational delivery for postgraduate and special programmes, including the Public Sector Fellowship (PSF), and corporate partner initiatives, covering faculty recruitment, programme intensives, online delivery, budget management, and reporting.
• Partner with academic teams to align operational delivery with programme design, academic requirements, and intended learner outcomes.
• Lead the operational design and launch of new programmes and initiatives, assessing resource requirements, delivery models, risks, dependencies, and scalability.
• Translate School and programme priorities into clear operational plans and drive delivery against agreed quality, financial sustainability, operational performance, and learner experience objectives.

Financial Management

• Develop and manage budgets for School programmes, activities, and initiatives, ensuring effective resource allocation, cost optimization, and financial sustainability while safeguarding programme quality.
• Monitor financial performance against approved budgets, analyse variances, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and revenue growth.
• Coordinate with Finance and relevant stakeholders to ensure timely invoicing, collections, reconciliations, financial reporting, and programme close-out.
• Ensure programme and operational expenditure is properly documented, accounted for, and compliant with approved budgets and institutional requirements.

Team Leadership and Cross-functional Collaboration

• Lead and develop a high-performing operations team, including managing the performance and development of direct reports and providing guidance to key support staff.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships with academic, design, quality assurance, campus operations, and other stakeholders to ensure effective operational alignment and delivery.
• Manage vendor relationships and external partnerships that are critical to programme and event delivery, ensuring quality, reliability, and value for money.

Operational Strategy & Excellence

• Identify and implement process improvements, standardized playbooks, and operational systems to enhance efficiency, consistency, scalability, and long-term programme growth.
• Develop and monitor operational KPIs and performance indicators to drive continuous improvement across programme delivery, campus support, and events.
• Partner with Product Design, Sales & Marketing, Quality Assurance, academic, and campus teams to assess operational feasibility, align priorities, and ensure effective implementation of new programmes and initiatives.
• Establish and maintain operational standards and benchmarks to strengthen consistency, quality, and efficiency across the School.

Student/ Learner Experience 

• Ensure exceptional learner experiences through proactive management of end-to-end programme logistics, learner needs, and emerging challenges.
• Partner with the academic team to resolve programme-related issues and ensure operational delivery remains aligned with educational goals and learner outcomes.
• Develop and continuously improve processes for student communication, support services, and feedback to strengthen engagement and experience.

Intensive Weeks, Events & Special Initiatives

• Develop and continuously improve processes for student communication, support services, and feedback to strengthen engagement and experience.
• Lead the end-to-end planning and delivery of intensive weeks, ensuring effective coordination of logistics, staffing, technology, budgets, timelines, and quality standards.
• Partner with academic and cross-functional teams to align intensive-week schedules and delivery plans with academic, programme, and organisational objectives.
• Lead the planning, execution, and evaluation of major School events and special initiatives, including graduations, conferences, symposiums, retreats, donor engagements, and corporate partner engagements.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE 

• Bachelor's degree required; a Master's degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• 7+ years of professional experience in operations, program management, event management, or a related role. Experience in higher education, edtech, or a learner-focused environment is an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder programs while delivering high-quality outcomes.
• Proven experience managing budgets, optimizing processes, and delivering operational performance at scale.
• Strong project management skills with expertise in tools and systems for scheduling, tracking, and delivery (e.g., Asana, Trello, etc.).
• Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.
• Experience managing vendors, cross-functional teams, and external partnerships.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

• Operational Excellence: A proven track record of delivering efficient and effective program operations.
• Customer-Centric Mindset: Deep commitment to creating exceptional learner and stakeholder experiences.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to align operations with broader institutional goals and program priorities.
• Budget Management: Proficiency in managing and optimizing program budgets while ensuring high-quality outcomes.
• Leadership: Ability to inspire and develop teams, fostering accountability and collaboration.
• Adaptability: Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with evolving priorities.

This role is integral to the success of ALUSB’s programs and initiatives, ensuring that our operations not only meet but exceed the expectations of our students and stakeholders. If you are a strategic and process-oriented leader passionate about delivering exceptional educational experiences, we invite you to join our team.