Business Studies Mentor

Who We Are! 

🌍 Africa has the world’s youngest and fastest-growing population. By 2035, the continent is poised to contribute more young people to the global workforce each year than the rest of the world combined. 

At Educate! we're obsessed with impact. We leverage iterative learning to build highly scalable youth employment solutions aimed at unlocking the potential of the world’s youngest continent. 

Educate! prepares youth in Africa to learn, earn and thrive in today’s economy by: 

1. Introducing an employment-focused school subject into secondary and 
2. Delivering livelihood boot camps for out-of-school youth, with a focus on marginalized rural girls and young women.

To date, more than 500,000 youth have been meaningfully impacted across Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania, and along the way, Educate! has become the largest youth employment and skills provider in East Africa.

Educate! is a team of over 300 largely African staff and 300 volunteer youth mentors. We prioritize building an engaging, fulfilling and growth oriented work environment. 50% of our top 30 leaders have been with us for over 5 years, 10+ alumni have started their own organizations, and 6 current or former team members were Acumen Fund East Africa fellows. 

We have been backed by top foundations such as Imaginable Futures, Livelihood Impact Fund,  Jack Dorsey’s #startsmall, CIFF and Echidna Giving. Educate! won a 2018 Klaus J. Jacobs Prize and a 2015 WISE Award, and has been highlighted by the World Bank’s S4YE's Impact Portfolio, an Al Jazeera documentary, BBC, The Brookings Institution as one of 14 case studies on scaling education, and the Gates Foundation as a Goalkeepers Accelerator. In 2022, we received a catalytic investment from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott to scale our systems change work.

Educate!'s long-term vision is to design solutions that measurably impact millions of youth across Africa each year.

Good to note: To Our Awesome Applicants! 🚀💫

We know that incredible candidates sometimes hesitate to apply if they don’t meet every requirement. If this role excites you, we encourage you to apply! 

We’re looking for passionate individuals who believe in our mission and can bring unique perspectives to our team—not just those who check every box. We value diversity and strongly encourage women and individuals from all backgrounds to apply.

Position Overview

The Business Studies Mentor supports the implementation of Project-Based Learning (PBL) in Business Studies for secondary schools under the MEWAKA program. They coach teachers, guide students in developing viable business plans, and facilitate interactive learning experiences. By modelling effective teaching strategies and reinforcing competence-based learning, they ensure students gain practical entrepreneurship skills that will enable them to become job creators.

In this role, the Business Studies Mentor collaborates with school leadership, external coaches, and other stakeholders to enhance teaching quality and student outcomes. They promote gender-responsive pedagogy, support teachers in managing large classes, and address challenges in implementing PBL. This position requires strong mentorship, adaptability, and the ability to influence without authority.

• Supporting Project-Based Learning (PBL) Implementation in Secondary Schools– 40%
• Supporting Project-Based Learning (PBL) Implementation in Secondary Schools– 40%
• Coaching and Mentoring Teachers on Business Creation – 30%
• Support Schools and Business Studies Teachers in CBC Implementation – 20%
• Monitoring and Data Collection – 10%

Performance Objectives 

1. Supporting Project-Based Learning (PBL) Implementation in Secondary Schools (40%)

This is the primary function, as the success of MEWAKA depends on ensuring that students engage in hands-on, real-world business learning experiences.

Responsibilities/Activities of this function

• Drive engaging PBL for Real-World Business Learning (Ensuring students actively participate in hands-on, real-world business experiences)
• Support Teachers to deliver effective PBL
• Guide Students in developing viable Real-World business plans
• Champion Best Practices and Inclusive PBL Environments (Modeling effective PBL instruction and promoting gender-responsive teaching)
• Collaborate for the continuous improvement of PBL implementation

2. Coaching and Mentoring Teachers on Business Creation (30%)

Direct student mentorship is critical to equipping them with entrepreneurial skills, ensuring they can apply what they learn in class to develop and launch business projects.

Responsibilities/Activities of this function

• Guide students through the process of creating business plans using Project-Based Learning (PBL). This is central to MEWAKA's design — helping students apply PBL to real-world business creation.
• Encourage and support students in developing viable business plans that can be launched after completing Form 4. A core MEWAKA goal: students must graduate Form 4 with practical, launch-ready business ideas.
• Provide one-on-one mentoring to students, offering advice on business ideas, strategy, and development. Personalised mentorship is emphasized heavily in the Business Studies Mentor JD — not just general support.
• Monitor students’ progress in their business plans, offering feedback and solutions for challenges they face. Tracking, feedback, and guidance are key performance areas for Business Studies Mentors.
• Lead group activities aimed at developing students’ entrepreneurial skills. Facilitating teamwork, peer learning, and skill-building workshops is an essential part of BM duties.

3. Support Schools and Business Studies Teachers in CBC Implementation (20%)

While students are the main focus, teachers must also be supported in effectively delivering PBL, ensuring sustainability beyond the Business Studies Mentor’s involvement.

Responsibilities/Activities of this function 

• Support Teacher Training: Support workshops and coaching sessions delivered by peer facilitators and National Facilitators to equip Business Studies teachers with Project-Based Learning (PBL) methodologies.
• Provide Classroom Support: Observe and guide teachers in delivering PBL lessons, offering feedback and best practices for effective facilitation.
• Model Effective Teaching Techniques: Demonstrate interactive and student-centered instructional strategies to enhance teacher competence.
• Coach Teachers on Business Planning: Help teachers guide students in developing viable business plans as part of their coursework.
• Adapt Training to School Contexts: Customize coaching and support based on individual school needs, ensuring PBL is effectively integrated into the curriculum.

4. Monitoring & Data Collection (10%)

While important for tracking impact and making improvements, this function supports the other three rather than being the primary focus.

Responsibilities/Activities of this function 

• Track and document students' progress in business planning and entrepreneurship. This is core to ensuring students are moving forward.
• Provide regular updates and feedback to program coordinators, External Coaches, and Program Officers. This keeps everyone informed and aligns mentorship with broader program goals.
• Maintain accurate records of mentoring sessions, business plan development, and student achievements. This is critical for accountability and measuring success.
• Identify students requiring additional support and make recommendations for interventions. Mentorship naturally involves spotting and helping struggling students.
• Prepare quarterly reports on students' progress and achievements. Formal reporting ensures the program tracks impact over time.

Qualifications 

• Strong business acumen and entrepreneurship skills.
• Excellent communication, coaching, and feedback capabilities.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Proficiency in using technology and digital tools for learning.
• Problem-solving and critical thinking.
• Adaptability and flexibility.
• Commitment to fostering student success and growth.
• Empathy and emotional intelligence.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

What We Offer 💼

• A vibrant, mission-driven environment with a supportive and fun team.
• Flexibility— Hybrid work environment to empower you in your mode of work. 
• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Healthcare coverage for you and your dependents, work laptop, Internet & call stipend
• Learning & growth opportunities

PLEASE NOTE THE ABOVE BENEFITS DO NOT APPLY TO TEMPORARY, CONTRACT OR INDEPENDENT CONSULTANTS. 

Application Process: Rolling basis, interviews happening soon!

Our Culture & Tenets(Values) 🌱

We’re ambitious. Are you? Educate! is growing fast, so new opportunities are opening up and expanding all the time. We’re inspired by people with drive, and we love to help them reach their full potential. We expect everyone at Educate! to contribute above and beyond their job description, grow their skills, and advance their careers, and we are committed to supporting our staff members on that journey of their careers, and we are committed to supporting our staff members on that journey. 

1. We put Youth First, Impact-Obsessed - We are purpose-driven, focused on impact, and prioritize what truly matters. We listen to youth, design our efforts around their needs, and ensure every dollar creates transformative experiences they value.
2. We Exceed Expectations - We take pride in going above and beyond to achieve the best results—proactively identifying problems and seeking solutions without waiting or stopping at what's requested.
3. We Are Always Learning - We are committed to seeking and applying new knowledge and ideas. We stay open-minded and continuously try new things, experiment, grow, and improve. We invest in learning for ourselves and our teams.
4. We are One Team, Many Views - We value all individuals, believe diverse ideas and open dialogue drive excellence, foster a supportive and respectful environment where everyone can freely express themselves. We work as one team and prioritize the organization's mission over personal or team interests.
5. We have the Startup Mindset - We innovate relentlessly to grow our impact, we never think “we have arrived” or “we’re done.”We constantly challenge the status quo, embrace change, and move quickly toward our vision. Unafraid of failure, we question anything that hinders progress.

Every person at Educate! — from interns to the executive director — is evaluated by how they live up to these five cultural tenets. They are at the core of how we achieve our mission and why we work as well as we do.  Educate is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all who interact in our community. In creating this environment, we encourage people from a variety of cultures, backgrounds and life experiences to join our diverse team. 

We’re committed to ensuring all candidates are screened for child and youth safety. As part of the process, you’ll need to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct. Educate! reserves the right to withdraw employment offers if any risks to youth are identified.