Operations Associate (Volunteer)

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Position Overview

Title: Operations Associate

Role Type: Volunteer (Unpaid)

Location: Remote

Commitment: Part-time, 10 Hours/Wk

Requirements: Reliable Internet Connection, Laptop or Desktop Computer

Duration: 10 weeks

Start Date: November 1, 2021

End Date: December 31, 2021 (possible extension)

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Application Deadline: Rolling

Application Process: Please submit CVs and cover letters (optional) to admin@msiisdgfund.org

Background

Sub-Saharan Africa’s education systems are plagued by poor quality, lack of accessibility and inefficiency. According to UNESCO, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rate of out-of-school children at one-fifth among 6-11 year olds, one-third among 12-14 year olds and 60% among 15-17 year olds. Those that are in school often receive low-quality education due to the lack of trained teachers, limited and outdated materials, and antiquated, one-size-fits-all teaching methods, among many other issues. Perpetually underfunded and overstretched, educators in Africa are constrained in their ability to deliver education that meets the needs of students - particularly those students that face significant barriers to education, including girls, children with disabilities, and children from impoverished families. Despite these challenges, teachers show incredible resilience, creativity and resolve. Every day, teachers identify new ways to deliver education in more individualized and engaging ways. Our belief is that teachers are best equipped to develop solutions to these complex, and often context-specific challenges.

About the HH MSII SDG Challenge

In 2020, His Highness Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II, 14th Emir of Kano & UN Advocate of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in partnership with 1 Million Teachers, launched an annual Challenge. The HH MSII SDG Challenge aims for the provision of high-quality, gender-responsive education to students - particularly girls - in the most deprived regions of the world. We do this by empowering teacher-changemakers with the skills, networks and resources they need to lead innovative and impactful community-based projects. The HH MSII SDG Challenge will unleash the vast untapped potential of Africa's teachers, by combining their on-the-ground expertise with a dynamic, entrepreneurial support system. The Challenge is more than an incubator or an accelerator - it is an ecosystem catalyst. By providing expertise, resources and support for teachers at various stages of their leadership journey, the Challenge is nurturing a grassroots movement of teacher-changemakers. After the successful implementation of the pilot program in 2021, we are now preparing for Cohort 2 with the aim of engaging more than 2,500 teachers in various stages of their changemaker journey. 

Role Description

As Operations Associate, you will provide support with the day-to-day management of the HH MSII SDG Challenge. The Operations Associate's responsibilities include performing administrative tasks, assisting other departments as needed, and ensuring smooth daily operations. A successful operations associate should be highly organized and have a versatile skill set to support a variety of different business functions with a diverse range of tasks.

Key Tasks

Coordination & Project Management

  • Communications and stakeholder engagement, including scheduling of guest speakers and subject matter experts

  • Support overall project management by developing schedules/timelines and managing deliverables

Platform Management

  • Assist in managing the Challenge’s Open eLearning platform (in partnership with 1 Million Teachers)

  • Curate a catalogue of open educational resources to support program participants

  • Communicate directly with program participants - providing updates, responding to queries, etc

Insight Generation

  • Collect, organize and translate user data into actionable insights

  • Perform secondary research to inform the Challenge’s eLearning strategy, programming and operations

  • Develop evidence-informed recommendations to inform the future strategy of the MSII SDG Challenge

Finance & Administration

  • Assist with bookkeeping, accounting, and other administrative tasks as needed.

Qualifications

  • Bachelors Degree and/or equivalent work experience (e.g. previous apprenticeships, internships)

  • Excellent communication and organisational skills, and strong attention to detail

  • Digitally savvy, including proficiency in Google Docs, Asana, Zoom, Canva and other cloud-based project management, productivity, and collaboration tools