In South Africa, the Michael Susan Dell Foundation has two flagship initiatives:
Transformation of school district management
We are working in partnership with the national Department of Basic Education to develop education data dashboards and associated management practices to drive performance improvements in school districts across South Africa. New education data tools and a supporting change process will be used to focus district and province leadership on a short list of student outcomes-oriented key performance indicators (KPIs), streamline data reporting, and enable true management for results within the education system.
Dell Young Leaders Bursary Programme
We work with exceptional young people who have track records of overcoming adversity, and who show the potential to become leaders in their professional lives and communities. By offering comprehensive support to get students to and through university, we help our Young Leaders graduate and find meaningful employment in their chosen professions. At scale, this programme will serve 500 active university students across South Africa.
In addition, the foundation has early stage areas of investment in addressing youth unemployment through vocational training and expanding access to high quality schooling through contract schools.
Current Opportunity
The Michael Susan Dell Foundation is currently interviewing for one Programme Officer to build and support the education grant investment portfolio, and play a senior, leadership role in developing the strategic and operational aspects of the foundation’s practice in South Africa. The Programme Officer would report to the Country Director and be based in the Cape Town office.
The Programme Officer will need to engage effectively with a wide variety of audiences including leaders in: national and provincial government, top universities, fellow foundations and donor agencies, large-scale NGOs, and top-tier consultancies. We look for candidates who have demonstrated strong business acumen, leadership in operations, top notch interpersonal and communication skills, and who possess the maturity and judgment to be effective representatives of the Michael Susan Dell Foundation.
The successful candidate will not only have the ability to offer effective solutions to the complex problems of the South African education system, but will also be able to quickly and concisely communicate complex ideas, and advocate for them in engaging ways.
Minimum Requirements
Education / Experience
Professional or Masters-level qualification from a leading university with 10 – 15 years of work experience in a leading corporate entity. Demonstrated ability to think conceptually using strong analytical skills, to effectively influence a wide cross-section of people, and to identify and implement solutions to address complex business problems. Polished, persuasive spoken and written communication skills. Experience in consulting, operations or strategic project management would be desirable.
Sector Understanding
Prior knowledge of the education sector in South Africa is desirable, but not essential. A burning curiosity to learn about all aspects of education delivery is however, essential.
Skills
Exceptional leadership and management
Strong communication (written verbal)
Strong business acumen
Entrepreneurial risk taking ability
Strong “end-product” orientation
Readiness to look at seemingly intractable social challenges in new ways
Ability to see and communicate opportunities to leverage technology to solve issues in new ways is desirable
Advanced project management skills
Drive to create new initiatives, and not just react to proposals
Analytical, fact-based problem solving and implementation
Solid understanding of financial, budgeting and accounting processes
Unquestioned values and ethics
Specific Responsibilities
Grantee sourcing and management
Build relationships with a variety of potential education investees or grantees at several levels across the country. Work with potential grantees to create new projects, engage in the problem-solving, administer and monitor them, with fanatical attention to detail.
Strategy development and portfolio evaluation
Conduct clear-eyed, rigorous appraisals of all foundation- supported projects, driving active projects for maximum success and making hard choices to move away from ineffective initiatives, as appropriate. Make active use of external evaluation data to drive internal decision-making. Synthesize key findings and drive adoption of lessons learned within the foundation and beyond.
Global foundation development
Help drive the local and global processes and initiatives to make good on the foundation’s vision to be the most effective grantmaking organisation in the world. Embody the highest levels of stewardship and ethical leadership in administering the foundation’s resources.
Limited international travel and extensive domestic travel required.
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