Assistant Director - Programs

About Ashesi University:

Our vision is a flourishing Africa whose leaders make ethical decisions in the best interests of their communities, and where innovation drives economic, cultural and social growth. We educate leaders who will make this vision a reality, and we collaborate with other institutions to multiply this work.

Joining Ashesi means becoming part of a vibrant community dedicated to excellence, innovation, and a transformed Africa. We provide opportunities for everyone to do their most meaningful work, through cross-functional collaboration in an environment that encourages intellectual and personal growth.

If you're seeking an environment that values diverse contributions, supports professional development, and enables you to work with purpose, come join our team.

About the Center for Leadership

Ashesi’s Center for Leadership is poised to provide high-quality executive education to senior most leaders across sectors (private, public, civil society and academia) from Africa and beyond.  The Center’s programs will equip and inspire leaders to ask tough questions of themselves, have courageous and meaningful conversations, outline and commit to action steps that will shift mindsets, build systems, shape policy and fuel positive transformation.

The Center will collaborate with Ashesi’s upcoming MBA program, other Centers and Initiatives at Ashesi, such as the Education Collaborative and the Center for Entrepreneurship and external partners in order to deliver high-impact leadership development programs, convenings and publications that shape the outcomes of leadership. 

About the Role:

The Assistant Director for Programs is primarily responsible for the planning, development, and management of executive education programs. This involves working closely with faculty, clients, and other stakeholders to ensure the successful delivery of high-quality learning experiences.

Reporting Lines: This position reports directly to the Executive Director of the Center for Leadership and will supervise junior program staff.

Key Functional Areas Of Responsibility

Program Management (40%)

• Work with the ED to design executive education programs – conduct research on programs and work with others to design unique learning experiences aligned with market needs and the Center’s goals.
• Manage the end-to-end program lifecycle, from initial design, planning and delivery to evaluation.
• Ensure all programs meet the institution's quality assurance and service excellence standards and are delivered on time and within budget.
• Oversee the set up and effective use of a Learning Management System, ensuring that users are connected and have access to resources in real time.
• Manage the Center’s calendar and the scheduling and rolling out of programs.
• Gather and analyze feedback from participants to continuously improve program offerings.

Stakeholder Engagement (25%)

Faculty

• Manage the recruitment process and coordinate training of the Center’s faculty and ensure they have all the resources needed to deliver the expected results.
• Work with the ED to manage contractual arrangements with the various categories of learning facilitators.
• Coordinate program delivery walk-throughs and debriefs for all involved in delivery.

Program Participants

• Serve as a key point of contact for faculty and participants with inquiries about our programs, providing information and assistance as needed.
• Coordinate program activities that involve participants, from registration to alumni engagement, ensuring timely, professional and effective sharing of information and maximum participation.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with corporate clients, industry partners, and alumni.

Events Management (20%)

Oversee the planning and implementation of the Center’s convenings, from end to end, with the support of other coordinating team members and the institutional communications team.

• Lead the planning of events from the conception of ideas to documentation and execution. 
• Coordinate all correspondence and secure commitments from various partners in writing.
• Work with Business Development colleague(s) to identify target audiences and advertising strategies to find and inform guests about events and secure their commitment to participate.
• Ensure the proper coverage of events for the purpose of documenting and building institutional memory and also for publicity (news, websites, portfolios etc.), engaging the relevant teams.
• Coordinate post-event communications – thanking partners and supporters and generating post-event news and website updates, follow up on new opportunities and secure new partnerships.

Operations & Administration (15%)

• Document and coordinate the acquisition of resources for effective program delivery, including venue arrangements, preparation of materials etc., as needed.
• Manage program budgets, including cost control and regular financial reporting.
• Manage a team of direct reports to support the programs function as the Center grows.
• Monitor and evaluate program performance, using data and analytics to inform decision-making.

Career Growth

• This role is a good fit for someone who enjoys organizing programs, information etc. for mixed audiences.
• An interest in Learning and Development, curriculum design, program evaluation as future specialty areas will be nurtured in this role.
• Growth will stem from reading new material, learning about executive education options and honing organizational skills through events.

 Qualifications:

• Hold at least a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. A Master’s degree is preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in program and project management roles preferably in an educational or training environment.
• Exposure to Ashesi university’s ethos and ways of working is an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to manage diverse stakeholders especially C-suite leaders effectively for desired outcomes is critical.
• Supervisory experience with some independent decision-making is essential.

What We Offer:
Our success is driven by our people, which is why we offer a comprehensive compensation package. Compensation at Ashesi is regularly reviewed against industry benchmarks, and total compensation includes health insurance, retirement benefits, and paid leave, which are designed to support the holistic well-being of our staff. We also invest in continuous learning, development and research opportunities, allowing our teams to grow with the university and achieve meaningful impact.

Commitment to Diversity:
Ashesi is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive faculty. We encourage applications from candidates who will enrich and contribute to the cultural and academic diversity of our university.

Join us in shaping the future of Africa’s leadership.