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The context:

Across the developing world, more children than ever are in school – but they are not learning. A recent study estimated that less than 1% of school children in Sub-Saharan Africa attend a school where the teaching meets basic standards of quality. At Rising Academies, we’re changing that, and we want your help. Our mission is to create the best schools and the most powerful teaching and learning tools for the people that need it most. We’re one of the fastest-growing quality-focused education companies in Africa, and a Certified B Corp®.

About us:

Founded in Sierra Leone in 2014, Rising Academies works with governments to improve the quality of teaching and learning in public education systems. Across seven rigorous randomized controlled trials, students in Rising-supported schools have learned, on average, 2.4x faster each year than their peers in comparable schools.

Today, we support more than 450,000 students across 1,400 public schools in West and East Africa. We combine strong pedagogy with deep implementation experience, teacher and school leader support, data and technology, helping governments translate good ideas into approaches that work in real schools and can reach large numbers of children.

Our role depends on the problem we are trying to solve. We design and strengthen foundational learning partnerships; support effective delivery through public education systems; and co-design, localise and test promising new approaches, including third-party technology and AI solutions. We generate evidence on learning impact, implementation, cost and system fit so that decision-makers can determine what to adapt, scale or stop.

Technology and AI are important tools within this approach. We use them where they can strengthen teaching and learning, improve implementation or reduce the cost of delivering effectively. Our ambition is to meaningfully improve learning for millions of children.

At Rising we keep the safety and well-being of our students at the heart of what we do. All Rising employees are expected to abide by the Child Protection Policy, and to share in our commitment to meeting the highest standards of safeguarding excellence and protecting children from harm.

About the role:

We are seeking an exceptional School Performance Manager to maintain and improve the quality of education in our schools. As a School Performance Manager, you will join a motivated team that strives to create the best schools and teaching tools for those who need them the most. You will be responsible for ensuring the continuous progress of Rising Academies students and the effective delivery of the curriculum, through managing and coaching teachers and school leaders, and engaging with school communities. We are looking for someone who is passionate about education and committed to making a positive impact on the lives of children and young people in Africa.

The School Performance Manager will:

• Building strong relationships with School Leaders through regular school visits. Setting high standards and effectively supporting schools to achieve them.
• Building strong relationships with stakeholders, generating support and buy-in, and liaising with them as necessary on relevant matters as they arise.
• Ensuring that schools are safe learning environments and are diligently following Rising Academies’ Child Protection Policy, in alignment with MBSSE policies and procedures.
• Delivering trainings with school leaders and teachers, and then ensuring the trainings translate into improvements in the classroom.
• Ensuring the effective implementation of Rising’s academic model to a high standard.
• Keeping the Program Manager appraised of progress and challenges within each school, and reporting any issues as soon as they arise.
• Supporting School Leaders to build and maintain positive relationships with parents, the surrounding community and key stakeholders

Location and reporting:

This is a full-time role based in Sierra Leone which reports to the Program Lead. You will be based in Bonthe and Moyamba, with their expected start date of January 2027 (the beginning of second term).

Application deadline:

Deadline for applying is 5pm November 30, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so we encourage interested individuals to apply as soon as possible.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor's in Education, or in a related field such as Leadership or Management.
• At least 4 years of experience in education management, preferably in a low-resource context.
• Experience in coaching and developing the capacity of school leaders and teachers to deliver quality education.
• Familiarity with curriculum development and assessment practices.
• Passion for education and social impact, and promoting equality and diversity.
• Proven track record of improving student outcomes.
• Experience working with key stakeholders and management teams on school performance.
• Experience with safeguarding children and upholding international safeguarding standards.

We will consider all applicants that meet the skills and education requirements, and train the successful candidates as required.

About You:

• Passionate about Rising’s mission.
• You have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and interpersonal skills.
• You demonstrate people skills; must be able to collaborate effectively with diverse personalities and skill sets, and enjoy constructive conflict.
• You have a strong track record of professionalism, trustworthiness and working independently sometimes.
• You possess strong analytical and reasoning skills with ability to adapt to changes in a fast-paced environment.
• You are proactive, self-driven and can take initiative and problem-solve.
• You are comfortable working with senior leadership, reporting on data and outcomes.
• You are willing to take risks, fail, learn, give and receive feedback, and try new approaches.
• You are passionate about improving the quality of education across Africa.

Why Join Us?

• Compensation: We offer a competitive salary and benefits package. We regularly benchmark our compensation against comparable businesses, social ventures and non-profits. Rising’s goal is to be transparent about salaries at all levels of the organisation and have a standard, global pay scale for all positions that is non-negotiable.
• Continuous Development and Growth: Rising is a Certified B Corp and twice named in its “Best for the World” list. We are committed to continuous development, which is grounded in our values and a vital part of how we bring the ‘Rising Way’ to life. We provide a nurturing environment where our staff are supported with the right ongoing conversations with their managers, among teams and as an organization, to support their career growth and help us reach our goals.
• Impact: Our students achieve learning gains 2.4 times faster than their peers in comparable schools, positioning our impact in the top 10% of global education interventions. This role offers an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to this proven success.

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Rising is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to providing a work environment that is inclusive and free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, national origin, family or parental status, veteran or disability status.

Rising is committed to creating a culture within the organisation, and its schools, that recognises the importance of safeguarding children and prioritising their rights and needs. We strive to uphold international safeguarding standards, and keep the safety and well-being of our students at the heart of what we do. All Rising employees are expected to abide by the Child Protection Policy, and to have the same level of commitment to protect children from harm. Safeguarding questions are part of every interview process and all Rising employees undergo reference checks before joining the organisation.