ABOUT AFRICAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

Since 2008, African Leadership Academy (ALA) has sought to identify, develop and connect the most promising young leaders on the African continent, organising them into a powerful community of ethical and effective collaborative action. More than 17 years into the journey, the organisation has built a powerful track record of impact. Our campus community serves 250+ young leaders from across the continent each year. Our pan-African programs in entrepreneurship and impactful careers serve hundreds more. Through these young leaders, we are already impacting thousands of Africans as we pursue a vision of lasting peace and shared prosperity.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Short Programs team plays a critical role in advancing ALA’s mission. By delivering world-class learning experiences, Short Programs amplifies ALA’s impact on youth leadership development while also strengthening the institution’s financial sustainability. Short Programs functions like a business within the Academy; leveraging our campus, people, and brand to deliver exceptional programming that builds networks, generates revenue, and drives institutional growth.

Existing Programming

• Model African Union (MAU): A five-day immersive simulation of the African Union for youth aged 15–19, held in Johannesburg.
• Global Scholars Program (GSP): A summer experience for global high school students that introduces them to ALA’s Entrepreneurial Leadership curriculum, hosted on ALA’s campus.
• Custom Programs: Tailored offerings for schools, foundations, and organisations. These may include teacher training, student workshops, or campus rentals for specialised programming.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead and Manage Programming: The Head of Short Programs will lead the Short Programs team to design, deliver, and scale innovative, high-impact short programs that align with ALA’s mission and revenue goals. They will oversee every stage of each program—from idea and planning to pricing, implementation, improvement, and evaluation—ensuring high quality and strong product-market fit throughout.
• Curriculum Design & Program Innovation: The Head of Short Programs will work closely with faculty, alumni, and other members of ALA to co-create and refine programming. They will lead the development of new offerings, guiding each program from concept through to launch.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships: The Head of Short Programs will develop and maintain strong relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including schools, parents, NGOs, and corporates.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The Head of Short Programs will work closely with ALA’s Finance team to ensure sound pricing and timely invoicing. They will also partner with the Enrollment Management team to drive student recruitment for all program offerings.
• Team Leadership & Development: The Head of Short Programs will manage a team (both full-time and seasonal) responsible for both the design and delivery of programs. They will set clear goals, provide strategic direction, and cultivate a culture of learning, innovation, and accountability within the team.

• A bachelor’s degree and 5+ years’ experience in program design & development.

COMPETENCIES: 

Technical competencies: 

• Proven program management and operational expertise, ideally with experience managing people and leading teams.
• A design-thinking mindset with the ability to turn big ideas into structured plans.
• Experience navigating ambiguity to create clear processes and frameworks.
• Excellent project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities with excellence.
• Experience running a business (or business unit), with clear accountability for financial performance and growth.
• A passion for education, youth development, and creating transformational experiences.
• A track record of leading and motivating high-performing teams.

• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Solid computer literacy and an ability to learn new computer programs easily.
• Excellent one-on-one problem-solving and collaboration skills.
• Project Management skills
• Ability to prioritise and work independently.
• Logical and rational decision-making approach
• Attention to detail
  

• High levels of integrity and confidentiality, and emotional maturity.
• Good Interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with stakeholders and staff at all levels, together with the ability to resolve conflict.
• Resilient and possess the ability to defuse confrontation situations
• Capacity to remain calm and work under pressure of deadlines
• Patience, diplomacy, empathy and flexibility when dealing with a range of situations and people
• Self-confidence and a willingness to accept responsibility and, where required, be proactive and take initiative.
• Ability and willingness to build a positive relationship with all stakeholders.
• Committed and enthusiastic.

Report to: Chief Executive Officer
Job Location: ALA Campus, Honeydew, Johannesburg
Start date: 01 November 2025