University Guidance Administrator

African Leadership Academy (ALA) seeks to transform Africa by identifying, developing, and connecting a new generation of future leaders. The Academy was founded on the philosophy that a new generation of ethical, committed leaders is key to Africa’s development. Each year, ALA draws the most outstanding students from across Africa to its campus in South Africa.

Here, they build a powerful intellectual foundation and develop their leadership capacity through ALA’s unique curriculum. ALA then works with these young leaders throughout their lives as they enable lasting positive change on the African continent. With its audacious mission and lifelong engagement model, ALA is unlike any school in the world.

Position Overview

ALA seeks to hire an administration professional in the University Guidance department to organize, maintain, and operate the office by providing information, materials, and assistance to UG counselling staff, other ALA staffulty, students, parents, college representatives, and external constituents.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate day-to-day operations and schedule activities, programs, and visitations by university representatives.
• Maintain files for each student that consist of former and current transcripts, school leaving certificates (if applicable), IGCSE results, and other materials required for application submissions.
• Create MaiaLearning accounts for each student and upload supporting documents required for college applications.
• Coordinate SAT practice sessions: print and prepare practice tests, arrange schedules with students' academic representatives, assign jobs for marking and invigilating, track completion, etc.
• Schedule, coordinate and publicize university counseling-related events and other opportunities for students to learn about higher education, prepare and distribute emails, flyers, and other materials to publicize programs.
• Provide information concerning college entrance examinations and English language proficiency tests; assist students with scheduling such exams and distribute test results, as appropriate.
• Facilitate payment of fees associated with applying to college, taking college entrance examinations, and securing financial aid.
• Liaise with HALI Access Network to secure Duolingo English Test fee waivers for students.
• Maintain the departmental Year Ahead Calendar and keep the team accountable regarding weekly activities.
• Maintain a current inventory of university guidance equipment and materials; assist in determining purchase priorities.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Counselling Duties

• Advise a group of students about applying to appropriate universities.
• Explain college admission and financial aid application processes to students and parents from a range of cultural, socio-economic, and educational backgrounds.
• Assist students with developing a target school list that includes a range of universities in Africa and the rest of the world.
• Guide students through the preparation of applications, including review of essays and forms; submit supporting documents to universities using the MaiaLearning platform.
• Prepare students for college admission and scholarship interviews.
• Write compelling recommendations for each student in caseload.
• Network and collaborate with university admission officers.
• Co-facilitate classroom lessons and parent webinars with other members of the UG team.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Key Skills and Competencies:

• Attention to detail and organized.
• Academic counselling.

Preferred Experience:

• 3 years of experience in a similar role or an administrative role.