Job Title: Assistant Manager- Education

Reports to:  Director of the Education Program

Location:  Kigutu, Burundi

Organization Background

Village Health Works (VHW) is a 501(c)(3) international health organization operating in Burundi, East Africa, with offices in the United States and Burundi. Founded in 2006, VHW’s mission is to provide quality, compassionate healthcare in a dignified environment, while addressing the root causes of disease, poverty, violence and neglect. VHW was founded in partnership with the community we serve. VHW uses a holistic model to strengthen communities by removing barriers to human dignity and restoring hope, focusing first on treating and preventing disease through primary health care services, then on integrating education, sustainable agriculture and economic development programs.

VHW has built a sprawling campus in Kigutu, nestled among lush mountains and overlooking beautiful Lake Tanganyika. With more than 500 full-time and part-time employees in Burundi, as well as a small team in the United States, VHW offers a wide range of programs in an area of influence of 200,000 people in the southern provinces of Burundi. VHW is investing in two new initiatives that will expand its impact in Burundi and serve as a model for the country and the region. VHW is about to complete the construction of Kigutu Women’s Health Hospital and Pavilion (KH/WHP), a 150-bed teaching hospital with surgical capacity. In addition, VHW has established the Kigutu International Academy, a boarding school for grades nine through twelfth, to provide young minds with a critical-thinking education that will prepare them to become the leaders we want for their country and the world.

Position Summary

This position supports the Director of the Education Program by providing a variety of administrative and clerical support services in a professional manner. In addition, the position involves supporting the department through internal and external communication, project support, and some customer service/relations. Requiring competency in technology, research, and working with others, this is a great opportunity to serve the mission of VHW by providing vital support to the Director of the Education Program.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate and maintain the Director’s schedule, meetings, visits, and appointments, as well as track other department personnel schedules.
• Assist with follow up on the Director’s communications and engagements with stakeholders and partners regarding initiatives and activities related to the education program.
• Assist with planning and coordination of the education programs and their activities
• Monitor and report on important matters to the Education Team, as designated by the Director.
• Work closely with other departments to track social media progress , the Education Department’s website and social media platforms
• Assist with event coordination and school visits, and participate in post-event/visit debriefing and documentation as assigned.
• Grammatically proof-read the Education materials and communication
• Respond to request from the public, stakeholders, and partners directly or by directing inquiries to the appropriate services,
• Direct programs/ schools to the requested information via the service in charge or by direct response as appropriate
• Assist in the preparation of materials for the meetings of VHW Board of Directors concerning VHW education program.
• Assist with planning and coordination of the education programs and their activities
• Research grant opportunities from government and non-government agencies.
• Draft grant proposals and supporting documents based on the funding requirements of the organization.
• Submit proposals to grant coordinators and the Education Program officer for review and approval.
• Respond to internal and external queries on drafted and submitted grant proposals.
• Maintain positive relationships with fund providers and other stakeholders.
• Maintain records and submit reports related to grant opportunities.
• Support the Director and other officers to keep education programs on schedule, within stated budgets and functioning smoothly.
• Perform all other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Required Experience and Education

• One or more years of administrative experience.
• One or more years of experience working in an international education institution
• Bachelor’s degree in communication, Public Relations, Education or related fields.
• A master’s degree in those fields is preferred.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with good command of grammar and editing.
• Fluency in verbal and written English and knowledge of French  Is an asset
• Ability to write for various audiences including foundations, donors, and broader general constituencies.
• Computer literacy, with knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat.
• Knowledge of teleconferencing and online meetings platforms. Knowledge of website editing is an asset.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with all levels of VHW management and staff as well as outside partners.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Disciplined time management skills, flexibility, including availability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Professionalism, high level of integrity, and competency in dealing with confidential information.

Behavior requirements

Self-disciplined and teachable. Personal integrity in both professional and private life.

Salary and Benefits

Competitive salary,

How to apply

Qualified candidates are encouraged to immediately submit a CV and a thoughtful cover letter outlining why this position is of interest, exactly how your experience matches the qualifications stated and what you believe differentiates you from other candidates.  Additionally, please provide the salary range you are seeking.  Submissions without cover letters and salary requirements will not be considered.

Submissions should be in English and sent to: jobs@villagehealthworks.org and arwamo@villagehealthworks.org. Please include “Assistant Manager- Education Program VHW’’ in the subject line of your email.

Please note: the selection process will begin on 10 July 2023 and the review will continue until the position is filled.