Silverleaf Academy Program Assistant

About the Role 

Position: Program Assistant

Reporting to: CEO

Location: Remote or Zanzibar and Arusha, Tanzania

Contract: 6-12 months volunteer position

Start Date: Immediately 

About Silverleaf Academy 

Silverleaf Academy is revolutionizing education in Tanzania. We are positioning to become the country's  first network of affordable pre-primary and primary schools, educating children aged 3-14. We are providing the highest quality of education at the most affordable price point in pursuit of our mission to serve all children, no matter their socioeconomic class. 

Our unique pedagogy utilizes student-centered learning techniques that harness children’s innate creativity and curiosity, we deploy an inclusive tech-supported  curriculum inside every classroom, and adopt an  innovative team teaching and in-service training approach. Our ultimate vision is to have a network of over 50 pre-primary, primary and secondary schools across Tanzania. For now, we have two schools in Arusha and Babati, each with slightly under 500 total students. We are currently opening a third in Fumba Town, Zanzibar. 

Being a member of our team will be challenging, but very rewarding. We are constantly learning how to move forward with patience, unity, and stability. One must always remember the monumental feat that we are accomplishing in transforming education in Tanzania. As a member of the Silverleaf team, you will be a vital part of this mission. 

Summary of Position 

Silverleaf Academy is looking for a Program Assistant who will support members of the Silverleaf team by streamlining communication and organization. As Program Assistant, you will be working primarily with Silverleaf’s CEO and co-founder. You will assist with a wide variety of projects ranging across human resources, IT, fundraising, systems and administrative areas. This role requires excellent time management and organizational skills, technological prowess, personability, and adaptability. Perhaps most importantly, this role requires one to be a quick learner. Moreover, new tasks will inevitably arise which is why adaptability is so crucial. It would be most beneficial for the applicant to have a passion for education and a strong sense of social mission, thrive in a fast-paced startup environment, excel at working autonomously and be able to juggle multiple responsibilities.

The specific tasks of this position include:

Fundraising:

• Researching funding opportunities and identifying impact investors
• Maintaining relations with current funders as well as actively seeking out and applying for additional funding opportunities
• Managing existing donors (maintaining email correspondence, etc.)
• Reaching out to and coordinating with potential donors 

Marketing/Communication/IT: 

• Managing correspondences for the CEO and assisting with meeting preparation
• Maintaining Silverleaf’s external image through regular communication with all stakeholders
• Seeking out and responding to media opportunities
• Updating website content
• Creating digital content
• Managing and publishing to social media accounts
• Managing communication that comes in through the website and general email account

Human Resources: 

• Coordinating with members of the Silverleaf team including teachers and management
• Working with management to build a strong Silverleaf team through recruitment and professional development activities
• Involvement in procuring supplies
• Working with management and others to determine hiring needs
• Writing job descriptions and disseminating them through appropriate channels
• Researching and pursuing new paths for recruitment
• Organizing retreats and planning meetings

Board and Advisor Relations: 

• Working with the CEO to manage relations with the Board
• Drafting monthly updates for the board on our progress
• Researching potential new board members/advisors based on company needs

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Being on call from 8am-6pm East Africa Time 
• Connecting and building relationships with key impact partners
• Assisting Silverleaf team with research and consultancy projects

Qualifications/Experience:

• College graduate with strong academic record
• Experience with various technological resources
• Comfortable working in a fast-moving, start-up environment
• Fluency in English and preferably fluency in Swahili
• Strong written and verbal communications skills
• Positive attitude, self-starter, entrepreneurial spirit, sense of humor and willingness to learn new things
• Commitment to excellence, outstanding work ethic, and attention to detail
• Resourcefulness and creative problem solving

As a small enterprise, Silverleaf Academy is unable to provide compensation or reimbursement of costs. Thus, this job is a volunteer position, or may be considered an unpaid internship. Yet, expect this role to be a unique learning opportunity and beneficial experience for the right person. As Program Assistant at Silverleaf Academy, you will learn a great deal about the inner workings of a burgeoning, mission-driven enterprise, will have the opportunity to connect with visionary leaders in various fields, and will likely be involved in key decision making. 

Additionally, since we are a small but ever expanding enterprise, there is a high probability of upward mobility within Silverleaf Academy for driven and successful team members. Ultimately, this position will provide you with skills that will be useful for any future career, will make you more aware of your capabilities, and will be a test of your ability to maintain composure and internal harmony in the face of difficulties. We welcome your application and look forward to engaging with you.

To Apply: 

Please apply for this position by:

• Sending CV to hr@silverleaf.co.tz with first and last name and position title in the email subject line. All application materials should be in English, written directly by the candidate.
• Share a 1-2 minute video of yourself explaining why you would like to join the team in this position.