Dean of Academics: Ghana

Instill Education is on a mission to transform teaching, learning, and leadership in every classroom on the African continent. We believe our teachers and school leaders are the greatest levers for change in the education system. We recently became an accredited higher education institution in South Africa and launched a game-changing mobile app that offers self-paced, bite-sized modules to help teachers in their professional development journey. More than 50,000 teachers in South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria have already enrolled in our professional development modules and joined a pan-African community of peers and experts who provide support and feedback along the way. We are currently applying for institutional accreditation in Ghana to launch Instill College of Education to start a bachelor of basic education programme.

We are hiring a Dean of Academics to ensure that we can provide a rigorous and supportive learning environment for student teachers in Ghana.

What makes you a great candidate?

You are ambitious, hungry to learn, and have a deep passion for education. You want to work in a fast-paced business environment and grow with a young organisation that seeks to change the face of education across the African continent. You want to learn how a start-up works by getting your hands dirty and getting involved in every aspect of the business. You are excited by the challenge of immersing yourself in new contexts and tackling complex problems. You are not afraid of failure and are driven to improve through robust, data-driven decision-making and feedback. When evaluating your candidacy, we will look for the following:

• Demonstrated commitment to anti-racism, equity, and inclusion
• Ambition to take ownership of challenges and grow with the business
• Exceptional critical thinker with strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Demonstrated passion for educational development, and closing educational equity gaps, and are strongly aligned with our vision, mission, and values

What does the role entail?

As the Dean of Academics, you will be responsible for overseeing and managing all aspects of the College's student learning experience and programming. This role involves strategic planning, leading the development of academic and support staff, developing an inclusive and enriching learning environment for student teachers, curriculum development, and programme monitoring and evaluation.

More specifically you will;

• Provide academic and professional leadership to the college aligned with Instill Education’s learning approach
• Ensure that the programmes offered by the college are of high quality and always meet the standards of professional institutions and accreditation bodies.
• Promote a culture of academic excellence and continuous improvement.
• Develop and maintain connections with GTEC and relevant accreditation authorities.
• Ensure that the programmes within the college are relevant to the industry, and meet the relevant teacher training needs in Ghana.
• Implement necessary changes to improve program quality and student success.
• Ensure that all programmes within the college are regularly revised and externally reviewed within the provisions of the regulations and ensure that all sections of the staff and faculty operate within the college’s policy framework
• Recruit, hire, and retain high-quality faculty members.
• Evaluate faculty performance and provide constructive feedback.
• Provide ongoing professional development opportunities for faculty to enhance their teaching and research skills.
• Lead student academic advising and support services, especially to students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
• Monitor student progress and identify students who may need additional support.
• Implement strategies to enhance student retention and graduation rates.
• Foster a positive and supportive learning environment for all students.
• Manage the academic budget and allocate resources effectively.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures related to academic affairs.

Selection Criteria:

• Master's or advanced degree in Education or a related field.
• Commitment to providing excellent student-centric service.
• Significant experience in teacher education and leadership roles.
• Strong understanding of Ghanaian educational context and curriculum standards.
• Proven ability to develop and implement innovative academic programs.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to student success and academic excellence.
• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students.

Anticipated start date: 1 January 2025

Location: Accra, Ghana

Do our values resonate with yours?

We believe in owning our mission to transform education across Africa. We aim to dream big, work collaboratively, have the courage to learn from failure, embrace ingenuity, and implement practical, inclusive solutions for the communities we serve. If you share our commitment to this challenge, join us in making a profound impact on our education systems.