Job Posting

HEAD OF ACADEMICS & CHARACTER: ASCENT SOCCER

(Location: Lilongwe, Malawi)

Target Start Date: January, 2025

Ascent Soccer is seeking an experienced, passionate and impact driven academic leader and mentor who believes in education and opportunity for the under-served talent and promise of Southeast Africa.

ABOUT ASCENT SOCCER

Ascent Soccer unlocks the competitive advantages in Malawi and across Southeast Africa to identify and develop youth football talent, by delivering professional level soccer training, education, personal development and global pathways for youth of promise. Ascent Soccer launched in 2015, and quickly became the region’s top full-time youth football academy and scholarship program.

In the past five years alone, Ascent Soccer has produced 35+ youth internationals at the U15, U17, U20 and senior team levels and has nine scholars at world-class boarding schools and universities in Canada and the United States as athlete-scholars. Our squads and classrooms are formed following the most strategic talent search in Southeast African history, having assessed over 75,000 youth players.

In 2024, Ascent Soccer is further embracing its ethos through the development of the region’s first purpose built full-time residential green school, education center and equitable youth soccer academy. Ascent is empowering talent, leveling the playing field and delivering opportunity through four pillars: Soccer. Scholarship. People. Planet.

To see our program and campus please follow this link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cyymPfH0pU.

THE ROLE

Ascent Soccer is seeking a Head of Academics and Character to help further develop South Eastern Africa’s premier football academy. This role involves a broad range of responsibilities and is unique in its potential to drive change and break new ground in both the sporting and educational sectors. It is both an exciting challenge and a wonderful opportunity.

The ideal candidate will be a team player who is willing to get involved with a variety of elements of academy life, along with being someone who understands the challenges of working in Southeast Africa while bringing a positive attitude and a solution-focused mindset. This could suit an aspiring teacher, looking to make their first step into a leadership role. We are looking for a joyful, accountable and nurturing leader who puts people, and our planet, first.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

· Developing and managing the Ascent School as a Cambridge Curriculum institution, with the primary academic goal of guiding students with little to no prior educational experience through a 6-7 year journey, culminating in the successful completion of 6 IGCSEs. Managing and mentoring the teaching staff and being responsible for all academic direction and timetabling for the Ascent School.

· As Head of Education and Character you play a key role in the Leadership Committee of Ascent Soccer Malawi

· Leading the development and reinforcement of Ascent’s culture, emphasizing bravery, a strong sense of family, and fostering elite expectations and performance.

· Overseeing the development and implementation of Ascent’s Character program.

· Overseeing Ascent’s pastoral care and ensuring the continued implementation of best practice in this area.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

· (Potentially) teaching an IGCSE course e.g., maths, or lessons to the lower stages of the academy to gain a stronger understanding of Ascent’s students and their backgrounds.

· Organising and running Ascent’s school trips: we run a range of single and multi-day trips within Malawi to complement our curriculum, give back to our society, and develop entrepreneurship in our students. Supporting European travel (trips, trials, training placements) for Ascent players including visa applications.

· Developing new educational/vocational pathways for our players as they transition from Ascent into adult life

· Managing relationships with our partners in Malawi, such as organizations that share our values and work with us on work experience, trips, and professional development, as well as embassies and missions, where our joint efforts help deepen ties between their nations and Malawi

· Managing our permaculture and green education space

· Mentoring a group of 4/5 older students

· Running an additional afterschool club/activity in an area you are passionate about e.g., cooking/another sport/dance etc.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

Our ideal candidate will bring the following qualifications/skills and experience to the role

· A resilient individual who can navigate complex situations, manage competing yet valid expectations, and remain steady when things don’t go as planned.

· Proven experience successfully adapting to a new culture.

· Strong ability to innovate and develop solutions to challenges.

· 3+ years of experience in a school or other youth-focused organization.

· Bachelor’s degree and a relevant teaching qualification (e.g., PGCE).

· A strong willingness to embrace and actively contribute to Ascent’s family-oriented culture, which seeks to uplift all its members and help them achieve their full potential

Ascent Soccer is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or disability status.

OFFER & BENEFITS

This is a full-time contract opportunity in Malawi, which reports to the Director of Programs. Ascent Soccer is offering a comprehensive package of salary, accommodation (and utility bills) and vehicle.

This total contact package value circa $35,000 to $40,000 USD per annum.

This contract opportunity offer as our ‘Head of Academics & Character’ would include the following:

• Annual salary commensurate with your qualifications and experience
• One return flight (if applicable) annually between your home city & Lilongwe
• Private room, and shared lounge and bathroom (with one other international staff member) in Ascent accommodation in Lilongwe with high-speed internet
• Private vehicle for work and personal use
• Work Visa & Health Insurance

APPLICATION & DEADLINE

The application process for this role will close on November 25th, 2024.

To apply for this position please send the following to the attention of George Maguire, Co-Founder & Director of Programs:

• Cover Letter & Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Personal Video (maximum 2 minutes, sharing your leadership philosophy and why you are interested in this ‘Country Manager’ opportunity at Ascent Soccer in Malawi

Submit your application package via email (hr@ascentsoccer.org) or WhatsApp (+265 99639 1727).