ALUMNI SUPPORT OFFICER

Job Description

Founded in 2011, CorpsAfrica provides the opportunity for Africans to serve as volunteers in their own countries, along the lines of the Peace Corps model. We train college-educated young Africans and send them to live for up to one year in rural, high-poverty communities to facilitate small-scale, high-impact projects that are identified by local people. CorpsAfrica aims to promote a culture of public service in Africa by giving participants the opportunity to apply their education, skills, and energy toward helping their fellow citizens overcome extreme poverty

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CorpsAfrica has steadily expanded operations from Morocco to Senegal, Malawi, Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, The Gambia, South Africa and Cote d’Ivoire. We seek a motivated, capable, and highly effective leader to build a local team and drive our vision in Uganda. 

Job Overview/Purpose: 

The Alumni Support Officer (ASO) is a critical frontline position responsible for directly enhancing alumni employability and personal development by providing tailored guidance, resources, and support systems. This role focuses on facilitating pathways to employment, job creation, and entrepreneurship for CorpsAfrica alumni, particularly within the first six months post-service, and supporting their long-term career advancement and well-being. The ASO also plays a vital role in tracking alumni progress and engagement, contributing to robust impact reporting. 

Key Responsibilities: 

1. Personalized Career Counseling (PCC) and Mentorship Facilitation: 

• Provide personalized career counseling (PCC) sessions, including individual   and group sessions, for alumni, especially during their first six months post-service, focusing on job placement or business creation. 
• Utilize validated career assessment tools (e.g., Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Holland Code) to gauge alumni skills, interests, and career readiness, helping to personalize their counseling experience. 
• Conduct goal-setting workshops to help alumni articulate their career aspirations and outline concrete, SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) steps to achieve them, fostering focus and motivation. 
• Collaborate and organize joint training events with local NGOs specializing in career development to broaden accessible resources and provide tailored community-level support. 
• Guide alumni to access external professional mentors through partnerships with local businesses and organizations, facilitating a structured mentorship program where mentors are matched based on interests and career goals. 

2. Job Boards and Referral Networks Management: 

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• Maintain and develop job boards and referral networks to connect alumni with   job opportunities and enhance their visibility to potential employers.
• Subscribe to relevant job posting platforms (e.g., LinkedIn, Indeed, local job boards) to create a centralized job board that is easily accessible to all alumni.
• Actively curate and share job postings, internships, and fellowship opportunities through newsletters and online platforms, aiming to share a minimum of six real opportunities monthly.
• Build and maintain relationships with employers interested in hiring CorpsAfrica alumni, encouraging them to post openings directly on the job board and conducting regular check-ins to understand their hiring needs. 
• Encourage alumni to share job leads and opportunities within their networks, fostering a collaborative job search environment and implementing a feedback loop for continuous sourcing improvement. 
• Ensure job opportunities are clearly presented with eligibility criteria, deadlines, and next steps. 

3. Alumni Database Management and Reporting: 

• Maintain a comprehensive alumni database using user-friendly software (e.g., Salesforce, Airtable) to track alumni progress, career paths, and engagement levels effectively. 
• Regularly update the database with comprehensive information on alumni employment status, education, entrepreneurial activities, and engagement with CorpsAfrica. 
• Establish and adhere to a quarterly schedule for submitting data updates and implement procedures for data verification to enhance accuracy. 
• Ensure accuracy and compliance with data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR) to protect alumni information, reinforcing trust. 
• Utilize the database to generate progress and impact reports that inform program improvements and track alumni outcomes, supporting data-driven decision-making and demonstrating effectiveness to stakeholders and funders.

4. Alumni Engagement and Professional Development: 

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• Support the alumni network through communication tools (e.g., newsletters, social media platforms) and content creation, fostering enhanced alumni engagement and collaboration. 
• Organize professional development activities, including workshops on resume building, interview techniques, public speaking, and financial management, to directly prepare alumni for job searches and career advancement.
• Facilitate networking events to connect alumni with employers and industry professionals. 
• Manage the Alumni Spotlights initiative, highlighting successful alumni projects and achievements to showcase professional journeys and inspire current volunteers, partners, and funders. 
• Actively involve alumni in CorpsAfrica activities such as training sessions, community projects, and outreach efforts, leveraging their skills and expertise.

5. Entrepreneurship Support: 

• Provide direct entrepreneurship support, including access to mentorship networks, funding information (grants, microloans), and workshops on business model development, financial literacy, and marketing strategies.
•  Facilitate access to funding by guiding alumni through application processes for seed funding and other opportunities. 
• Offer financial management training and resources for alumni, covering budgeting, saving, investing, and accessing credit. 
• Support agribusiness initiatives by connecting alumni to specialized training programs focused on sustainable agricultural practices, value addition, and market access strategies. 

6. Centralized Connection Platform (Alumni Connect) Interaction:

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• Actively contribute relevant content to the centralized online connection platform (Alumni Connect), including job postings, success stories, and professional development resources. 
• Encourage and facilitate alumni engagement on the platform for resource sharing, networking, and accessing job and mentorship opportunities, fostering a cohesive, interactive, and self-sustaining community. 
• Collect feedback from platform users to continuously improve its features and functionalities.

 7. Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Feedback Implementation: 

• Implement regular feedback mechanisms, including surveys and focus groups, to gather alumni input on programs and initiatives, ensuring responsiveness to their needs. 
• Contribute to the implementation of a robust M&E framework by collecting and tracking data against defined KPIs (e.g., employment rates, business launch rates, sustainability of ventures), which are crucial for program effectiveness assessment and reporting. 
• Ensure that alumni feedback directly influences program changes and improvements, fostering a sense of ownership among alumni. 8. Well-being and Administrative Support: 
• Facilitate access to mental health services for alumni by collaborating with mental health organizations and raising awareness through campaigns. ○ Streamline application processes for scholarships and funding opportunities to increase alumni participation and access to resources. 
• Provide timely feedback and support to central teams (GSO, Country Directors) on alumni needs and program effectiveness.

Required Skills and Qualifications: 

• Proven experience in career counseling, alumni relations, program coordination, or a related field, preferably within a non-profit or international development context. 
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders (alumni, staff, community leaders, employers). Ability to present information clearly and concisely. 
• Strong proficiency in database management software (e.g., Salesforce, Airtable) and experience with online platforms for job boards, networking, resource sharing and have basic budget management Skills  
• Demonstrated ability to collect, organize, and analyze data accurately, with an understanding of data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR). 
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with employers, NGOs, and community partners
• Understanding of job market trends, entrepreneurship ecosystems, and best practices in youth development and vocational training.
• Strong organizational, planning, and event management skills for workshops, networking events, and career fairs. 
• Ability to identify challenges faced by alumni and propose effective solutions, adapting strategies to diverse contexts. 
• A strong commitment to CorpsAfrica’s mission