Operations Associate 23 views2 applications

Can you help us build the future of learning?

After supporting girls from marginalized backgrounds to thrive through globally-recognized girls leadership academies in Kibera and Mathare, SHOFCO is starting a new school! Named after Africa’s earliest and most prestigious institution of learning, Sankoré International School will prepare learners and leaders to shape the future of our communities, continent, and world! Sankoré offers an adapted international education while fostering Kenyan identity and pride. Our school is a microcosm of what we wish the world to become—a community of people from vastly different walks of life powerfully bound together in a shared journey to raise our children to discover themselves, lead purposeful and joyful lives, and make a difference for those around them. We offer sliding scale fees, with 40% tuition-free families. We will serve PP1-Grade 5 students from 2026, with a campus set on 9 acres of land in Rosslyn.

We’re looking for a rock star Operations Associate to join our team to strategize, set-up systems, and support families and staff through strong relationships and operational excellence!

Does this work and vision excite you? Do you think you’re the right person to engage, enrol, and continuously support families to achieve our big vision and grow beyond it? If so, please read on…

Job description: Finance and Operations Associate

Reports to: Head of School

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

About Sankoré

Sankoré embodies a new vision for community and learning, where our deliberately diverse student community is supported to develop the skills and strengths of character to design a better world for themselves and all of us. Sankoré will serve PP1 through Grade 5 students starting in 2026, with a campus located on 9 acres in Rosslyn.

Our Mission

Sankoré nurtures the skills and strengths of character scholars need to create a better world for themselves and all of us. We offer a joyful and rigorous curriculum, a diverse learning community, and integrated sporting, STEAM, music, and nature play-based activities in service of holistic development. Rooted in our values, we co-create the world we want to live in with our scholars, families, and educators.

Our Values

• Consciousness
• Curiosity
• Courage
• Continuous Growth
• Creativity
• Community citizenship

Our Core Value Creed

• I am a Sankoré siafu at all times.
• I am conscious. I practice awareness of myself, others, and the earth we share.
• I am curious; I listen and learn endlessly.
• I choose courage over fear.
• I continuously grow.
• I am creative; I imagine new possibilities for a more joyful and just world!
• I am a global citizen, I contribute to my communities.
• We are Sankoré siafu, powerful alone, unstoppable together!

About the job

As Sankoré prepares to open its doors, the Operations Associate will support the effective procurement management, operational readiness, and day-to-day administration of Sankore International School. This role is critical in ensuring sound procurement controls, smooth school operations, and strong compliance as the school prepares for opening and transitions into ongoing operations. The Associate will work closely with the Head of School and leadership team to support procurement, budgeting, operations, HR administration, and policy implementation.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operations & Project Management

• Develop and manage a comprehensive project timeline for all operational activities leading up to the school’s opening.
• Coordinate event logistics and on-site execution to ensure smooth delivery of school-related activities.

2. Procurement & Vendor Management

• Oversee end-to-end procurement for all school infrastructure, including furniture, fixtures and equipment (FFE), IT systems, and learning materials.
• Establish and manage service contracts for security, maintenance, transportation, and catering.
• Partner with the SHOFCO procurement and finance teams to ensure smooth procurement processes and effective SAP utilization.

3. Facilities, Utilities & Compliance

• Ensure all utilities (power, water, internet), safety requirements, and regulatory inspections are completed prior to the school’s opening.

4. Human Resources & Staff Readiness

• Design and implement staff induction and training programs to support smooth onboarding before the school opens.

5. Admissions, Events & Community Engagement

• Plan and deliver open house events, school tours, and information sessions to promote the school’s philosophy and offerings.

6. Finance Administration

• Manage issuance of tuition payment receipts to parents until ERP automation or finance manager onboarding is complete.

About You

You are a thoughtful, detail-oriented, and service-minded professional who understands that excellent schools are built on strong systems, ethical stewardship, and care for people. You are energized by the opportunity to help launch a new school and take pride in creating order, clarity, and reliability behind the scenes so educators and students can thrive.

You bring:

• A solid foundation in procurement, operations, or administration, with a strong appreciation for accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• A systems-oriented mindset, able to design, follow, and improve processes that support smooth day-to-day operations.
• Strong organizational skills, allowing you to manage multiple tasks, timelines, and priorities with calm and consistency.
• A collaborative and service-oriented approach, working effectively with school leaders, staff, vendors, and external partners.
• Clear and professional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to document processes and explain financial or operational information clearly.
• Careful attention to detail, coupled with the ability to see how individual tasks contribute to the school’s broader mission and goals.
• Initiative and dependability, with a strong sense of ownership and follow-through.
• A growth mindset, openness to feedback, and enthusiasm for learning new systems, tools, and ways of working.
• Strong values alignment, resonating deeply with Sankoré’s commitment to Consciousness, Curiosity, Courage, Continuous Growth, Creativity, and Community Citizenship.

Qualifications & Experience

You have:

• Experience working in a start-up or build-from-scratch environment.
• Comfort working with ambiguity and evolving system
• A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Procurement, Finance, Operations Management, or a related field.
• 1–3 years of relevant professional experience in procurement, finance, operations, administration, or a related role, ideally within a school, nonprofit, startup, or mission-driven organization.
• Hands-on experience with basic bookkeeping, budgeting, procurement, or operational coordination.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience using accounting or ERP systems such as SAP (or the ability to learn quickly).
• A strong understanding of administrative processes, documentation, and internal controls, with a willingness to grow into greater responsibility over time.

Why Join Sankoré?

This is a unique opportunity to join a founding team and play a critical role in building a new model of international education in Kenya—one rooted in excellence, integrity, and care for the whole community.

As the Operations Associate, you will help lay the procurement and operational foundations that enable great teaching, joyful learning, and long-term sustainability. You will grow alongside the school, gaining meaningful experience, increasing responsibility, and the satisfaction of knowing that your work directly supports the flourishing of students, staff, and families at Sankoré.