Program Manager

Malengo is a non-profit organization (Germany: gGmbH; US: 501(c)(3)) that facilitates international educational migration. We provide mentoring and financial support to students from low-income countries who want to complete a Bachelor's degree or vocational training in a high-income country. We aim to give millions of students the opportunity to pursue the education they want, and to lift themselves and their families out of poverty in the process. We believe that this is one of the most effective poverty reduction strategies in per-dollar terms that is available.

Malengo currently supports low-income, high-ability students in Uganda in applying for and completing a Bachelor's degree or refugees in Kenya seeking to do vocational training in Germany. By 2030, we aim to support students from most low-income and lower-middle income countries, and facilitate undergraduate studies in more than a dozen destination countries. Our program is sustainable by combining a strong network of volunteer mentors with a financial model in which students support future generations of scholars once they earn a high enough income (Income Share Agreements, ISAs).

Three complete cohorts of Malengo students, which comprise about 150 young people, are already in Germany. The first of these students will soon be completing their studies. Around 100 more students have just arrived this fall and will continue to arrive until the spring of 2025.

In addition, around 100 young people will be coming to Germany to start vocational training (mostly in nursing) in the fall of 2025. These young people are currently attending intensive German language training in Kenya. Most of them are refugees in Kenya, mainly from South Sudan and Somalia. They constitute the first cohort of Malengo TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) scholars.

We are now looking for a Program Manager to lead and continue to build this new TVET program in Germany in collaboration with our Germany and Kenya teams

Responsibilities include:

• Overseeing and developing all aspects of the new TVET program in Germany:

  • Working closely with the Malengo team in Kenya and Germany to ensure a good immigration experience for scholars (preparation workshops, bureaucratic support, travel logistics).

  • Taking care of scholars' needs in Germany and planning workshops and events for them.

  • Running the Malengo mentorship program for TVET scholars and training mentors.

  • Overseeing the Malengo Career Manager who is charged specifically with placing scholars in vocational training institutions.

• Leading strategy formulation and implementation around the new TVET program:

  • Setting up and monitoring progress towards program budgets, goals and timelines.

  • Owning and refining the process by which TVET scholars are selected for participation in the program. 

  • Working with Malengo's Product Manager to improve processes, introduce efficiencies and get the program ready to scale to reach many more students in the coming years.

  • Coming up with "success strategies" for TVET scholars in Germany, i.e. ways to ensure they pass their exams, integrate successfully into the working world, etc.

We seek someone who is highly motivated, culturally sensitive and able to take a fledgling program off the ground successfully. You might be the ideal candidate if you recognize yourself in these descriptions:

About the candidate

• You are inspired by Malengo's mission and you take a true interest in the personal and professional success of the Malengo TVET scholars.

• You have significant experience managing the design, strategy and implementation of a complex project.

• You have emotional intelligence and are able to work with individuals of different cultural backgrounds. You can develop and maintain relationships with administrative partners, vocational training institutions, and other stakeholders.

• You are very organized and good at overseeing many different stakeholders, processes and timelines.

• You are experienced in working with migrants and/or vocational training students. Experience in working with refugees and/or familiarity with East African countries is a plus.

• You are familiar with Germany's TVET system, ideally in the healthcare sector.

• You speak very good English (C1) and good German (B2). The knowledge of other East African or European languages is a plus (e.g. Swahili, Dinka, Somali, Arabic, French). 

• You hold a tertiary education degree in any subject (e.g. vocational training, Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD).

• You are based in Germany.

• You are willing to engage in regular business trips (around once per month).

What we offer

• Competitive salary commensurate with background and experience (EUR 55, ,000 p.a.)

• Permanent employment contract

• 30 vacation days and regulated overtime compensation

• Flexible remote work with regular team meetings in Germany/Uganda/Kenya

• Collaboration with a highly motivated international team

• The opportunity to help shape a young start-up and have a positive impact on the lives of many young people and their families

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Application documents: Curriculum Vitae, motivation letter

Anticipated start date: as soon as possible

Malengo is committed to diversity, and we believe that our work is strengthened by our differences in background, culture, experience, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, disability, and more.