Senior Regional Manager, Higher Education Inclusion

Position Title: Senior Regional Manager, Higher Education Inclusion.

Position Location: Preference for Nairobi, Abidjan, Kampala, Accra, Kigali, or Addis Ababa

Reports To: Deputy Project Director

Contract Term: 1 year fixed term (renewable)

Languages Required: English (required); French (strong asset)

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 23 January 2026

EXPECTED START DATE: March 1 2026 or sooner

Are you a seasoned leader in higher education, with experience working with displaced youth? WUSC is currently looking for a Senior Regional Manager to provide technical and strategic leadership for an exciting Phase II initiative in Africa

BACKGROUND

WUSC is a Canadian global development organization working to catalyze positive education and economic outcomes for young people. We bring together and collaborate with a diverse network of partners (including students, volunteers, schools, governments, not-for-profits, and businesses) who share this mission. Together, we influence systems change, and foster inclusive, youth-centered solutions that enable young people to thrive and belong. We work with all young people, with a focus on women and displaced populations.  WUSC currently operates in 28 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as in Canada, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $65 million. Our global team includes over 100 staff in Canada and more than 250 staff internationally, implementing a diverse portfolio of development projects in collaboration with numerous multilateral and bilateral donors, and philanthropic foundations.

Pending approval, WUSC is launching the second phase (2026-2031) of an exciting initiative, which aims to significantly expand efforts to help refugee, displaced, and host community (RDP) youth, particularly young women, secure dignified and fulfilling work and access education opportunities across Africa. Building on prior successes, this Phase II  will deepen engagement in new geographies, strengthen local ecosystems, and equip partners with necessary knowledge and tools for lasting change. A core strategy is emphasizing the engagement and strengthening of Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs) to provide sustainable, locally-led technical assistance. 

Over the next five years, Phase II’s ambitious goals include indirectly enabling one million RDP youth to secure dignified work and 35,000 to access education through the provision of expert technical assistance to a broad ecosystem of actors. Key implementation strategies involve working closely with RLOs through three pathways: providing financial access via an RLO Opportunity Fund, strengthening their capacity to provide technical assistance to partners, and embedding them across Phase II’s functional areas. WUSC will serve as a network orchestrator, facilitating connections for scale and training partners and other stakeholders on RDP inclusion. The initiative will achieve its targets by increasing knowledge among partners, enhancing capacity to develop innovative programming, improving collaboration and inclusive policies, and strengthening the institutional ability of RLOs to design, implement, and sustain RDP solutions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Regional Senior Manager, Higher Education Inclusion  will play a critical role in advancing the missions of WUSC and its partners in enhancing access to educational and economic opportunities for RDP youth, namely by providing strategic oversight on the provision of technical assistance for higher education inclusion across the world. This position requires a dedicated, innovative and experienced individual who can provide technical guidance on issues of forced displacement within the context of higher education, and has demonstrated capacity in forging and cultivating relationships with a diversity of stakeholders.

The Regional Senior Manager, Higher Education Inclusion will work closely and in collaboration with WUSC teams in Kenya and globally, the donor’s regional and country teams, and the donor’s partners.

Reporting to the Deputy Project Director, they will:

Work collaboratively with project team members to provide technical, programmatic, and facilitative leadership to ensure the higher education inclusion goals of the initiative are reached;

Provide strategic and technical oversight for WUSC’s 40+ higher education inclusion partners and the project’s higher education inclusion team;

Develop strong working relationships with critical stakeholders such as UNHCR, the Tertiary Refugee Student Network, government ministries and others;

Maintain up to date knowledge on emerging trends and issues in forced displacement, complementary pathways, and durable solutions;

Lead the project’s engagement within higher education communities of practice and working groups across the sector;

Build networks with RDP youth and refugee-led organizations (RLOs) to advance the mission of the initiative; 

Provide technical coaching and mentorship to the project’s higher education inclusion team (Partnerships Manager, Project Coordinators and Project Officer);

Work closely with the project’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Head to comprehensively track the quality and effectiveness of technical assistance delivery on the initiative’s partners (universities, RLOs, donor staff, etc.)

Work closely with the project and donor’s Communications teams to highlight learnings, success stories and impact to a variety of audiences;

Host and participate in country or regional level convenings focused on inclusive higher education;

Identify promising practices and ways to share learnings across the network; and

Work closely with the WUSC global Durable Solutions team to identify synergies and opportunities across WUSC’s portfolio of programming;

Work closely with the Deputy Director and Director to identify broader policy, research and strategic network opportunities within higher education.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

The ideal applicant will combine technical expertise in higher education inclusion, strong familiarity with the displacement context in multiple geographies of focus in Africa, exceptional partnership management skills and relationships, an ability to get things done, and strong organization, coordination, and communication skills.

Education

At minimum, a Bachelor’s degree in a related field (International Development, Education, Public Policy, International Relations); 

Experience & Competencies

Seven to ten years of work experience in higher education or technical assistance projects, at least 5 years in a management capacity;

Relevant experience on projects or partnerships that promote higher education access for populations of concern;

Experience providing technical support to organizations and a commitment to a participatory partnership approach to capacity development;

Demonstrated success in developing toolkits and training materials for mid to senior level staff in private sector, government and civil society organizations;

Deep knowledge of key issues and emerging trends and barriers in education and youth employment in one or more regions or countries on the African continent;

Demonstrated commitment to social inclusion and knowledge of the specific constraints and realities of challenges faced by refugee and displaced groups;

Adherence to gender equality and social inclusion principles; proven knowledge of and commitment to the concept of gender equality and intersectionality within programming;

Complete fluency in English is essential, with the ability to write articulately and cogently, and to edit at a similarly high level;

Fluency (or professional competencies) in French is an asset;

Strong planning, organization and problem-solving skills with ability to work hands-on, independently, and within team in a fast-paced work environment;

Commitment to WUSC’s mission of building a better world for all young people, particularly displaced and refugee youth.

WHY WORK WITH WUSC?

Join Us. Our work is important, cutting-edge, and rewarding. We encourage curiosity, innovation, and flexibility.

WUSC offers a dynamic international work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce. We offer employees exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference in the lives of youth around the world. Employees at WUSC work hard to create lasting change in education, economic opportunities and empowerment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The headquarters of this initiative is located in Nairobi, Kenya; this role is expected to be based on the African continent, and must already possess the relevant work authorizations in the country they are/will be residing in.

The role will require frequent travel across the continent, and occasional international travel for conferences, workshops and meetings;

Ability to work a flexible schedule.

APPLICATIONS

WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion, sexual exploitation or abuse of any form. 

Persons with disabilities who need accommodation in the application process, or those needing job postings in an alternative format, may e-mail a request to [email protected].

WUSC is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and abilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please note that only the candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.