Community and Culture Associate

At the African Leadership University (ALU), we're more than just an institution—we're a catalyst for transformation. Our mission is to develop a new generation of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders who will shape Africa's future. Through our innovative curriculum, focus on experiential learning, and vibrant pan-African community, we empower students to become changemakers, problem-solvers, and innovators. At ALU, we're not just teaching; we're nurturing the leaders who will drive Africa's progress and prosperity in the 21st century

We are dedicated to fostering an open yet secure environment, balancing the safety of students, staff, and visitors with respect for individual rights, and safeguarding responsibilities.

The ALU Team works in starkly different ways to traditional academic bureaucracies. We approach education from first principles, empower individuals to design, test, and implement creative new ideas, and work closely together to craft transformative learning experiences. We are deeply passionate about our students and excited by the challenge of building something entirely new.

The African Leadership University is committed to ensuring the safety and Well-being of all students under our care. As part of this commitment , we have a comprehensive safeguarding policy in place , which outlines our Zero-tolerance approach to any violation of safeguarding.

The Student Life team is at the heart of our university's vibrant community. We are committed to creating a dynamic and supportive environment that fosters students’ interests within and beyond their mission, an authentic pan-African network, individual student growth, well-being, and opportunities for fun! Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional services and experiences that enrich the lives of our students. We strive to build a strong sense of belonging and empower students to reach their full potential.

The Community and Culture Associate is a passionate and dedicated individual who will play a crucial role in cultivating a thriving and inclusive community at ALU. This role is all about connecting students with opportunities that foster personal growth, cultural exchange, and social responsibility. The Community and Culture Associate will be a champion for student engagement, ensuring that every student feels a sense of belonging and has the chance to explore their passions beyond the classroom.

• Advise and support student clubs and societies on leadership, organization, event planning, and financial management.
• Serve as a resource for clubs and societies, assisting with registration, constitution development, and adherence to university policies.
• Provide day‑to‑day operational support to the Student Representative Council (SRC), including meeting coordination, agenda preparation, minute‑taking, action‑item follow‑up, and routine communications with SRC executives.  
• Support SRC event planning and small‑scale SRC initiatives, ensuring compliance with institutional policies and timely submission of required documentation.
• Responsible and accountable for planning, coordinating, and reporting on club and society events that cater to small or targeted student groups.
• Facilitate the creation of new clubs and societies based on student interests and needs.
• Empower student leaders to take ownership of their organizations and develop leadership skills.
• Provide training and resources to club and society leaders on event planning, fundraising, and conflict resolution.
• Organize and promote club fairs and showcases to increase awareness and encourage student participation.
• Recognize and celebrate the achievements of student clubs and societies.

• Develop and implement programs that foster community among small student cohorts and club networks.
• Organize club-level activities, volunteer initiatives, and outreach projects that enable direct student participation.
• Facilitate SRC‑led community engagement initiatives and support SRC in organizing peer outreach, town halls, and student forums that connect the wider student body.
• Build and maintain local community partnerships that support club activities and small-scale engagement.
• Organize and facilitate club-level Pan‑African networking events and peer exchanges that connect students with peers across the continent; coordinate alumni and professional panels for clubs, managing invitations, logistics, and follow-up.

• Accountable for coordinating sports activities at the club level (practice sessions, intramural matches, student-run tournaments) and for reporting on club sports participation and needs.
• Coordinate club-level sports equipment checkouts, practice venue bookings, and routine liaison with coaches;
• Escalate varsity-level or campus-wide sports issues to the Senior Associate.
• Support SRC coordination of student governance involvement in club sports initiatives and capture SRC‑led sports participation data for reporting.

• Provide practical administrative support for club events including space bookings, basic logistics, and small-budget tracking.
• Coordinate SRC event logistics and venue bookings for SRC‑led activities and ensure SRC sub‑events are integrated into the Student Life calendar.  
• Serve as the primary guest liaison for SRC events, managing invitations, access requests, and on‑site logistics for SRC programming.
• Ensure club events comply with institutional policies and safety protocols.
• Coordinate club contributions to larger campus events, manage logistics for targeted sub-events and breakout sessions, and serve as guest liaison for club events to ensure access and compliance.

• Maintain and update club pages on student-facing platforms; draft and submit club-level content for the weekly student newsletter and official announcements.
• Ensure club communications are clear, timely, and aligned with Student Life guidelines.

• Manage storage, inventory tracking, and checkout procedures for club-level community assets and sports equipment; report asset needs, damages, and replacement requests to the Senior Associate.
• Support cross-functional coordination for routine vendor or facilities requests related to club activities.

• Maintain accurate records of club membership, budgets, event outcomes, and feedback.
• Produce routine SRC operational reports (attendance, activity summaries, follow‑up actions) and submit these reports to the Student Affairs Lead and Senior Associate for consolidation.  
• Deploy post‑event surveys for SRC activities and enter SRC participation and feedback data into the institutional database.
• Deploy post-event surveys for club activities, enter participation and feedback data into the institutional database, and produce club-level reports for submission to the Student Affairs Lead.
• Support survey deployment and feedback collection for club activities.

• Ensure SRC & club events adhere to safeguarding, health and safety, and institutional conduct policies.
• Maintain records related to club-level conduct issues and support administrative follow-up as required.

Accountability Clarification: Escalation Protocol for SRC Matters: escalate governance, election integrity, budget requests above the Associate threshold, safeguarding concerns, or cross‑departmental procurement to the Senior Associate; escalate unresolved strategic or policy issues to the Student Affairs Lead.

Ensure the safety and well-being of all young persons and vulnerable adults with whom we deal, by adhering to ALU’s comprehensive safeguarding policy, maintaining a zero-tolerance approach to any violations of safeguarding standards.

• Bachelor's degree in Student Affairs, Education, Community Development, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience working in a student-facing role, preferably in a higher education setting.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing community-building programs and initiatives.
• Experience in advising and supporting student organizations.
• Strong understanding of student development theory and best practices.
• Passion for working with young adults and fostering their personal and professional growth

• Community Building: Expertise in developing and implementing community-building programs.
• Student Organization Advising: Experience in advising and supporting student clubs and societies.
• Communication and Facilitation: Ability to communicate effectively and facilitate group discussions.
• Event Planning and Management: Skills in planning and executing student events.
• Cross-Cultural Communication: Ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse cultural background

• Cultural Sensitivity: Sensitivity to the diverse cultural backgrounds of ALU students and the local community.
• Empathy and Compassion: Demonstrated empathy and compassion for students and community members.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Ability to work effectively as part of a team and with external partners.
• Leadership and Initiative: Ability to take initiative and lead community engagement efforts.