High School Programme Manager

Students for a Better Future (SBF) supports high-potential young people on a journey that begins in Grade 6 and ends with their first job. SBF believes that, given access to quality education with wrap-around support and skills development, it can change the future, one scholar at a time.

SBF was launched in 2009 and is funded by the Andreas and Susan Strüngmann Foundation. Since 2018 the team has grown from 7 to about 25 people across five departments. About 260 scholars are currently in the High School programme, alongside the Prep Pathfinders, SASLI and alumni programmes. SBF’s values are Fun, Care, Dream, Grow and Impact.

Purpose

Reporting to the CEO, the High School Programme Manager leads the planning, delivery and continuous improvement of SBF’s High School programme. Working closely with the leadership team, they translate organisational strategy into an integrated programme workplan, oversee implementation, and ensure delivery is evidence-based, scholar-centred and aligned to SBF’s values.

The successful candidate will be an experienced programme and people leader with at least 10 years’ experience in education or youth development. They will be driven to support young people to reach their full potential and committed to keeping their interests at the centre of every decision.

Responsibilities

• Strategy and leadership: Work with the CEO and leadership team to refine and execute the High School programme strategy, translating it into clear workplans. Use data to inform decisions, report against milestones and recommend improvements.
• Programme planning, design and review: Develop the integrated annual workplan in collaboration with other departments. Lead regular impact reviews with the M&E team, benchmark against sector best practice, and ensure annual review of programme methodology, SOPs and contracts.
• Programme delivery and academic support: Oversee delivery of the High School programme across partner schools, including academic support for scholars. Allocate people and resources against the workplan, taking a ‘whole child’ view when scholars face difficulties.
• Curriculum and systems: Work alongside the Academic Specialist to ensure the development and delivery of up-to-date and relevant curriculum content. Oversee programme delivery and data systems, and act early on warning flags.
• People management: Recruit, manage and develop a high-performing team, setting KPIs and managing performance.
• Partners and stakeholders: Act as SBF’s senior programme representative with partner schools. Build strong relationships with scholars and parents, and support the CEO in identifying and maintaining programme partners.
• Reporting: Oversee accurate and timely programme reporting, and work with the M&E Lead to strengthen feedback loops between data and delivery.
• Finance, compliance and risk: Manage the annual programme budget and monitor expenditure within delegated authority. Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, including the Children’s Act and POPIA, and manage programme risk with the COO.
  

Requirements

Qualifications & experience

• Degree in education, youth development, psychology, social work, or a related field
• At least 10 years’ programme management experience, ideally gained in education or youth development
• At least 5 years of team leadership
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of how young people learn and develop
• Successful track record of building strong relationships with schools, parents and other stakeholders

Qualities & competencies

• Demonstrated ability to translate strategy into operational execution
• Strong leadership skills: able to set clear goals, delegate and develop staff
• Able to influence and coordinate across teams without direct authority
• Strong operational planning and project management skills
• Agile and steady under pressure, with the ability to reprioritise quickly
• Excellent report writing and presentation skills
• Principled advocate for scholars, with a strong sense of self
• Emotionally intelligent and culturally aware
• Analytical thinker who makes confident, data-informed decisions
• High integrity and tenacity

Closing date: 9 November 2026