Job Description

Nova Pioneer is looking for a superstar Post School Success Associate to join our South Africa team!
The Post-School Success Associate/Resident is an essential role that contributes to meeting one of Nova Pioneer's most important goals - setting our students up for success on their path to becoming leaders and innovators of the African century. You will help deliver a distinctive university and career exploration & guidance program that is integrated into everyday learning at the Nova Pioneer secondary schools. You will be based in Johannesburg and support our Three secondary schools, Nova Pioneer, Midrand and Ruimsig.
This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of an innovative network of schools that is developing generations of innovators and leaders who will shape the African Century.
ABOUT NOVA PIONEER
Imagine a world in which every young person across Africa attends a school that truly sets them up for success in the 21st century. A school that cares about individual students and allows them to explore the world around them. A school that focuses more on developing skills than on memorizing content. At Nova Pioneer, we have done more than just imagine this future, we are bringing it to life. Nova Pioneer is a pan-African, independent network of schools offering high quality, accessible education from pre-primary through secondary school. Nova Pioneer uses a unique, inquiry-based learning approach that encourages students to ask "why" instead of telling them the "what". It allows them to form their own thinking through exploration, investigation, and collaboration.
Nova Pioneer currently has 16 schools in South Africa and Kenya with a vision to launch 100 schools and reach tens of thousands of students across the African continent in the next decade. To learn more visit
ABOUT THE ROLE
Key responsibilities for the role include:
Grade 12-13s: * Hold office hours for one-one-on-one consultations with students at least twice a week at NPOS to discuss their career options, college / university applications and other post-school options. Office hours can be after school, lunch and during breaks.

• Support students and families as they navigate the local university/college application process by fulfilling the following tasks and any other task/need arising from the process.

• Guide students and school teams to complete the application process.
• Facilitate other local admission opportunities ahead of AS/A Level exams, COVID protocols allowing.
• Guide students to submit quality international applications within the stipulated deadlines. This could include reviewing organizing for standardized testing, personal statements, essays, checking their documents and other support as needed.

• Guide students and parents in the completion of financial aid applications like the CSS profile.
• Follow up with recommenders to ensure quality letters and other supporting documents are submitted on time.
• Facilitate submission of school documents needed to support applications like transcripts, school profile etc.
• Actively liaise with university representatives where students have applied to advocate for their applications and to provide other supporting information.
• Manage admission offers and enquires on the Concourse Global platform liaising with Concourse representatives, students and parents as necessary.
• Liaise with Universities South Africa (USAf) to expedite matriculation exemption certificate issuing
• Facilitate registrations for National Benchmark Tests (NBTs)
• Continuously connecting and partnering with our strong University partners such as African Leadership University, Strathmore, USIU, Ashesi University, Africa Leadership Academy etc.

Grade 11s post school success support: * Hold office hours to guide students on their career selection process, college/university lists and other alternative plans.

• Hold workshops on pathway classes for students based on their declared pathways and needed next steps.
• Review students' pathway selection providing them with feedback as necessary and transferring their options onto a database for tracking.
• Where SATs are required, oversee provision of SAT prep. This includes but is not limited to sharing practise resources, issuing and grading mock tests and guiding students and parents to register for the exam.

Grade 8-10s: * Run parent and learner supports for basic information and understanding of pathways available

• Work with the Academic Leadership of schools to support learners in selecting appropriate courses and future planning
• Support SEL and Leadership Teachers in incorporating materials and resources that will best set up learners in grades 11 and beyond in their PSS journey

Cross Functions: * Work with various Nova Pioneer teams (eg Marketing) in identifying success stories and highlight opportunities

• Support NPOS and NPMS leadership teams in highlighting successes to broader org
• Work to track alumni on a regular basis in terms of their lives post Nova Pioneer
• Work across regions PSS teams to support alumni and/or cross regional learning

Data Management and Communication: * Using our internal database to update and track progress to goals.

• Sending monthly process updates.
• Bimonthly meetings with the Director of Schools
• Ongoing communication with parents on students' progress in the post school success process.
• Communicating and collaborating with School Leaders and Deans to schedule students time for post school success work and coordinate essay writing, recommendations, testing, etc.

ABOUT YOU
Qualifications required:

• You have a minimum qualification of a Bachelor's Degree in Education Management, College Counselling, Psychology or other related courses. ????

Core Skills and Competency:

• You have 3+ years experience in college counselling in a secondary school or in an after high school program.
• You are familiar with the international tertiary education space and have experience guiding students to apply to tertiary institutions abroad.
• You are knowledgeable about various local tertiary education pathways.
• You are conversant with research on the future of work and passionate to guide students navigate their career choices.
• You enjoy working with adolescents and youth and have a track record of building strong professional relationships with this age group for effective mentorship and guidance.
• You are a strong communicator and enjoy building relationships across teams and organizations to meet your objectives.
• You are a strategic thinker and a thought leader but you are also able to translate your ideas into action and execute on them.
• You have strong project management skills. You are able to juggle multiple tasks and meet deadlines and targets.
• You are a problem solver - you are proactive in identifying issues and address these thoroughly by making an effort to find appropriate solutions.
• You have knowledge of the Cambridge curriculum and Cambridge progression pathways

WORKING AT NOVA PIONEER
Nova Pioneer is a place where our people experience tremendous growth, fast! We invest heavily in the growth of our people because it leads to greater mastery in both us and our students. "Novaneers" work harder and work longer hours than most schools but as a result, the growth they experience is extraordinary. We offer consistent and ongoing personal development and provide clear career pathways that ensure that our people are always achieving their personal and professional best. Nova Pioneer has a highly energetic, entrepreneurial environment where our people get to bring their creative and innovative ideas to life. We look for people who are flexible and who are able to adapt and respond quickly to adversity with a positive, can-do attitude (there are no problems, only solutions!). We welcome challenges and roll with the punches because it makes us, and our students, better. There is no problem too big for us! We bring infectious energy and enthusiasm to everything we do because joy fuels our work and learning. Read more about our culture principles
Nova Pioneer, in line with the POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act) will attempt to ensure the confidentiality of all applicants for this role. All reasonable measurements will be in place to protect personal information but it will be used for recruitment and employment purposes. By submitting your application with Nova Pioneer, you are recognising and accepting this disclaimer.
Nova Pioneer will never request an application fee from candidates. If you are contacted with a request to pay a fee from someone claiming to be a Nova Pioneer Talent or Recruitment representative, please do not pay them and report it to us immediately on or .

Skills Required