School for Life Uganda (SFLU), under the School for Life Foundation, is dedicated to transforming lives in rural Uganda by providing high-quality education, vocational training, and essential services such as clean water and healthcare to the community. With a mission to “educate poverty out of existence,” SFLU operates three schools at the Katuuso and Mbazzi Riverside campuses, serving over 1,500 students. Its holistic approach integrates academic learning with practical skills to empower youth and communities, fostering self-reliance and sustainable economic growth.
Our 5-Year Strategy focuses on five strategic pillars:
1. Quality Education & Learning Outcomes
2. Community Empowerment & Livelihoods
3. Sustainable Organisational Growth & Partnerships
4. Institutional Excellence & Systems Strengthening
5. Advocacy, Influence & Research for Impact
Purpose of role
The Head of Education & Learning provides strategic and technical leadership for education programs under School for Life Uganda. The role ensures the delivery of high-quality, inclusive, and innovative education outcomes aligned with SFLU’s 5-Year Strategy and national education standards.
In collaboration with School for Life Australia (SFLA), the incumbent will lead the implementation and continuous improvement of SFLU’s education model, integrating pedagogy, teacher development, digital learning, and community engagement to create holistic and sustainable learning environments.
Primary responsibilities
The job holder will have the following key responsibilities:
Educational leadership & quality assurance
- Set and drive the education strategy across SFLU schools aligned to national curriculum and organisational goals, ensuring programs deliver strong and equitable learning outcomes.
- Ensure all schools have clear school improvement plans and monitor progress.
- Uphold education quality standards, including curriculum frameworks, evidence-based pedagogical approaches, and instructional expectations.
- Strengthen quality assurance systems to monitor instructional delivery and ensure that teaching and learning across all schools is consistently high-quality, inclusive, and aligned to our educational vision.
- Drive strategic alignment through planning, feedback loops, and milestone tracking to maintain focus on student learning goals.
- Promote inclusive and gender-responsive education practices.
- Drive high quality and consistent implementation of pedagogy, ensuring our instructional approach, lesson planning processes, and learning materials are standardised, grounded in global best practice and tailored to local needs.
Program Implementation
- Translate organisational strategy into actionable, high-quality education program plans, working closely with the Country Director.
- Work alongside Technical Education Specialist Consultants to oversee the design and rollout of a supplementary curriculum that enhances the Ugandan National Curriculum with 21st-century competencies such as critical thinking, creativity, digital and literacy.
- Lead academic execution reviews to ensure school leaders are aligned, accountable, and delivering against student learning goals.
- Contribute to system-strengthening and public sector partnership initiatives specific to education program delivery.
- Oversee education budget planning and resource allocation, ensuring efficient, impactful, and sustainable use of funds.
- Integrate education programs with livelihood, community engagement, and safeguarding initiatives for holistic learner support.
- Collaborate closely with the MEL & Research team to generate, interpret, and use evidence to improve instructional design and delivery.
Team leadership & capacity building
- Provide technical supervision and mentorship to Head Teachers, Education Specialists, and any other academic-facing staff.
- Lead initiatives that build teacher capacity to deliver active, skills-based learning approaches (inquiry-based learning, project-based learning, design thinking, SEL integration).
- Build a high-performing, collaborative education team grounded in learning, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Lead talent development within the education function, supporting performance reviews, professional growth, and succession planning.
- Model SFLU’s culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous learning.
Profile
The following offers an aspirational view of our ideal candidate profile; however, we encourage applications from candidates with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, especially those from underrepresented groups.
Key attributes
- Passionate educator with a demonstrable understanding of rural education dynamics.
- Strategic thinker with strong analytical, instructional, and program design expertise.
- Able to move fluidly between high-level leadership and hands-on technical support when operational demands require it.
- Proven ability to influence, collaborate, and lead through complex partnerships and multi-stakeholder environments.
- Deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and child wellbeing in all aspects of program design and delivery.
Qualifications and experience
- Bachelor’s degree in education or a related field (Master’s preferred).
- Minimum 7 years of experience in education leadership, school improvement, or teacher development.
- Proven success in managing multi-site or community-based education programs.
- Knowledge of Uganda’s education system, curriculum frameworks, and policy landscape.
- Knowledge of value-addition, vocational and/or skilling programs run in schools to supplement the core curriculum.
- Experience in data-driven education management and partnerships with government and donors.
Terms and conditions
This position is based at the Head Office, Buloba, Mpigi District, with field visits (roughly 30km from Kampala) and frequent travel within Uganda.
Benefits include a monthly housing allowance, monthly housing, airtime/communications allowance and prepaid medical insurance (in kind).
To apply for the post
To apply for this role, please submit a copy of your CV/resume and a cover letter outlining your interest in the role and how you fulfil the requirements set out in the job announcement.
If you have any questions about the role or organisation and would like an informal chat ahead of submitting a formal application, please reach out to Tricia Placido at tricia@upsallinternational.com. Please note: to ensure the security of your application and to ensure that your data complies with GDPR regulations, applications via email will not be accepted.
Please ensure you send your CV and Cover letter in the following format: full_name_CV_org_name_role and full_name_role_CL.
· The deadline for applications is Monday 18th May 2026, 9:00 am CET ·
Stay updated on the latest jobs by subscribing to our Global Charity Jobs weekly bulletin, and if you’re looking for a rewarding career in the non-profit sector, join our talent pool.
Upsall International actively promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion. In recruiting candidates, we seek candidates with the proven skills required, irrespective of race, gender, religion or belief, age, disability, or sexual orientation.