Student Life Senior Associate

ABOUT ALU

At the African Leadership University (ALU), we are more than an academic institution; we are a launchpad for Africa’s next generation of leaders. Our mission is bold: to develop ethical, entrepreneurial changemakers who will shape Africa’s future. Through an innovative curriculum, hands-on learning, and a vibrant pan-African community, we equip our students to tackle complex challenges, connect the dots across diverse perspectives, and create solutions that drive lasting impact.

We don’t just teach; we nurture adaptable, globally minded problem-solvers ready to thrive in ambiguity, build from scratch, and lead Africa into a prosperous 21st century.

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Student Life team shapes students' lived experience beyond the classroom. We design the systems, programs, and support structures that ensure students feel safe, seen, and supported throughout their journey at ALU. From residential life and community culture to scholar support and wellbeing coordination, our work sits at the heart of campus life.

We are a highly collaborative, student-centred team that balances empathy with structure. Our work requires a strong partnership across operations, wellness, academics, and external stakeholders. We care deeply about building inclusive communities, developing student leaders, and creating environments where students can thrive socially, personally, and academically.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Student Life Senior Associate plays a key operational and relational leadership role in delivering a safe, engaging, and well-coordinated campus life experience. This role is responsible for translating Student Life strategy into daily practice across residential experience, community engagement, and scholar financial aid support. As the primary operational lead supporting these areas, the Senior Associate designs and improves processes, manages student interns who support frontline operations, and ensures that systems, communications, and services are consistent, student-centred, and policy-aligned.

The role works across teams to strengthen campus culture, uphold student wellbeing, and ensure smooth service delivery throughout the student journey. In emergencies and sensitive situations, the Senior Associate serves as a secondary responder, supporting crisis coordination and safeguarding processes under the guidance of the Student Life Manager.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Residential Experience & Campus Living Operations

Lead day-to-day residential life operations, ensuring a safe, structured, and community-oriented living environment

Coordinate student arrivals, transitions, and residential logistics for both local and international students

Design and implement residential programming that fosters belonging, leadership, and healthy community culture

Support crisis response in residences as a secondary responder, ensuring proper escalation, documentation, and follow-through

Work closely with security, wellness, and operations teams to uphold student safety and well-being

Draft, update, and implement residential life policies, guidelines, and standard operating procedures

Manage relationships with key residential vendors (e.g. catering, transport, medical) and ensure service quality and accountability

Oversee residential life budgets and support financial tracking and documentation

1. Student Leadership & Community Engagement

Design and support training and development programs for student leaders (e.g. Residential Advisors, peer leaders, community coordinators)

Create leadership structures and engagement opportunities that strengthen student ownership of campus life

Partner with student governance bodies to ensure strong collaboration between student leaders and staff

Support major campus moments such as orientation, community celebrations, and institutional events

Lead feedback collection and community listening processes to continuously improve student experience initiatives

1. Financial Aid & Scholar Support

Serve as a key point of contact for scholarship students, providing ongoing communication and guidance

Support scholarship onboarding, orientation, and financial literacy initiatives

Coordinate scholar travel logistics, documentation support, and arrival processes

Prepare and process documentation required for scholarship disbursements in partnership with Finance and Registrar teams

Support students facing financial difficulty through structured processes and referrals

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to monitor scholar wellbeing, integration, and overall experience

Support engagement initiatives that strengthen scholar community and belonging

1. Intern Leadership & Frontline Operations

Supervise and mentor student interns supporting Residential Life, Residential Operations, and Financial Aid

Provide structured onboarding, task management, and professional development for interns

Ensure interns are well-trained, supported, and operating within clear boundaries and expectations

Coordinate intern schedules and responsibilities to ensure smooth frontline service delivery across student life functions

1. Operations, Data & Process Excellence

Design and improve operational processes, ensuring they are efficient, student-centred, and aligned with institutional policies (with approval from the Student Life Manager)

Maintain accurate and up-to-date student life data systems and trackers to support decision-making and reporting

Manage Student Life communication channels, ensuring timely and clear communication with students and stakeholders

Support reporting, documentation, and compliance processes related to residential life and scholar support

Contribute to periodic reviews of policies and processes to improve service quality and risk management

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

A relevant university degree

Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in student affairs, residential life, community engagement, financial aid support, or a related student-facing operational role

Demonstrated experience managing programs or services that support student wellbeing and community life

Experience supervising, mentoring, or coordinating student staff, interns, or volunteers

Proven ability to design or improve operational processes and manage multiple workstreams simultaneously

Experience working with sensitive student information and navigating complex or confidential situations with professionalism

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Functional Competencies

Manage complex operations with strong planning, prioritisation, and follow-through

Design and improve processes that balance student experience with policy and compliance

Use data systems and digital tools effectively to track operations and inform decisions

Communicate clearly and professionally with diverse stakeholders, including students, staff, and external partners

Coordinate crisis or sensitive situations with composure, documentation, and appropriate escalation

Behavioural & Leadership Competencies

Builds strong, trust-based relationships with students while maintaining clear professional boundaries

Demonstrates high empathy paired with sound judgment and policy alignment

Engages actively in community-building and fosters inclusive environments

Remains calm, solutions-oriented, and steady during periods of stress or ambiguity

Exercises assertiveness in upholding standards, processes, and expectations

Works collaboratively across teams and is open to feedback and continuous improvement