Carnegie Mellon University is a private, global research university that stands among the world’s most renowned education institutions. With ground-breaking brain science, path-breaking performances, creative start-ups, big data, big ambitions, hands-on learning, and a whole lot of robots, CMU doesn’t imagine the future, we invent it. If you’re passionate about joining a community that challenges the curious to deliver work that matters, your journey starts here!

Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa) is Carnegie Mellon University's global location in Africa, based in Kigali, Rwanda. Established in 2011, CMU-Africa is advancing engineering, technology, research, and innovation across the continent through world-class graduate education, applied research, and strategic partnerships. Through the Center for Inclusive Digital Transformation of Africa (The Center) and the African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretec), CMU-Africa works with leading universities, governments, industry and other strategic partner organizations to strengthen engineering education, research, innovation, and entrepreneurship across Africa.

CMU-Africa is seeking a highly organized, collaborative, and service-oriented Program Manager to support the delivery, growth, and continuous improvement of The Center 's Online Certificate Programs. Working closely with the Associate Director of Teaching & Learning, the Program Manager serves as the operational hub for a portfolio of online certificate offerings designed to address critical digital skills and talent development needs across Africa. The role supports the full learner lifecycle—from skills-gap identification and course development through recruitment, admissions, enrollment, learner support, credential completion, and stakeholder engagement. The successful candidate will help coordinate a growing portfolio of short online courses, modules, and workshops designed to equip learners with in-demand technology skills and support career advancement in the digital economy. Success in this role requires strong program coordination skills, attention to detail, a commitment to learner success, and the ability to work effectively with faculty, learners, industry partners, government stakeholders, Afretec institutions, and internal support teams.

Responsibilities:

• Support the implementation and day-to-day management of The Center's Online Certificate Programs, ensuring effective coordination of activities, timelines, operational processes, and learner-facing services.
• Partner with the Associate Director of Teaching & Learning to coordinate stakeholder consultations with employers, government agencies, Afretec institutions, and other partners to help identify emerging skills needs and support the ongoing relevance of the certificate portfolio.
• Assist with the development, launch, review, and continuous improvement of online certificate offerings, supporting the creation of a scalable portfolio of stackable, employer-recognized credentials aligned with technology talent development needs.
• Coordinate learner recruitment and outreach activities in partnership with industry partners, NGOs, and Afretec institutions to support enrollment goals and program visibility.
• Work closely with marketing and communications teams to support program branding, learner outreach, and the accuracy of websites, promotional materials, and public-facing information.
• Manage admissions processes, including application management, applicant communications, review coordination, selection processes, enrollment tracking, and learner onboarding.
• Coordinate with CMU’s Eberly Center to manage the operational administration of online programs, including course setup, enrollment management, learner records, Canvas LMS administration, learner communications, and participant support.
• Coordinate with faculty, instructors, and subject matter experts to support high-quality learning experiences and ensure timely resolution of academic, technical, and operational issues.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, learner experience, and program scalability through process improvements, automation, and the effective use of technology and AI-enabled tools.
• Contribute to budget tracking, reporting, procurement activities, consultant coordination, and other administrative functions required to support successful program delivery.
• Work closely with the Teaching & Learning Program Manager, MEL Specialist and Data and Analytics Specialist to support evidence generation, reporting, learning, and accountability requirements, including the documentation of outcomes, lessons learned, and program impact.
• Undertake other duties and special projects as assigned in support of the Center’s strategic objectives and CMU-Africa's mission.

Adaptability, excellence, and passion are vital qualities within Carnegie Mellon University. We are in search of a team member who can effectively interact with a varied population of internal and external partners at a high level of integrity. We are looking for someone who shares our values and who will support the mission of the university through their work.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred in Education, Higher Education Administration, Educational Technology, Business Administration, Project Management, Technology Management, Information Systems, Communications, or a related field.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in program management, online learning, professional education, continuing education, skills development, learner services, admissions, or related fields in Africa.
• Experience supporting the delivery or administration of online learning programs, certificate programs, executive education, professional development, or technology talent development initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating multiple projects, stakeholders, and operational activities simultaneously.
• Experience working with learning management systems and digital learning technologies.
• Experience supporting admissions, enrollment management, learner engagement, or participant support functions is highly desirable.
• Experience working with universities, employers, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, or development partners in Africa is required.
• Experience supporting externally funded programs is desirable.
• A combination of education and relevant experience from which comparable knowledge is demonstrated may be considered.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong program coordination and operational management skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Understanding of online learning, professional education, digital skills development, credentialing ecosystems, and learner success practices.
• Experience working with learning management systems and digital learning platforms.
• Strong customer service and learner-support orientation.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to continuous improvement.
• Comfort working with data, reporting systems, and technology-enabled processes.
• Commitment to learner success, inclusion, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Support the implementation and day-to-day management of The Center's Online Certificate Programs, ensuring effective coordination of activities, timelines, operational processes, and learner-facing services.
• Partner with the Associate Director of Teaching & Learning to coordinate stakeholder consultations with employers, government agencies, Afretec institutions, and other partners to help identify emerging skills needs and support the ongoing relevance of the certificate portfolio.
• Assist with the development, launch, review, and continuous improvement of online certificate offerings, supporting the creation of a scalable portfolio of stackable, employer-recognized credentials aligned with technology talent development needs.
• Coordinate learner recruitment and outreach activities in partnership with industry partners, NGOs, and Afretec institutions to support enrollment goals and program visibility.
• Work closely with marketing and communications teams to support program branding, learner outreach, and the accuracy of websites, promotional materials, and public-facing information.
• Manage admissions processes, including application management, applicant communications, review coordination, selection processes, enrollment tracking, and learner onboarding.
• Coordinate with CMU’s Eberly Center to manage the operational administration of online programs, including course setup, enrollment management, learner records, Canvas LMS administration, learner communications, and participant support.
• Coordinate with faculty, instructors, and subject matter experts to support high-quality learning experiences and ensure timely resolution of academic, technical, and operational issues.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, learner experience, and program scalability through process improvements, automation, and the effective use of technology and AI-enabled tools.
• Contribute to budget tracking, reporting, procurement activities, consultant coordination, and other administrative functions required to support successful program delivery.
• Work closely with the Teaching & Learning Program Manager, MEL Specialist and Data and Analytics Specialist to support evidence generation, reporting, learning, and accountability requirements, including the documentation of outcomes, lessons learned, and program impact.
• Undertake other duties and special projects as assigned in support of the Center’s strategic objectives and CMU-Africa's mission.

• Strong program coordination and operational management skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Understanding of online learning, professional education, digital skills development, credentialing ecosystems, and learner success practices.
• Experience working with learning management systems and digital learning platforms.
• Strong customer service and learner-support orientation.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to continuous improvement.
• Comfort working with data, reporting systems, and technology-enabled processes.
• Commitment to learner success, inclusion, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred in Education, Higher Education Administration, Educational Technology, Business Administration, Project Management, Technology Management, Information Systems, Communications, or a related field.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in program management, online learning, professional education, continuing education, skills development, learner services, admissions, or related fields in Africa.
• Experience supporting the delivery or administration of online learning programs, certificate programs, executive education, professional development, or technology talent development initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating multiple projects, stakeholders, and operational activities simultaneously.
• Experience working with learning management systems and digital learning technologies.
• Experience supporting admissions, enrollment management, learner engagement, or participant support functions is highly desirable.
• Experience working with universities, employers, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, or development partners in Africa is required.
• Experience supporting externally funded programs is desirable.
• A combination of education and relevant experience from which comparable knowledge is demonstrated may be considered.