ABOUT ALU

ALU provides higher education for a higher purpose. Our students declare missions, not majors.
They develop the real-world skills to take on the world’s most pressing challenges. And they take ownership of their learning from day one through our peer and student-led approach – because ALU believes in the power and agency of young people to start shaping the future right now.
Together with a world-class faculty and staff, our students are igniting a ripple of positive impact across Africa and the world.

HOW WE WORK

As a high-growth start-up, the ALU Team works in starkly different ways to traditional academic bureaucracies. We approach education from first principles, empower individuals to design, test, and implement creative new ideas, and work closely together to craft transformative learning experiences. We are deeply passionate about our students and excited by the challenge of building something entirely new.

PEOPLE BUSINESS PARTNER

The African Leadership University is an innovative educational institution committed to redefining education in Africa. With campuses in Rwanda and Mauritius, we are focused on creating transformative learning experiences and achieving financial sustainability. As part of our strategic growth, we are seeking a People Business Partner to drive organisational resilience and support our mission.

As our People Business Partner, you'll co-pilot our people strategy, partnering with leadership to design and implement programs that empower our people and fuel business success. You'll also be a strategic advisor, coaching managers and building talent pipelines to ensure we have the right people in place to win.

ROLE OVERVIEW

You'll work closely with our People and Culture Centres of Excellence (Talent, Learning & Development, People Experience, etc.) and People Operations team, leveraging their deep knowledge and your own business insights to drive impactful initiatives. This is a dynamic, collaborative role where you'll be a champion of our young, vibrant ALU leaders, ensuring our people strategy seamlessly aligns with our organisational goals.

THE TEAM

The People Business Partner reports directly to the VP of People & Culture and collaborates closely with the Finance, Data, Legal and Corporate Services teams. The role works closely with the People Experience Partner to ensure a cohesive, positive employee experience for all ALU employees, embodying and enabling the ALU culture to drive overall organisational performance and strategic initiatives.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Business Unit People Strategies:

• Partner with Managers to monitor and implement the departmental / BU people strategy that attract top talent, drive performance, and align with our overall business goals.
• Liaise with VP of People on progress and highlight challenges and opportunities within each functional area on a regular basis.

Data Insights, Market Research & Reporting:

• Leverage data analysis to identify trends and inform strategic people decisions.
• Conduct market research to assess new markets for expansion, ensuring a smooth entry for our people.

Culture Strategy & Enablement:

• Champion ALU’s unique culture across each team, fostering a cohesive and inclusive environment where everyone thrives.
• Recommend culture strategies and initiatives for the collective organisation based on positive examples and successes implemented within a specific team.

Change and Transformation Management:

• Champion organisational change and transformation, guiding teams to embrace new structures, processes, and ways of working.
• Support the development and implementation of an ALU change management framework, taking input and feedback from managers across the organisation to ensure our approach is fit for ALU and enables success through transformation.

Employee Engagement Strategies and Action Planning:

• Review and analyse feedback from multiple employee listening tools and methods, ensuring managers are updated with insights and have plans in place as their respective teams’ engagement and productivity levels adjust over time.
• Create a culture of high engagement, developing and implementing initiatives that keep our people motivated and productive.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Management, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in strategic people operations, HR management, or a related role, preferably in a fast-paced or startup environment. Education experience is an added advantage.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and generate actionable insights.
• Proficiency in using HR and project management tools, leveraging data reporting and dashboards in your work.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Highly organised and detail-oriented, with a knack for managing complex schedules and projects.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and with leadership teams.

You might be a good fit if you:

• You're a master juggler, effortlessly prioritising tasks and projects for multiple stakeholders, even when deadlines do a victory lap.
• You see the big picture like a boss, anticipating the needs of leadership and the organisation with laser focus.
• Numbers are your playground! You analyse financials, data, and strategy with a keen eye, turning insights into action.
• You thrive in a dynamic environment, adapting and flexing with the agility of a superhero.
• You don't wait for problems to find you – you identify and solve them before they even know what hit them.
• You're a coach, a team builder, and a champion of change, fostering growth and transformation at every level.
• You understand the unique energy of a start-up, and you're energised by the challenges and opportunities it brings.
• You speak data fluently, extracting insights that drive strategic decisions.
• You build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, fostering a collaborative spirit.
• You navigate ambiguity with ease, leading teams through transformation with unwavering confidence.

Location: Rwanda | Mauritius