Schools Portfolio Manager - Pharo Schools

Schools Portfolio Manager - Pharo Schools
Hargeisa, Somaliland
Overview
Pharo Foundation (“the Foundation”) is a pioneering, mission-driven organisation working to build a vibrant,
productive, and self-reliant Africa. Founded and fully funded by Pharo Management, emerging markets hedge fund,
the Foundation represents a new model of philanthropic capitalism: a private endowment using its own capital to
design, fund, and operate development programmes with private-sector discipline and long-term commitment.
Over the next decade, the Foundation’s ambition is to deliver lasting impact across three interdependent
missions:
1. Empowering the next generation through affordable, high-quality education.
2. Solving water scarcity by building and operating sustainable water infrastructure.
3. Driving economic productivity by unlocking jobs, investment, and innovation through both non-profit
and for-profit ventures.
The Foundation operates in Ethiopia, Somaliland, Kenya, and Rwanda, employing more than 750 people. It
combines a not-for-profit engine: Pharo Development, with a for-profit engine, Pharo Ventures, which builds
and operates sustainable businesses to create jobs and advance economic self-reliance.
About Pharo Schools
Pharo Schools is a pan African network of Schools that, exists to expand opportunity through high quality
affordable and equitable education across Africa. We are building a network of high-impact, future-focused
schools that deliver excellent learning outcomes, nurture character and wellbeing, and empower young people
to shape prosperous futures for themselves and their communities. Rooted in the Foundation’s mission
to “enable Africa to thrive”, Pharo Schools operates with a deep commitment to equity, dignity, and access. Our
schools prioritise strong teaching, enriched learning environments, and holistic development, ensuring that
every child regardless of background can succeed at school, thrive in life, and transition confidently to further
education and meaningful livelihoods. Pharo Schools currently serves +- 5000 students across Kenya,
Somaliland, Ethiopia and Rwanda.
Role Purpose
The Schools Portfolio Manager will ensure the consistent and high-quality implementation of the Pharo Schools
educational, operational and financial model across a specified portfolio of schools. Acting as the principal
coach to School Principals, the role serves as the critical link between network strategy and school-level
execution, ensuring that every school delivers an outstanding educational experience while achieving academic
excellence, operational effectiveness and financial sustainability. The position is accountable for developing
exceptional principals who, in turn, develop exceptional teachers, resulting in improved student achievement,
strong school cultures and a sustainable network of high-performing Pharo Schools.
Key Relationships
Reporting to: Head of Education Working Relationship: School Principals
Location: Hargeisa Somaliland
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Key Responsibilities
1. Student Achievement, Teaching Excellence & Safeguarding
The Portfolio Manager is primarily responsible for improving student outcomes across a portfolio of schools
by strengthening school leadership, improving teaching quality, and ensuring every school consistently
delivers the Pharo Schools educational model.
Key responsibilities include:
• Coach Principals as instructional leaders and support evidence-based school improvement.
• Monitor school performance, teaching quality, safeguarding compliance, attendance, behaviour and
wellbeing data.
• Support structured cycles of classroom observation, coaching, feedback and targeted professional
development.
• Ensure schools provide safe, inclusive and nurturing environments where students are protected and
supported to thrive.
• Embed character development and social-emotional learning, including ethical leadership, responsibility,
curiosity, respect and collaboration.
2. Leadership Development & School Culture
The Portfolio Manager coaches and supports Heads of School to strengthen leadership capability, drive
accountability and build a culture of excellence and continuous improvement across the network.
Key responsibilities include:
• Build trusted coaching relationships with Heads of School.
• Support school leaders in addressing instructional, operational, people and parent engagement challenges.
• Hold school leaders accountable for agreed performance goals.
• Promote a culture of excellence, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Model Pharo Schools leadership behaviours and organisational values.
• Support succession planning by identifying and developing future school leaders.
3. Operational Excellence & Network Consistency
The Portfolio Manager ensures schools consistently implement the Pharo Schools operating model and maintain the
systems, standards and conditions required for effective teaching and learning.
Key responsibilities include:
• Monitor implementation of operational standards, policies and quality assurance frameworks.
• Review school performance across admissions, staffing, facilities, safeguarding, compliance and culture.
• Identify operational risks early and coordinate timely corrective action with school and central teams.
• Ensure consistent implementation of agreed systems, processes and operating practices.
• Support new initiatives and continuous improvement projects across the network.
4. Financial Stewardship & Sustainable Growth
The Portfolio Manager partners with the Head of Product and Innovation to ensure schools deliver educational
excellence while remaining financially sustainable by:
Key Responsibilities:
• Monitoring portfolio performance across key educational, operational, and financial metrics.
• Supporting Heads of School to drive performance improvement through data-informed decision-making.
• Overseeing staffing efficiency and effective resource utilisation.
• Contributing to strategic planning, budgeting, and forecasting to strengthen network sustainability.
5. Stakeholder Partnership & Network Collaboration
The Portfolio Manager serves as the primary link between schools and central support teams, ensuring effective
collaboration and execution by:
• Coordinating cross-functional support to drive school performance.
• Aligning school operations with organisational strategy.
• Representing schools with external stakeholders, as delegated.
• Supporting school expansion, due diligence, and network improvement initiatives.

Required Qualifications & Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in education or a related field, with a recognised teaching qualification.
• Master’s degree in educational leadership, Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Management, or a related
field (preferred).
• Minimum 5 years' classroom teaching experience with a proven track record of improving student outcomes.
• Minimum 3–5 years' experience as a School Principal, Head of School, or in a comparable senior leadership
role.
• Demonstrated expertise in instructional leadership, teacher coaching, classroom observation, and
professional development.
• Experience using academic, operational, and financial data to drive school improvement.
• Experience working across multiple schools or within a school network is an advantage.
Key Competencies
• Strong knowledge of curriculum, assessment, pedagogy, and school improvement.
• Coaching, facilitation, and leadership development skills.
• Analytical, planning, and problem-solving ability.
• Financial and operational acumen with data-driven decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and relationship-building skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and school information systems.
Personal Attributes and Mindset
• Passionate and mission-driven, committed to educational excellence and impact.
• Strategic, innovative, and hands-on, with a strong execution focus.
• Collaborative and relationship-oriented, fostering trust and influence across diverse stakeholders.
• Parent- and community-centred, with empathy, cultural awareness, and contextual sensitivity.
• Data-informed and outcome-focused, applying sound judgement to drive continuous improvement.
• Adaptable and resilient, thriving in complex, fast-changing environments.
• Demonstrates integrity, professionalism, and strong organisational and project management skills.

 Application procedure
This position is open to both female and male candidates.
Applicants are required to attach a detailed CV and Cover letter by September 15, 2026
Review of applications will begin as soon as they are received, and only complete applications will be considered.
Due to the high volume of applications, we regret that we will only contact shortlisted candidates.
Please click this link https://a.peoplehum.com/8aqmo to Apply
Pharo Foundation is an equal opportunity employer committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and gender equality
in all its practices. We encourage applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, gender, religion, or
background