Operations Associate at Sankoré International School

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Project Management

• Develop and manage a comprehensive project timeline for all operational activities leading up to the school’s opening.
• Coordinate event logistics and on-site execution to ensure smooth delivery of school-related activities.

Procurement & Vendor Management

• Oversee end-to-end procurement for all school infrastructure, including furniture, fixtures and equipment (FFE), IT systems, and learning materials.
• Establish and manage service contracts for security, maintenance, transportation, and catering.
• Partner with the SHOFCO procurement and finance teams to ensure smooth procurement processes and effective SAP utilization.

 Facilities, Utilities & Compliance

• Ensure all utilities (power, water, internet), safety requirements, and regulatory inspections are completed prior to the school’s opening.

Human Resources & Staff Readiness

• Design and implement staff induction and training programs to support smooth onboarding before the school opens.

Admissions, Events & Community Engagement

• Plan and deliver open house events, school tours, and information sessions to promote the school’s philosophy and offerings.

Finance Administration

• Manage issuance of tuition payment receipts to parents until ERP automation or finance manager onboarding is complete.

About You

You are a thoughtful, detail-oriented, and service-minded professional who understands that excellent schools are built on strong systems, ethical stewardship, and care for people. You are energized by the opportunity to help launch a new school and take pride in creating order, clarity, and reliability behind the scenes so educators and students can thrive.

You bring:

• A solid foundation in procurement, operations, or administration, with a strong appreciation for accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• A systems-oriented mindset, able to design, follow, and improve processes that support smooth day-to-day operations.
• Strong organizational skills, allowing you to manage multiple tasks, timelines, and priorities with calm and consistency.
• A collaborative and service-oriented approach, working effectively with school leaders, staff, vendors, and external partners.
• Clear and professional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to document processes and explain financial or operational information clearly.
• Careful attention to detail, coupled with the ability to see how individual tasks contribute to the school’s broader mission and goals.
• Initiative and dependability, with a strong sense of ownership and follow-through.
• A growth mindset, openness to feedback, and enthusiasm for learning new systems, tools, and ways of working.
• Strong values alignment, resonating deeply with Sankoré’s commitment to Consciousness, Curiosity, Courage, Continuous Growth, Creativity, and Community Citizenship.

Qualifications & Experience

You have:

• Experience working in a start-up or build-from-scratch environment.
• Comfort working with ambiguity and evolving system
• A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Procurement, Finance, Operations Management, or a related field.
• 1–3 years of relevant professional experience in procurement, finance, operations, administration, or a related role, ideally within a school, nonprofit, startup, or mission-driven organization.
• Hands-on experience with basic bookkeeping, budgeting, procurement, or operational coordination.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience using accounting or ERP systems such as SAP (or the ability to learn quickly).
• A strong understanding of administrative processes, documentation, and internal controls, with a willingness to grow into greater responsibility over time.