Operations Lead, Arts Education Initiative at Pharo Ventures Kenya Limited

Key Responsibilities

Launch planning and execution

• Translate the program concept into a concrete, phased launch roadmap, covering community consultations, creative camps, and the first pilot programs.
• Drive delivery of early milestones: identify locations, secure partners, and coordinate logistics for events and pilots.
• Manage day-to-day operations during the build phase, anticipating bottlenecks and problem-solving quickly.
• Build systems for tracking timelines, budgets, and KPIs to keep the project on schedule.

Business model and operations

• Develop and manage detailed budgets and operational systems suited to a lean, start-up phase.
• Maintain strong cost discipline: identify ways to economize and make efficient use of limited resources.
• Support the design of governance, HR, and admissions processes as the initiative evolves into a permanent institution.
• Prepare draft business models, funding scenarios, and cost-recovery plans to guide long-term sustainability.

Partnerships and ecosystem-building

• Engage with creative schools, local institutions, and international partners to build the early network behind the school.
• Support mapping of funders and investors in the creative economy; coordinate outreach and proposal materials.
• Help establish and service an advisory committee of educators, practitioners, and industry experts.
• Represent the project in meetings and events with ministries, cultural organisations, and community stakeholders.

Project management and communication

• Maintain clear dashboards, trackers, and deliverables that support agile decision-making.
• Prepare succinct decks, briefs, and progress updates for senior leadership, trustees, and external partners.
• Ensure alignment across internal teams and any external consultants (if applicable).

Regulatory compliance and legal setup

• Research and understand the regulatory landscape for post-secondary education and design an implementation roadmap for the right registration and certification setup.
• Explore partnerships with global institutions for co-certification programs.
• Work with the organisation’s finance and legal team to establish a solid legal structure.

Builder mindset

• Approach the role with a founder’s mentality: proactive, accountable, and unafraid to take initiative.
• Willing to go beyond regular hours or step outside formal job boundaries when needed to move the project forward.
• Operate with integrity, humility, and discretion, building trust internally and externally.
• Treat every challenge as an opportunity to shape something lasting and distinctive for the region 

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Masters in relevant field or equivalent experience in operations, strategy, or venture building.
• Experience: 3–6 years in start-ups or project management (exposure to creative industries, education, or social ventures would be a bonus).