Program Officer - STEM Education
Location: Primary implementation focus is Kenya, with opportunities to support regional and global STEM initiatives across Africa and beyond.
Reports to: Executive Director, Africa Region Head
Application Deadline: June 30, 2026
About mEducation Alliance
The mEducation Alliance, a 501(c)3, is one of the world's largest convening platforms for the global EdTech community, bringing together donors, development agencies, practitioners, policymakers, and researchers united by a shared mission: harnessing technology to improve learning outcomes, especially in low-resource contexts. The Alliance focuses on the sustainable, evidence-supported, and appropriate use of technology in education to improve learning outcomes.
Our work spans communication products, convenings, community building, and catalytic programming. Through STEMtastic Adventures!, our flagship umbrella initiative, we are catalyzing a growing constellation of STEM programs and events across Africa and beyond. From the Foldscope initiative to Math Carnivals, and a growing global STEM champions' network, our work is hands-on, high-impact, and deeply rooted in community.
Position Summary
The Program Officer will lead the implementation and growth of mEducation Alliance's STEM-focused programming in Africa, including the Foldscope initiative and Math Power! E.g. Math Carnivals. This role is responsible for the day-to-day management, coordination, and expansion of programs that promote hands-on, experiential learning in science and mathematics.
The Program Officer will oversee program rollout in Kenyan schools, facilitate partnerships for training and delivery, and spearhead engaging, large-scale math learning events. In addition, the Program Officer will ensure that programs are implemented on time and within budget, meet donor and organizational requirements, and contribute to the Alliance's broader strategic goals. The role also includes supporting new business development and partnership-building efforts to expand program reach and sustainability.
This is a hands-on implementation role suited to a highly organized early-career professional who is eager to take ownership of meaningful work, grow quickly, and contribute to program delivery, partnerships, and training across diverse education contexts.
Key Responsibilities:
STEMtastic Adventures! Events & Global Network
- Manage and grow the STEMtastic Global Network Community of Practice, fostering engagement, collaboration, and knowledge sharing across Africa and globally
- Build and maintain strong relationships with partners, co-hosts, sponsors, and other key stakeholders to support successful program delivery
- Identify and cultivate new champions, organizations, and communities to expand the reach and impact of the STEMtastic network
- Adapt and refine event models, resources, and implementation approaches to enable replication and scale across diverse regional contexts
- Capture lessons learned and promising practices from events and network activities to inform continuous improvement and future growth
Program Coordination & Implementation
- Coordinate implementation of Foldscope, Math Carnivals, and related Africa-based initiatives under the direction of the Africa Region Head and the Executive Director
- Lead program startup, day-to-day implementation, and close-out processes
- Maintain detailed work plans, timelines, and Gantt charts; flag risks and delays proactively
- Track progress against targets and escalate implementation challenges with proposed solutions
- Prepare and coordinate internal planning and program review meetings
Foldscope Program (Science Learning Initiative)
- Lead the rollout of Foldscope programs across Kenyan schools and partner institutions
- Coordinate and facilitate teacher trainings on Foldscope use and inquiry-based science learning
- Develop and adapt training materials and implementation guides for local contexts
- Manage logistics including procurement, distribution, and tracking of Foldscope kits
- Build partnerships with schools, NGOs, and government stakeholders to support adoption
- Collect feedback and data to inform program improvements and scale
Math Carnivals (Experiential Learning Events)
- Design and spearhead Math Carnival initiatives to make math learning engaging and accessible
- Identify, cultivate, and manage partnerships with organizations to co-host events
- Lead end-to-end planning and execution of events (concept design, logistics, facilitation, evaluation)
- Curate interactive math activities aligned with learning objectives
- Recruit and train facilitators, volunteers, and partners
- Develop scalable models for replication across regions
Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement
- Maintain and nurture relationships with schools, NGOs, government agencies, and community partners
- Represent the Alliance at meetings, workshops, and external engagements as directed
- Identify strategic opportunities for collaboration and program expansion
- Coordinate partner contributions and ensure alignment with program goals
Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
- Support implementation of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plans
- Track and collate program metrics, outcomes, and impact data
- Draft regular activity reports and contribute to donor reporting requirements
- Ensure compliance with donor rules, regulations, and organisational policies
New Business Development Support
- Research, track, and evaluate funding opportunities aligned with STEM and education programming
- Contribute to proposal development, including narrative writing, coordination, and budgeting
- Support development of communications materials and public-facing program content
- Help position existing programs for growth with current and prospective donors
What We're Looking For
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Education, International Development, STEM, Public Policy, or related field plus minimum 3 - 5 years of relevant experience; or Master's Degree plus 2+ years
- Demonstrated experience coordinating or supporting education or development programs, preferably in Kenya, East Africa or similar contexts
- Experience working directly with schools, teachers, education systems, or youth-focused programs strongly preferred.
- Exposure to donor-funded programs and an understanding of compliance requirements
- Experience organizing trainings, workshops, or large-scale events
- Strong understanding of experiential learning, STEM education, or EdTech approaches is highly desirable
Skills & Competencies
- Strong coordination, planning, and organizational skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Comfortable managing relationships with diverse stakeholders
- Able to manage multiple workstreams and meet deadlines in a lean team environment
- Attention to detail in financial tracking and administrative management
- A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset
Language Skills
While not required, proficiency in French, Swahili, or other regional languages is an asset.
Why Join Us?
At mEducation Alliance, you'll be part of a small, dedicated team doing outsized work. You'll gain hands-on experience across program implementation, partnerships, events, and international development, with direct exposure to senior leadership and a global network of STEM champions and EdTech innovators. This role is ideal for someone early in their career who wants to grow fast, take real ownership of meaningful work, and be part of something that genuinely reaches learners across Africa.
Application Instructions
Interested candidates should submit an application through the application form linked here.
We welcome applications from candidates based in Kenya. Women and individuals from underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Should you have any questions, please email us at medalliance@meducationalliance.org, with the subject line: "Program Officer - STEM Education Inquiry – [Your Name]".
This position was originally posted by mEducation Alliance and has been curated by PurposePhil Career. To apply, please visit the original listing on the "apply" link on the side. We are not affiliated with the employer organization of this job ad or consultancy, and provide this curated listing as a service to our users.
