Job description

School Improvement Consultant 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, an 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 forprofit ventures.  The Foundation operates in Ethiopia, Somaliland, Kenya, and Rwanda, employing more than 780 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.  Pharo Foundation’s education mission is implemented through the Pharo-brand schools, ranging from kindergarten, to primary and secondary.  The Foundation operates four Pharo schools in Somaliland, Vocational Training Centre, Pharo Kindergarten, Pharo Primary, and Pharo Secondary Boarding school in Sheikh district.  Our school includes both international and national curricula, enhancing the educational experience through a variety of innovative approaches. These include engaging reading materials, cutting-edge technology-driven learning methods, and advanced educational tools.  We firmly uphold the significance of academic excellence in nurturing students, facilitating their seamless transition into adulthood, and paving the way for occupational and economic success   Opportunity We are seeking a highly experienced and analytical School Improvement Consultant to support the review and strengthening of school performance.  The consultant will work closely with school leadership to conduct a comprehensive assessment of current practices, identify performance gaps, and develop a structured School Improvement Plan (SIP). The role will focus on improving student learning outcomes, strengthening teaching quality, and enhancing school leadership and management systems.  The ideal candidate will bring strong expertise in primary education, school evaluation, and strategic planning, with the ability to translate findings into clear, practical, and actionable improvements.                                                                             

  Key Relationships Number of Roles: 1

Location: Hargeisa, Somaliland 

Reporting to: Education Leadership

 Contract Type: Consultancy Duration: 2 months.

Functional Relationships: School Leadership Team, Teachers, Heads of Department, Education Team

 Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct a comprehensive review of the school, including academic, operational, and safeguarding areas.

• Assess student academic performance, teaching and learning practices, school leadership, student wellbeing, and the overall school environment and safety.

• Review relevant school documents, policies, and assessment data to inform analysis.

• Engage closely with the school leadership team, teachers, and Heads of Department to gather insights and build alignment. • Identify key strengths, challenges, and priority areas for improvement.

• Develop a structured three-year School Improvement Plan (SIP) that includes clear goals, priorities, and action steps.

• Define realistic timelines and establish measurable key performance indicators (KPIs). 

• Design a monitoring and evaluation framework to track implementation progress and impact.

• Ensure alignment with recognized good practices in primary education.

• Provide clear, practical, and evidence-based recommendations for improvement.

• Present findings and the final School Improvement Plan to school leadership and relevant stakeholders.  Deliverables

• School review report outlining key findings, strengths, and gaps.

• A comprehensive three-year School Improvement Plan, including goals, actions, and timelines.

• Defined KPIs with clear and measurable targets.

• Detailed implementation plan.

• Monitoring and evaluation framework.

• Final presentation of findings and recommendations to school leadership and the organization.  Behavioural Competencies • Demonstrate professionalism, integrity, and a strong commitment to improving education outcomes.

• Build effective and respectful working relationships with school leadership and staff.

• Show strong analytical thinking and attention to detail when reviewing data and practices.

• Demonstrate initiative and the ability to work independently while engaging stakeholders.                                                  

• Communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.

• Adapt to different school environments and respond constructively to challenges.

• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism in handling school data and information.

• Exhibit a solution-oriented mindset and a commitment to continuous improvement. 

Skills and qualifications

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in education or a related field (preferred).  

• Minimum 5 years’ experience teaching in a primary school, with demonstrated responsibility for improving student learning outcomes (e.g. literacy, numeracy, or assessment results).

• Proven experience improving teaching practices or supporting teachers through coaching, mentoring, or academic coordination.

• Experience reviewing school performance, identifying gaps, and supporting implementation of structured improvement plans.

• Experience in school leadership, instructional coaching, or education consultancy is an advantage. 

How to apply

Application procedure

• We will review completed applications on a rolling basis. If we identify an outstanding candidate early in the process, we reserve the right to appoint before the deadline. For this reason, we encourage interested candidates to apply as early as possible. Due to the high volume of applications, we regret that we will only contact shortlisted candidates.

• You are required to attach a detailed CV and cover letter.

• To apply, please visit the Careers page on the Pharo Foundation website and submit your application https://www.pharofoundation.org/index.php/current-opportunities

• The application deadline is 20th May 2026.