IT Systems Administrator

The context: 

Across the developing world, more children than ever are in school – but they are not learning. A recent study estimated that less than 1% of school children in Sub-Saharan Africa attend a school where the teaching meets basic standards of quality. At Rising Academies, we’re changing that, and we want your help. Our mission is to create the best schools and the most powerful teaching and learning tools for the people that need it most. We’re one of the fastest-growing quality-focused education companies in Africa, and a Certified B Corp®. 

About Rising Academies: 

Founded in Sierra Leone in 2014, we’ve spent over a decade crafting a unique blend of high-tech and low-tech learning solutions proven to dramatically improve student outcomes that elevate teaching quality at scale. 7 RCTs have shown that the students we support learn, on average, 2.4x faster each year than their peers in comparable schools.

Today, we serve more than a quarter of a million students across 1,000 schools in West and East Africa through three integrated and complimentary channels: 

• Pioneering Great-Value Private Schools: Our innovative networks of private schools deliver best-in-class results for children while developing highly scalable new technologies and approaches.
• Scalable Government Partnerships: We partner and collaborate with local and national governments across Africa to transform the quality of public school systems at scale.
• High Impact Solutions for Partners: We offer our proven high-impact solutions to other education providers and schools to improve school performance & increase outcomes. 

Our innovative approaches combine expertly designed curriculum materials, personalized learning experiences, intensive teacher coaching and actionable data for school leaders. You can learn more about our solutions here: https://www.risingacademies.com/oursolutions 

At Rising we keep the safety and well-being of our students at the heart of what we do. All Rising employees are expected to abide by the Child Protection Policy, and to share in our commitment to meeting the highest standards of safeguarding excellence and protecting children from harm.

About the AI-Powered Tablet-Based Learning Programme: 

The AI-Powered Tablet-Based Learning Programme (ATLP) is a Government of Rwanda initiative through the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) and the Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB), delivered in partnership with Rising Academies and donor partners. Rising Academies was selected as the Implementing Partner following a competitive procurement process. The programme introduces AI-enabled tablets, teacher training, and school-level support to strengthen P1–P3 literacy and numeracy, with progress tracked using NESA-aligned assessments. The pilot will generate evidence to inform a government-led scale-up and pave the way for sustainable, system-wide adoption of digital learning in Rwanda.

About the Role

We are looking for a passionate and dedicated IT Systems Administrator to join our team in Rwanda. The IT Administrator will ensure the secure, reliable, and scalable management of devices and IT support needed to power the ATLP pilot. You will lead the setup and management of all program devices, oversee Mobile Device Management (MDM), support Google Workspace systems, and collaborate closely with Rwanda Operations and Central IT to ensure seamless digital learning experiences for teachers and students. As the program scales, the role will also contribute to planning for Learning Management System (LMS) integration, helping to build a stronger digital learning infrastructure in Rwanda.

The IT Systems Administrator will:

• Configure, deploy, and manage devices across pilot schools, ensuring MDM installation and asset tracking.
• Administer and maintain Google Workspace accounts and permissions for teachers and school leaders
• Troubleshoot device, software, and connectivity issues, ensuring minimal disruption to school operations.
• Deliver training and provide clear, user-friendly documentation for school staff and support officers.
• Ensure data security and compliance with Rising’s safeguarding and IT standards.
• Collaborate with Rwanda Ops, Central IT, and Digital/EdTech teams for continuous system improvement.
• Support technical planning for LMS integration and data management as the program expands.
• Monitor system performance and provide reports on device status, uptime, and user feedback.
• Coordinate with vendors and external partners for hardware and network support.

Location and reporting (Important):

• Work Structure: Full-time (5 days/week) during the initial 3-month phase; transitioning to 2–3 days/week thereafter, based on role and project needs, and mutual agreement.
• Reporting Line: Role will be based in Kigali, Rwanda and will report to the Project Manager, with a dotted reporting line to the Central IT Admin team.

Application deadline:
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, thus we encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field.
• 2–3 years of experience in IT systems administration or technical support, ideally in a multi-site or educational context.
• Strong knowledge of Google Workspace administration, MDM platforms, and device configuration.
• Working familiarity with LMS systems or e-learning platforms is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to train non-technical users and communicate complex concepts simply.
• Strong organizational skills, problem-solving ability, and initiative.

About You:

• You have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and interpersonal skills.
• You can communicate with technical teams and stakeholders in a multicultural environment, as well as clearly document reports for these audiences.
• You are able to explain technical concepts clearly and deliver basic user training to non-technical users.
• You demonstrate people skills; must be able to collaborate effectively with diverse personalities and skill sets, and enjoy constructive conflict.
• You have a strong track record of professionalism, trustworthiness and working independently sometimes.
• You possess excellent time management, effective coordination and teamwork skills.
• You are proactive, self-driven and can take initiative and problem-solve.
• You are comfortable working with senior leadership, reporting on data and outcomes.
• You are willing to take risks, fail, learn, give and receive feedback, and try new approaches.
• You are passionate about improving the quality of education across Africa.

Why Join Us?

• Compensation: We offer a competitive salary and benefits package. We regularly benchmark our compensation against comparable businesses, social ventures and non-profits. Rising’s goal is to be transparent about salaries at all levels of the organisation and have a standard, global pay scale for all positions that is non-negotiable. 
• Continuous Development and Growth: Rising is a Certified B Corp and twice named in its “Best for the World” list. We are committed to continuous development, which is grounded in our values and a vital part of how we bring the ‘Rising Way’ to life. We provide a nurturing environment where our staff are supported with the right ongoing conversations with their managers, among teams and as an organization, to support their career growth and help us reach our goals. 
• Impact: Our students achieve learning gains 2.4 times faster than their peers in comparable schools, positioning our impact in the top 10% of global education interventions. This role offers an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to this proven success.

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Rising is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to providing a work environment that is inclusive and free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, national origin, family or parental status, veteran or disability status.

Rising is committed to creating a culture within the organisation, and its schools, that recognizes the importance of safeguarding children and prioritizing their rights and needs. We strive to uphold international safeguarding standards, and keep the safety and well-being of our students at the heart of what we do. All Rising employees are expected to abide by the Child Protection Policy, and to have the same level of commitment to protect children from harm. Safeguarding questions are part of every interview process and all Rising employees undergo reference checks before joining the organisation.