Job Description
Student Affairs Officer Pharo Secondary School Sheikh, 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, 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 nonprofit and for-profit ventures. The Foundation operates in Ethiopia, Somaliland, Kenya, and Rwanda, employing more than 750 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. About Pharo Schools Pharo Schools is a pan African network of Schools that, exists to expand opportunity through high quality affordable and equitable education across Africa. We are building a network of high-impact, future-focused schools that deliver excellent learning outcomes, nurture character and wellbeing, and empower young people to shape prosperous futures for themselves and their communities. Rooted in the Foundation’s mission to “enable Africa to thrive”, Pharo Schools operates with a deep commitment to equity, dignity, and access. Our schools prioritise strong teaching, enriched learning environments, and holistic development, ensuring that every child regardless of background can succeed at school, thrive in life, and transition confidently to further education and meaningful livelihoods. Pharo Schools currently serves +- 5000 students across Kenya, Somaliland, Ethiopia and Rwanda.
Position Summary Pharo Secondary School Sheikh is seeking a dynamic, caring, and dedicated Student Affairs Officer to join our Student Life and Discipline Team. The Student Affairs Officer will play an important role in creating a safe, structured, respectful, and valuesdriven environment in which students can learn, grow, and thrive. The successful candidate will work closely with students, teachers, boarding staff, school leadership, the health team, and parents/guardians to support students' academic engagement, personal development, wellbeing, and positive behaviour. This is a highly student-centred and collaborative role suited to someone who enjoys working with adolescents and is passionate about education, mentorship, leadership development, and creating a positive boarding-school experience. The successful candidate will be expected to understand and respect the local context, culture, values, and expectations of families in Somaliland, while upholding the school's standards, policies, safeguarding responsibilities, and commitment to student wellbeing.
Key Relationships Job Title: Student Affairs Officer Reporting to: Head Teacher for Discipline and Student Wellbeing Location: Sheikh, Somaliland Contract Type: Fixed Term - One year (possibility of renewal) Key Responsibilities: 1. Boarding, Dormitory Management and Student Discipline • Supervise dormitories and boarding routines to ensure a safe, clean, orderly, and supportive living environment. • Oversee daily routines, including wake-up, personal hygiene, bed-making, room cleanliness, laundry, study/prep time, mealtimes, and lights-out. • Monitor dormitory facilities, bathrooms, laundry areas, and common spaces and promptly report maintenance, health, or safety concerns. • Promote student responsibility and accountability for personal belongings, dormitory cleanliness, and shared spaces. • Monitor student conduct and address behavioural concerns fairly, consistently, and respectfully in line with school policies. • Record disciplinary incidents accurately and follow up with students to support reflection, accountability, and improved behaviour. • Supervise students in the dining hall and support orderly, respectful, and healthy mealtime routines. 2. Student Development, Mentorship and Engagement • Mentor students and support their personal, social, emotional, and leadership development. • Organise and facilitate student clubs, extracurricular activities, leadership programmes, workshops, and community-service initiatives. • Support the development of student leadership through the student government/parliament and other student-led activities. • Encourage participation in sports, clubs, cultural activities, and other programmes that contribute to a vibrant school community. • Identify students who may require additional pastoral support and work with the appropriate members of staff to ensure timely follow-up. 3. Attendance, Student Wellbeing and Health • Monitor student attendance during morning routines, classes, study/prep periods, and other scheduled school activities. • Follow up promptly on unexplained absences and work with teachers and boarding staff to identify and address attendance concerns. • Monitor students' general health and wellbeing within the boarding environment and refer health concerns promptly to the school's health/clinic team. • Support the early identification of illness, emotional distress, safeguarding concerns, or other issues that may affect a student's wellbeing or ability to participate in school. • Ensure students who are unwell or excused from school activities are appropriately supported and that relevant staff are informed. • Maintain appropriate confidentiality when handling sensitive student information. 4. Safeguarding and Student Protection • Promote a school environment in which students feel safe, respected, listened to, and valued. • Follow the school's safeguarding and child-protection policies and procedures at all times.
• Report safeguarding concerns promptly through the school's established reporting channels. • Maintain appropriate professional boundaries when working with students. • Contribute to student awareness of respectful behaviour, personal responsibility, safety, and positive relationships. 5. Records, Behaviour Management and Reporting • Maintain accurate and confidential records relating to student attendance, behaviour, disciplinary incidents, achievements, and pastoral follow-up. • Manage and regularly update the school's Behaviour Management System (BMS), including records of violations, sanctions, interventions, and communication with families. • Monitor patterns in student behaviour and attendance and highlight concerns to the Head Teacher for Discipline and Student Wellbeing. • Maintain appropriate records of communication with parents/guardians. • Contribute to the review and continuous improvement of the Student Handbook, behaviour expectations, boarding routines, and relevant school policies. 6. Parent, Guardian and Staff Communication • Communicate respectfully and professionally with parents and guardians regarding student behaviour, attendance, progress, wellbeing, and concerns. • Build positive relationships with families and ensure communication is timely, clear, culturally respectful, and focused on student development. • Work closely with teachers, boarding staff, the health team, and school leadership to support students and resolve concerns. • Participate in staff, discipline, pastoral, and student-support meetings. 7. Examination Support • Support the administration of Pearson Edexcel examinations, including registration, preparation, invigilation, documentation, and reporting. • Work closely with the school's Examination Officer to ensure examinations are conducted professionally and in accordance with relevant requirements. • Take responsibility for coordinating examination processes when required and, where appropriate, in the absence of the Examination Officer. 8. General Boarding and School Duties • Support boarding activities, student events, school functions, and other student-life programmes as required. • Support school initiatives that promote student leadership, community, responsibility, and positive school culture. • Carry out other reasonable duties related to student affairs and boarding life as assigned by the School Administration.
Key Qualifications & Attributes: • Bachelor’s degree in education, Social Work, Psychology, Youth Development, Counselling, or a related field. • Experience working with adolescents, preferably in a school, boarding school, youth programme, community organisation, or residential setting. • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and maintain appropriate professional boundaries with young people. • Ability to manage student behaviour fairly, consistently, calmly, and respectfully.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, particularly in maintaining records and following procedures. • Ability to work collaboratively as part of a diverse school team. • Good written and spoken English and Somali. • Proficiency in Google Workspace, including Google Docs, Sheets, Forms, and Gmail. • Willingness to live and work in Sheikh, Somaliland, and to participate in the routines and responsibilities of a boarding-school environment. Personal Attributes • Student-centred: genuinely committed to helping young people develop and succeed. • Caring and approachable: able to listen to students and provide appropriate guidance and support. • Firm but fair: able to maintain high standards while treating students with dignity and respect. • A strong role model demonstrates integrity, professionalism, punctuality, responsibility, and positive conduct. • Culturally aware: understands and respects the cultural and social context of Somaliland and works positively with students, families, and colleagues. • Proactive: identifies concerns early and takes appropriate action rather than waiting for problems to escalate. • Collaborative: works effectively with teachers, boarding staff, school leadership, families, and other members of the school community. • Resilient and adaptable: comfortable working in a busy boarding-school environment and responding appropriately to changing student needs.
Application Procedure We will review applications on a rolling basis, and in the event that an exceptional candidate is identified early in the process, Pharo Foundation reserves the right to make an appointment before the advertised deadline. We therefore encourage interested applicants to apply on or before 27th September 2026. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted due to the high volume of applications received. Applicants should visit the Careers Page on Pharo Foundation Website and submit: • A detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV). • A cover letter outlining their suitability for the role. Pharo Foundation is an equal opportunity employer committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and gender equality in all its practices. We encourage applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, gender, religion, or background
Apply on employer site
How to Apply
This role is listed on FursadLink and applications are submitted on the organization's official website. Use the “Apply on External Website” button above to proceed. Please reference “Student Affairs Officer, Sheekh”. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Pharo Foundation is an equal-opportunity employer and strongly encourages women to apply.
