The Role

Overview of the Professional Pathways Pillar

The Professional Pathways Pillar (PPP) supports individuals with displacement backgrounds to access career opportunities. We work most closely with RLRH affiliates who have completed our academic and research programmes and other students who have completed or are pursuing postgraduate degrees at partner universities. We also collaborate closely with allied organisations and universities to systematically strengthen the inclusion of refugees in the workforce. RLRH’s people-centred career advancement programming brings to life our vision of creating transformative refugee leadership in impactful professional settings throughout the world. We deliver three main interventions:

Foundationally, we provide individualised career counselling to RLRH affiliates at any stage in their journey, helping them to identify career pathways that are well suited to their personal and professional skills, experiences, and aspirations.
To build out core professional skills, we run a stipended six-month, in-person advanced traineeship for degree completers, which combines foundational professional training with deep mentorship. This is currently run in three of RLRH’s offices – in Kampala, Kakuma, and Nairobi, with plans for future expansion – in collaboration with our Research Pillar.
To develop meaningful and sustained pathways, we facilitate paid external professional placements with values-aligned partnered employers who are active and influential across various sectors of interest to RLRH affiliates. Placements provide a supportive environment for affiliates to establish themselves in the workforce, building skills and profiles that will serve them for years to come.

On top of our existing global footprint, the PPP will grow in the coming years in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, with the aim of supporting African graduates across 20+ universities worldwide to transition to meaningful employment soon after completion of their degrees. By 2028, the programme expects to have enrolled 110 African displacement-affected graduates in the traineeship across RLRH’s physical hubs and facilitate 130 professional placements with employer partners.

Overview of Position

The Transitions Manager is responsible for the design and delivery of the PPP’s professional development and employability support services for graduates affected by forced displacement. The postholder will develop and implement a portfolio of career readiness activities that prepare affiliates to successfully transition into placements, fellowships, employment opportunities, and other career pathways.

Combining strategic programme development with direct affiliate support, this is a dynamic role involving the delivery of high-quality online and in-person career coaching, group workshops, and application support. Through these activities, the postholder will equip affiliates with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to navigate the barriers frequently faced by refugee and displaced professionals pursuing meaningful career opportunities.

The postholder will draw on their expertise, alongside insights from RLRH affiliates and university and employer partners to inform the expansion and strengthening of the PPP’s professional development services. As this area of work grows, the Transitions Manager will play a vital role in supporting the development and management of a broader careers function, contributing to staff supervision and the professional development of junior colleagues.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced careers or employability professional to build and lead a growing area of RLRH's transition to employment work. Working closely with Professional Pathways team members, they will help create innovative and impactful services that support refugee and displaced graduates to pursue and achieve their long-term career goals.

Responsibilities

Professional development services design and improvement (35%)

Lead the design of professional development services for RLRH affiliates, piloting workshops, practical resources and application support sessions.
Produce and maintain clear documentation outlining programme design and implementation.
Use participant engagement, feedback, and emerging needs to inform the continuous improvement of professional development services.
Keep abreast of labour market trends and placement opportunities to inform programme content and participant guidance.

Participant support and delivery (35%)

Deliver 1:1 career coaching to programme participants.
Facilitate group-based workshops and employability sessions.
Lead the onboarding and induction of participants into placements and other Professional Pathways Pillar programmes.
Match affiliates to relevant opportunities and provide career readiness support.
Collaborate with PPP colleagues and Research Facilitators to support Graduate Trainees and placement participants.

Technical expertise and external guidance (15%)

Work closely with the PPP’s Partnerships Manager to provide technical support to professional transitions leads at Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program universities and other allied institutions.
Deliver transitions-related workshops with university partners to master’s graduates who have been affected by displacement.
Supervise and support incoming RLRH Careers Advisors as the portfolio of professional development services expands.

Operations and administration (10%)

Maintain case management systems and participant records to track professional development progress and outcomes.

Other duties as assigned (5%)

Attend PPP team meetings and contribute to planning and coordination activities.
Undertake additional responsibilities aligned with the role’s purpose and organisational priorities, as directed by the PPP’s Senior Programme Manager.

Selection criteria

Essential

A bachelor’s degree in education, human resources, social sciences, international development or a related field, or equivalent professional experience in career development.
Significant experience in careers guidance, employability, professional development, career coaching, talent development, or workforce transitions.
Demonstrated experience designing and delivering employability, professional development or career readiness programmes.
Demonstrated experience delivering workshops, group learning programmes and 1:1 career coaching.
Experience working with refugees, displaced populations, or other individuals facing barriers to employment, education, or professional progression.
Experience maintaining participant records and using CRM, database, or case management systems to support programme delivery
Demonstrated knowledge of labour market trends, recruitment processes, and career pathways, particularly within the African context.
Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills, with experience working across diverse teams.
Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
Commitment to inclusion, equity, and affiliate-centred practice and programming.
Excellent cultural competency and cultural humility.
Excellent written and verbal English.

Desirable

A master’s degree in a relevant field of studies.
Experience working within nonprofit, higher education, and/or international development environments.
Experience working across multiple regions, particularly in LMIC contexts.
Fluency in additional languages spoken by RLRH learners and affiliates, such as French, Swahili, Arabic, Amharic, Somali, and/or Oromo.
Demonstrated experience supervising, mentoring, or supporting the professional development of colleagues.
Professional qualification in career guidance, coaching, counselling, learning and development or related fields.

Please send your resume/CV