Student Wellness and Career Guidance Officer

Organization Overview

The African School of Governance (ASG) is a public policy and leadership education institution focused on developing the next generation of African leaders. Built on African perspectives and international standards, the school combines policy education, research, and engagement to help solve complex governance challenges across the continent and beyond. Its vision is to support a prosperous and peaceful Africa led by people with the mindset, knowledge, and skills to advance sustainable development. Its mission is to prepare leaders through innovative public policy education, advanced research, and policy engagement that reflects Africa’s values and opportunities.

Role Summary

The Student Wellness and Career Guidance Officer will promote student wellbeing, resilience, and success by delivering counselling, psychosocial support, career guidance, employability programming, and alumni engagement activities. The position supports students’ personal development, academic progress, professional readiness, and transition into leadership and employment.

Job Details

Job Title: Student Wellness and Career Guidance Officer
Reports To: Manager Students Affairs
Job Ref: ASG/044
Available Position: 1
Department: Academic Affairs

Student Counselling and Wellbeing

The role includes direct support for students facing personal, emotional, academic, social, or adjustment-related concerns. It also involves crisis support, student safeguarding, referrals, and wellbeing programming.

• Offer one-on-one and group counselling, along with psychosocial support, for students dealing with a range of challenges.
• Assess risks, provide suitable intervention, refer students where needed, and follow up on cases.
• Create and roll out wellness initiatives that encourage mental health, resilience, stress management, and healthy living.
• Develop support arrangements for students who need additional accommodations or wellbeing assistance.
• Keep counselling records secure and ensure adherence to confidentiality, safeguarding, and data protection standards.
• Build and sustain referral partnerships with external mental health, medical, and social service providers.
• Contribute to crisis response, safeguarding, and emergency intervention activities when required.
• Prepare and lead workshops on personal growth, mental health, emotional intelligence, interpersonal effectiveness, and student success.
• Assist with onboarding, orientation, transition, and retention initiatives for students.
• Help create a supportive, inclusive, and student-focused campus culture.
• Work with student leaders, clubs, and organizations to improve engagement and wellbeing.
• Monitor student participation, use of support services, and graduate outcomes where relevant.

Career Guidance and Employability

This aspect of the role centers on helping students plan careers, strengthen employability, and connect with employers, alumni, and professional networks.

• Provide career counselling and coaching to help students choose pathways that fit their interests, strengths, and goals.
• Support students in setting career plans and professional development objectives.
• Deliver practical training in CV writing, cover letters, interview techniques, networking, personal branding, and job search methods.
• Coordinate career readiness activities and employability workshops.
• Organize career fairs, employer outreach, networking sessions, and industry exposure events.
• Help students access internships, fellowships, scholarships, conferences, and other development opportunities.
• Build and maintain relationships with employers, industry partners, professional bodies, and development organizations to widen opportunities for students and graduates.
• Work with academic teams and industry mentors to support students during work-integrated learning placements.
• Support alumni networking and engagement initiatives.
• Track graduate destinations, employment results, and professional achievements for planning and reporting purposes.
• Involve alumni in institutional events, career conversations, leadership forums, and student activities.

Expected Output

The successful candidate should demonstrate strong relationship-building ability, sound judgement, and high professional standards. The role also requires good organization, confidentiality, analytical thinking, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a busy environment.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Working knowledge of mental health, student wellbeing, safeguarding, and psychosocial support practices.
• Understanding of career development theory and employability frameworks.
• Ability to design and facilitate workshops and training sessions.
• Strong stakeholder engagement capability.
• Excellent case management, documentation, report writing, and data handling skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and apply sound professional judgement.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities.
• Capacity to work effectively in a fast-moving environment with competing priorities.
• Proficiency with career assessment tools, student engagement platforms, Microsoft Office, and digital communication tools.

Educational and Professional Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Career Development, Education, Behavioural Sciences, or a related discipline from a recognized institution is required.
• A master’s degree in Counselling Psychology, Educational Psychology, Behavioural Sciences, Human Development, Student Affairs, or a related area will be an advantage.
• At least five years of increasingly responsible experience in counselling, student affairs, student wellbeing, career guidance, employability services, higher education, youth development, or a similar field is required.
• Professional certifications in career coaching, mental health support, safeguarding, student development, leadership coaching, or employability training are preferred.
• At least three years of experience working with diverse and multicultural student groups, ideally in an international higher education setting, is required.
• Experience in designing and delivering student wellbeing, mental health, resilience, and student success programs is required.

Behavioral Competencies

• Strong attention to detail and analytical accuracy.
• Effective time management and the ability to coordinate several projects at once.
• Leadership capability with cultural awareness and the ability to guide and support others.
• Ability to handle conflict and crisis in a professional manner.
• Self-motivated, flexible, and proactive approach.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Accuracy in record keeping and documentation.
• High integrity, responsibility, and respect for confidentiality.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Service-oriented mindset with patience and empathy.

What the Organization Offers

• An opportunity to contribute to an innovative MPA programme.
• Mentorship and close collaboration with respected faculty and practitioners.
• Opportunities for professional growth.

Application Information

Interested candidates who meet the qualifications and experience requirements are expected to apply through the organization’s online recruitment portal. The application deadline is 10 July 2026.

Additional Information

The role is based in Kigali City, Rwanda. This is a full-time, on-site position in the Academic Affairs department. The vacancy reference is ASG/044, and there is one opening. No salary or stipend information was provided in the source.