Manager of Entrepreneurship Center at Kepler in Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda

Title: Manager of Entrepreneurship Center

Location: Kepler College, Kigali

Reports To: Lead, Business and Entrepreneurship Analytics Research

Position Type: Full-time (2 years, possibility to transition to full-time faculty, subject to performance and funding

About Kepler College

Kepler College was established in Rwanda to offer affordable, scalable, and competency-based higher education programs with the best job prospects for graduates, ensuring a job for graduates as a key driver of everything being done at the College.

The key aspect of Kepler College's pedagogy is learning by doing with a primary focus on equipping students with 21st-century transferable skills that make them stand out at the labor market. In this program, students gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in today's global economy.

Vision: To become a leading competency-based higher education institution in Sub-Saharan Africa with outstanding graduate employment outcomes that lead to economic mobility.

Mission: To offer competency-based, accessible, employment-driven tertiary education; conduct applicable research; and provide innovative, scalable community service to support Rwanda's development.

Motto: Educating Africa's youth for tomorrow's opportunities

Core Values: We work with Purpose, We drive Innovation, We embrace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, We practice Transparency, We seek Balance.

At Kepler College, we value diversity as a paramount aspect of growth; therefore, we do not discriminate against applicants based on gender, race, religion, physical abilities, social status, beliefs, culture, and values.

Purpose of the Entrepreneurship Center

The Kepler Entrepreneurship Center aims to become a thought leader in the region in building entrepreneurial mindsets and skills among youth, incubating and accelerating promising businesses. It does this through three connected areas of work:

• Learning: offer the design thinking and entrepreneurship course and related training for students, alumni, and the wider community.
• Incubation and acceleration: helping early ventures take shape and grow.
• Scaling: helping promising businesses reach more customers, revenue and impact.

The Center is a place where diverse, innovative approaches are tested and refined, and where the approaches that work are constantly communicated to students, faculty, partners and the wider ecosystem.

Kepler is seeking a qualified Manager to lead the Center and deliver on this mandate.

Objectives

The primary objective of this role is to:

1. Develop and lead a comprehensive strategy that positions the Center as a thought leader in cultivating entrepreneurial mindsets and skills among youth and in effectively incubating and scaling promising businesses.
2. Design and deliver high-quality design thinking and entrepreneurship courses and training.
3. Plan and run the Center's incubation, accelerator, and scaling programs, including identifying, selecting, and mentoring startups.
4. Run the Center as a learning lab: test new approaches, keep what works, and share it widely.
5. Ensure the Center meets agreed goals, timelines, and impact targets.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategy and thought leadership

• Develop and refine the Center's strategy in line with Kepler College's mission, and adapt it to the evolving needs of students, startups, and the market.
• Build the Center's profile as a reference point for cultivating entrepreneurial mindsets and skills and for incubating and scaling businesses in Rwanda and the region.
• Represent Kepler at industry events and conferences, and contribute to policy and ecosystem discussions.

2. Entrepreneurial learning: design thinking and entrepreneurship

• Work with faculty to design, deliver, and update design thinking and entrepreneurship courses, workshops, and bootcamps.
• Embed entrepreneurial mindsets across Kepler College's programs through projects, challenges and co-curricular activities.
• Offer short training for alumni, partners and the community where there is demand.

3. Incubation, acceleration and scaling

• Lead the process of identifying and selecting students and alumni for incubation and accelerator programs.
• Ensure seamless program operations, from application and selection to delivery and follow-up.
• Provide hands-on guidance and mentorship to ventures at each stage, from idea to growth.
• Support high-potential businesses to scale through market access, investment readiness and links to funders.

4. Innovation lab: test, refine and share

• Design and run pilots of new approaches to entrepreneurship teaching, venture support and scaling.
• Use evidence to refine or retire approaches, and document what works.
• Communicate results regularly through case studies, reports, events, social media and partner networks.

5. Partnerships and networks

• Build relationships with mentors, investors, industry experts, government and development partners.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams across Kepler to plan and deliver the Center's work.
• Mobilize partnerships and resources to sustain and grow the Center.

6. Performance and impact

• Define and track key performance indicators, such as people trained, ventures incubated, businesses scaled, jobs created, revenue raised, and approaches adopted.
• Continuously improve programs based on data and feedback, and report progress to leadership.

Qualifications

• A master's degree in business, entrepreneurship, or a related field is strongly preferred; a bachelor's degree with proven experience may be considered.
• A minimum of 3 years of work experience in entrepreneurship or business is strongly preferred.
• Proven experience in accelerator or incubator management, entrepreneurship, or startup ecosystem development.
• Experience designing or facilitating design thinking and entrepreneurship courses or training.
• Track record of testing new ideas, learning from evidence, and communicating results.
• Knowledge of the startup ecosystem, including fundraising, mentorship, venture capital, and scaling.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and drive initiatives forward proactively.
• Excellent communication, writing, and interpersonal skills (English and Kinyarwanda preferred).
• Strategic thinker with a passion for innovation and entrepreneurship, and results-oriented with a track record of achieving program goals.

How to Apply:

• Materials Required: Candidates must submit the following:
  • A cover letter detailing their interest in the role and how their experience aligns with the responsibilities and qualifications listed.
  • An updated resume or curriculum vitae (CV) highlighting relevant experience and skills.
• Deadline: All applications must be submitted by November 20th, 2026