Group Safeguarding Manager

Enko Education; Johannesburg; Remote; ZAR 1,042,000 - 1,564,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing international education provider is seeking a Group Safeguarding Manager to ensure safe, supportive environments across its network of schools in Africa. This role involves developing safeguarding policies, training staff, and providing expert advice on child protection. Ideal candidates will have safeguarding expertise, project management skills, and the ability to work in high-pressure situations, with fluency in English and preferably French. Position is remote or in an Enko country with regular travel requirements.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in safeguarding ideally in a school or trust environment.
• Experience in child-focused NGO or CSR projects valued.
• Ability to deliver Level 3 safeguarding training to staff and engage diverse audiences.
• Comfortable collecting, analysing, and interpreting data to identify risks.
• Strong organizational skills for project and change management.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
• Fluency in English; French is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

• Promote a culture of safeguarding across all schools.
• Develop and implement safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Provide guidance on managing safeguarding incidents.
• Design and deliver safeguarding training programs for staff.
• Improve safeguarding data collection and reporting.
• Conduct regular safeguarding audits in schools.
• Embed safeguarding into daily operations and culture.

Skills

Safeguarding expertise

Training skills

Data analysis

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Job description

Overview

Group Safeguarding Manager Location : Remote (GMT ±2 preferred) or in an Enko country - with regular travel to schools Start Date : January 2026 At Enko Education, we are on a mission to unlock the potential of learners across Africa by offering high-quality, accessible international education.

We are building a network of African International Schools of Choice that prepare students to thrive at the best universities and beyond.

We are a fast-growing, mission-driven organization with schools across 10 African countries.

We are now seeking a passionate and experienced Group Safeguarding Manager to strengthen and lead our safeguarding culture across the network.

Why this Role Matters Every child deserves a safe, supportive learning environment. As our Group Safeguarding Manager, you will be the guardian of that commitment, ensuring our schools are safe spaces where every learner can flourish. You will be the go-to expert for safeguarding, guiding school leaders, staff, and our central team through policies, best practices, and case management. You will play a critical role in embedding a culture of vigilance and care that protects children and inspires trust among families, staff, and partners.

Responsibilities

• Champion Safeguarding across the Group: Promote a culture of proactive safeguarding, ensuring that child protection remains a priority across all schools and central functions.
• Lead policy & process development: Develop, implement, and regularly review safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with international standards and local regulations.
• Case management & expert advice: Provide guidance and support to school leaders and Child Safeguarding Leads (CSLs) in managing safeguarding incidents and complex cases.
• Collaborate with external agencies where necessary.
• Training & capacity building: Design and deliver engaging safeguarding training programs for staff at all levels, including Level 3 training for CSLs and senior leaders. Support a “train-the-trainer” approach to ensure knowledge is cascaded within schools.
• Data & reporting: Oversee and continuously improve safeguarding data collection and dashboards. Produce accurate monthly reports and serious case reports to inform strategic decision-making at ExCo level.
• Compliance & audits: Conduct regular safeguarding audits in each school, identifying risks and supporting school improvement plans. Ensure safer recruitment practices are consistently applied across all schools.
• Culture & engagement: Work closely with Human Resources, Learning & Teaching, and school leadership teams to embed safeguarding into daily operations, communications, and school culture.

Your profile

We are looking for an exceptional professional who combines strategic thinking with the ability to act decisively in complex, high-pressure situations. You are mission-driven, resilient, and able to build trust across diverse teams and cultures.

• Ideally, you have : A deep safeguarding expertise: You bring proven experience in safeguarding – ideally within a school or trust environment – and a strong understanding of child protection legislation, best practices, and international standards.
• Experience in child-focused NGO or CSR projects will also be valued.
• Training and influence skills: You have delivered safeguarding training (Level 3 or above) to staff and senior leaders and know how to engage diverse audiences. You can build capacity through a “train-the-trainer” approach and embed a culture of vigilance across schools.
• A data-driven and analytical mindset: You are comfortable collecting, analysing, and interpreting data to identify risks and propose actionable solutions. You can manage dashboards, produce insightful reports, and challenge assumptions with evidence.
• Strong project & change management skills: You are highly organized and can plan, audit, implement, and follow up with precision. You know how to lead change processes and help teams adopt new safeguarding procedures effectively.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills: You combine empathy, firmness, and cultural sensitivity. You can remain calm under pressure, communicate with clarity, and guide school teams through difficult situations with professionalism and care.
• Fluency in English is required, and French is a strong plus.
• The role involves regular travel across Africa to support schools on-site.

Next Steps

• Our recruitment process is designed to be thorough and transparent, ensuring that both you and Enko Education can make the best possible decision.
• Here is what you can expect : A fit interview with a member of our HR team to get to know you, understand your motivations, and assess whether your values and working style align with Enko Education’s mission and culture.
• A technical assessment (Case study) designed to evaluate safeguarding knowledge, analytical skills, and approach to problem-solving. This will be your opportunity to demonstrate how you would handle real-life safeguarding challenges across our network.
• Two focused interviews (including one with a member of our senior leadership team) to assess your technical expertise, project management skills, and ability to lead change across multiple schools.
• A career interview with members of Enko Education’s Executive Committee (ExCo) to explore your career history and trajectory, and potential for impact within our organization.
• Conditional offer & final checks: If you are successful, you will receive a conditional offer. This offer will be subject to satisfactory reference checks. For safeguarding purposes, you will also be asked to provide a police clearance (or equivalent) for every country where you have resided in the past 10 years, prior to signing your contract.
• If you are driven by purpose, thrive under pressure, and are ready to lead safeguarding efforts across a dynamic network of schools, we would love to hear from you.

Equality, Safer Recruitment & About Enko

Equal Opportunities & Safer Recruitment Enko Education is an equal opportunities employer, committed to inclusivity, diversity, and valuing difference. Enko Education schools are committed to child safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and young people, and we expect all staff, volunteers, and third parties to share this commitment. Our safer recruitment practices aim to ensure that only individuals committed to child safeguarding join our schools. You can read our Safer Recruitment Statement here.

Successful candidates must provide a police clearance (or equivalent) from every country where they have lived in the past 10 years before signing an employment contract. Reference checks with previous employers will also be conducted for each successful candidate.

About Enko Education

International education with Africa at heart and the world in mind. Enko Education is a fast-growing network of 15 international schools in 10 African countries, offering international education with Africa at heart and the world in mind. Our mission is to make high-quality international education accessible to more African learners and to guide them towards the world’s best universities through innovative programmes leading to globally recognised qualifications. Since 2014, Enko Education has helped thousands of students secure admission to top universities such as Yale College, Sciences Po, École Polytechnique, and the University of Toronto. Backed by leading development finance institutions and funds including Proparco, I&P, Adiwale, BIO Invest, Oiko Credit and Liquid Africa, we are on track to reach 20,000 students by 2028. Learn more on our website.

French version: Égalité des chances & Recrutement sécurisé Enko Education est un employeur qui respecte l’égalité des chances, attaché à l’inclusion, à la diversité et à la valorisation des différences. Les écoles Enko Education s’engagent à protéger les enfants et à promouvoir le bien-être des élèves et des jeunes, et attendent de l’ensemble du personnel, des bénévoles et des tiers qu’ils partagent cet engagement. Nos pratiques de recrutement sécurisé visent à garantir que seules les personnes partageant notre engagement rejoignent nos écoles. Vous pouvez consulter notre Déclaration sur le recrutement sécurisé ici. Les candidats retenus doivent fournir un extrait de casier judiciaire (ou équivalent) pour tous les pays dans lesquels ils ont vécu au cours des 10 dernières années avant de signer un contrat. Des vérifications de références seront effectuées auprès des employeurs précédents pour tout candidat retenu pour un rôle.

À propos d’Enko Education Une éducation internationale avec l’Afrique au cœur et le monde en perspective. Enko Education est un réseau en pleine croissance de 15 écoles internationales dans 10 pays d’Afrique, offrant une éducation internationale de qualité à un coût accessible. Notre mission est de faciliter l’accès des apprenants africains aux meilleures universités du monde grâce à des programmes innovants menant à des diplômes mondialement reconnus. Depuis 2014, nous avons accompagné des milliers d’élèves vers des universités de premier plan telles que Yale College, Sciences Po, l’École Polytechnique ou encore l’Université de Toronto. Avec le soutien d’institutions financières de développement et de fonds tels que Proparco, I&P, Adiwale, BIO Invest, Oiko Credit et Liquid Africa, nous visons à scolariser 20 000 élèves d’ici 2028. Pour en savoir plus, visitez notre site internet.

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