Limpopo Club Coach

Overview

Thabazimbi, South Africa | Posted on 11/11/2025

Smart Start is a successful national network of NGOs and partners that is realising quality, affordable early learning for all children aged three to five. We are achieving this by scaling a network of and building a platform for providers, achieving specific ecosystem transformations with governments and partners, and promoting early learning as a priority societal cause.

Purpose

• Smart Start is seeking passionate, self-motivated, and driven individuals to take on the vital role of Implementation Coach and Mentor. The successful candidates will serve as advocates for early learning, working closely with Smart Starters (Smart Start’s early learning practitioners) to support them in starting, managing, and sustaining impactful and viable early learning programmes. Through mentorship and hands-on coaching, Implementation Coaches will play a key role in ensuring these programmes not only provide quality early education but also develop into sustainable, purpose-driven enterprises.

• Community Activation, Stakeholder engagement and Awareness Creation
• Smart Start Recruitment and matching
• Start-up training
• Licensing and Smart Spacing Set-Up
• Programme Quality Assurance and Registration Support
• Programme growth and expansion
• Build and encourage the Smart Start clubs (networks of Smart Starters)
• Drive and create understanding of and demand for quality early learning and importantly to coach and develop Smart Starters to gain new skills and capacities

Key Specifications

• Requirements
• Educated to tertiary level preferable (Early Childhood, Community Development diploma/ degree or similar).
• At least a year’s experience in coaching /mentoring/facilitation role and/or a management/coordinating role.
• Three years’ experience of ECD or a closely related sphere.
• Community Engagement and Relationship Building - The ability to connect with local communities, build trust, and foster positive relationships with community members
• Effective Stakeholder Communication and Advocacy - Strong communication skills to engage stakeholders—such as parents, local leaders, NGOs, and government departments and advocate for early learning initiatives.
• Recruitment and Talent Matching - The ability to identify, assess, and recruit individuals with the right mindset and potential to become Smart Starters.
• Operational and Logistical Coordination - strong planning and coordination skills to support Smart Starters in setting up licensed Smart Spaces and accessing necessary materials and resources
• Strategic Thinking and Growth Orientation - Ability to think long-term, plan for scale, and identify opportunities for program expansion.
• Conflict Resolution - the ability to manage conflict and adjust to different community dynamics and individual needs while keeping program goals in focus.
• Ability to build and maintain excellent working relationships with colleagues at all levels of the Smart Start network and beyond, and to work as part of a cohesive and supportive team, including the ability to work effectively with people from different backgrounds.

• Excellent organizational and planning skills
• Excellent management skills
• Excellent Computer Skills - Proficiency in MS Office – including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook – and in internet search and use
• Proficiency in English, Venda and Tsonga (Vhembe), Sepedi (Sekhukhune and Waterberg)