Education Manager Playmatters (PM)

Job Description

Background:

The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian international NGOs, provides relief, rehabilitation and development support to vulnerable people and communities over 30 countries. We began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region and are currently providing assistance to Ethiopians and refugees in six regions in Ethiopia, implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery, and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

Position Overview

IRC is seeking Education Manager for a five-year project, “PlayMatters”, funded by the LEGO Foundation. This position will be a part of the larger PlayMatters initiative to increase play-based learning opportunities for nearly 1 million pre-primary and primary school aged refugee and host community children impacted by the humanitarian crises in East Africa and living in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda. This project seeks to build children’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical skills through play in their homes, schools, and communities and will be implemented in partnership with War Child, Plan International, Behavioural Insights Team and Innovations for Poverty Action.

The Education Manager will be responsible for ensuring that PlayMatters consortium and IRC staff identify, engage, and influence key education partners in Ethiopia responsible for and engaged in promoting learning outcomes for refugee and local children ages 3 to 12. This includes collaboration with government, UN and other humanitarian coordination decision makers, education implementing partners, and large scale development initiatives to improve learning through play.

The Education Manager will report to the Field Coordinator at the field office level with additional oversight from the country level PlayMatters project team; work closely with the camp based education officers, ARRA, SCI, WEO specialists and other implementing partners to integrate Learning through Play (LtP) into existing preschool, primary school, Accelerated Learning Programs (ALP) and child friendly space activities targeting children in refugee and host community. Will also assist in the development/adaptation and testing of developed content and approaches for teachers, parents and children. Will also assist to map education partners and existing teaching and learning materials for preschool and primary school children in Ethiopia and support to establish a framework for LtP proficiencies and quality LtP standards. In doing so, the Education Manager will ensure the type of engagement in design and implementation vital to achieve joint priorities and objectives of providing play based learning opportunities for all children.

Major Key Responsibilities

- Undertake mapping of existing teaching and learning materials being used in the refugee and host community schools against a framework to identify areas of integration, adaptation, and development of content; - Based on behavioral insights mapping and human centered design research, identify prototypes of content and delivery of content for teachers, parents and children - Engage with field level coordination leads, implementing partners, school leaders, parents and children through structured co-creation processes - Support the development/adaptation of training content for teachers in refugee and refugee host communities through participatory and consultative process involving local teacher education colleges and other education partners. - Support the delivery of trainings to education staff, preschool and primary school leaders in collaboration with teacher education colleges/teacher trainers using a cascade model; - Adapt content and key LtP messages targeting parent/caregivers and dissemination strategy to reach wider audiences; - With support from the Senior Play Content Adaptation and Training Manager, establish a framework for LtP proficiencies and quality LtP standards; - Update key messages and communication materials on play based learning to reflect the Somali context targeting refugees and host communities; - Support and supervise the implementation of LtP activities in refugee and host community schools and facilitate exchange of learning; - Provide technical support to Education staff to conduct regular mentoring and coaching of ECCD facilitators and primary school teachers; - Monitor project implementation, supervise progress and achievements and produce quality reports; - Work closely with the M & E officer to put in place mechanisms and processes for regular review of project data and learning; - Ensure quality budget management through BvA analysis on monthly basis; - Develop measurable procurement, activity, spending plans and stick to them to avoid any over and underspending; - Act as a focal person in all matters related to PlayMatters project in the field and collaborate with key education partners in refugee and host community;

Qualifications

Job Requirement

- Advanced degree from an accredited university in education management and planning, curriculum development, or related field; - Minimum of 5 years of experience implementing education programs, teacher training, parental education ; - Proven track record of and knowledge of engaging with government, UN and NGOs; - Proven success in developing educational/training content and delivery; - Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written; - Proficiency in English required.

Reports to: Field Coordinator based in Jijiga field office with additional oversight from the PlayMatters technical team based in Addis Ababa.

Working Environment: The Education Manager will work in Jijiga field office and be provided regular administrative and logistics support to perform responsibilities. The position holder is required to travel 50% of time to project sites for technical assistance, support, monitoring and evaluation of project activities.

Please include 3 references from current and former employers.

Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.

Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information.

· Name of the position you have applied for

· Date of application

· Summary of your qualifications and experience

· Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

· Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible, also email address

· Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees.

IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.