Education Thematic Sector Lead

Overview

Shape and refine country strategy for education through thematic expertise.

You have:

• Master degree in Education, Educational Psychology, Educational Administration, Pedagogy and other related fields
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in education programming within NGO/INGO or development sector, including at least 3 years in a technical leadership or managerial role
• Proven experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating education programs, particularly in both humanitarian and development contexts
• Demonstrated expertise in Education Programs, Teacher Professional Development, and inclusive education
• Experience working in refugee, migration, or crisis-affected settings is highly desirable
• Strong understanding of global education frameworks (e.g., INEE Minimum Standards), national education policies, and donor priorities
• Familiarity with cross-cutting themes such as Gender Equality, Child Protection, Social Inclusion, and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in education programming

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

The Opportunity

This role is responsible for shaping and refining the country strategy through authoritative thematic input, ensuring alignment with global standards and local contexts. The incumbent will lead comprehensive needs assessments and situational analyses to inform evidence-based program design, while ensuring consistency and quality across all interventions. A key focus will be on driving high-quality proposal development and resource mobilization, identifying strategic funding opportunities, and cultivating donor relationships. The role also entails representing the organization in national and international education platforms, influencing sectoral agendas, and forging impactful partnerships. The Sector Lead will oversee program implementation, ensuring excellence in delivery, accountability, and technical support, while championing robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems to drive adaptive management. Additionally, the role contributes to strategic planning and pipeline analysis in collaboration with the Business Development team, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and donor landscapes. Through targeted advocacy and collaboration with communications teams, the Sector Lead will enhance program visibility and contribute to policy influence and resource mobilization.

The Individual

• Master degree in Education, Educational Psychology, Educational Administration, Pedagogy and other related fields

• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in education programming within NGO/INGO or development sector, including at least 3 years in a technical leadership or managerial role. Proven experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating education programs, particularly in both humanitarian and development contexts.

• Demonstrated expertise in Education Programs, Teacher Professional Development, and inclusive education. Experience working in refugee, migration, or crisis-affected settings is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of global education frameworks (e.g., INEE Minimum Standards), national education policies, and donor priorities. Familiarity with cross-cutting themes such as Gender Equality, Child Protection, Social Inclusion, and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in education programming.

Please Click here review full Job Description

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI)

• Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Ensures that the team members under supervision are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in day-to-day work.
• Ensures that Plan Ethiopia contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.

Location: Addis Ababa, Country Office

Type of Role: Fixed term- full time contract

Reports to: Head of Program Portfolio and Insight

Closing Date:July 28, 2025

This position is only open to Ethiopian Nationals, who must be eligible to live and work in Ethiopia.

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 10 months ago - Updated 10 months ago - Source: jobs.plan-international.org