Save the Children Education Programme Manager Job Vacancy

Save the Children Education Programme Manager Job Vacancy
Save the Children is the world's largest independent organization, making immediate and long-lasting improvements to children's lives in over 120 countries worldwide. Save the Children is made up of 27 member organisations across the globe.

Through Unified Presence, Save the Children aims to create a stronger voice for children by unifying the operations in all countries where more than one Save the Children Member organizations operates.

This will result in one organisation at the national level in each country and a unified programme delivery structure for all Save the Children Alliance Members.

Save the Children has a long history of engagement in Somalia and has been working in Somalia and Somaliland for the past 40 years.

Save the Children has a unified presence in Somalia and Somaliland since January 2010 and is working in the thematic areas of education (including skills training for youth), health, protection and emergency responses. Save the children has an operation in Somaliland,
Puntland and South Central Somalia.

Currently we are looking for a dynamic and motivated Education Programme Manager for our emergency response project in South Central Somalia. This is an exciting opportunity for a person seeking new challenges that will make lasting changes in the lives of children in Somalia.

Job Purpose

The Education Programme Manager is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, monitoring and evaluation of Save the Children’s education program in Central South Somalia (CSS).

The job holder is expected to have extensive professional knowledge and experience in education planning and management (emergency education, formal primary education and alternative approaches including Alternative Basic Education, multi-grade approaches, non formal education etc.) in a complex emergency environment.

S/he will serve as the technical resource person for planning and execution of all primary education programs and ensure that the objectives/results of the agreed
education projects are met to the satisfaction of the beneficiaries,communities, education authorities, SC and donors.

The Programme Manager is also expected to effectively supervise and strengthen the capacity of the education team based in CSS. High level skills in distance management and communication will be required to undertake these tasks effectively.

Key Tasks and Accountabilities

The Education Programme Manager [Emergency and Primary] will be reporting to the Central & South Somalia (CSS) Regional Manager.

The Programme Manager Emergency and Primary Education is the budget holder for educations projects and will be responsible and accountable for the achievement of the project objectives.

Programme Management and Development

    * Oversee the overall management of the projects in line with the project documents
    * Design an overall operational plan for each project in consultation with the project partners, and education staff
    * Design and conduct training and institutional development aspects of the project
    * Support the education teams in ensuring that education interventions are relevant and appropriate and that quality standards are maintained across the programme
    * Document programme learning and share data and qualitative information
    * Build capacity of Education team to collect and write powerful case studies and photographs
    * Coordinate with Education Cluster to share information, jointly set priorities
    * Develop operational plans with team for all projects
    * Design format for weekly review and planning and ensure team are using forms on weekly basis
    * Design participatory M&E system with team and plan a monitoring schedule against project results
    * Provide technical assistance on education projects
    * Develop systems for understanding and analysing new needs arising

Staff Management

    * Ensure education team’s strengths are identified and recognised for programme and individual development
    * Assist Deputy Project Manager and SIDA PO to line manage staff effectively
    * Line manage the Deputy Project Manager and project officers and provide periodic, constructive, actionable feedback on performance
    * All staff adhering to CSP
    * Ensure sufficient, suitable and appropriate staff are in place in all education positions
    * Support staff to identify areas for development and jointly plan capacity building opportunities

Partnership & Donor Relationship Development

    * Ensure quality, results based donor reports submitted on time
    * Frequent communication maintained with donors to inform of progress
    * Identified needs worked into realistic and appropriate proposals when opportunities arises
    * Liaise with ‘local authorities’ UN agencies and NGOs with regard to their education policy and the assimilation of relevant data
    * Promote sharing of experience and learning between the education projects
    * Joint planning and activities undertaken to ensure cost effective use of resources

Finance and Budgeting

    * Budget management systems established within education team including clear monthly schedules
    * Budgets monitored in donor currency on monthly basis, FBS maintained accurately and planning adjustments made frequently to ensure 100% of budget lines are spent

Person Specification

    * Minimum M.A. or M.Sc. degree in education planning and management, international development, social policy/planning or other related fields.
    * Substantial experience (at least five years) in development and management of emergency education and other forms of education programmes in INGOs in challenging environments
    * Substantial experience (at least five years) working in a complex emergency
    * Experience in remote/long-distance staff and program management
    * Proven skills and experience in planning/undertaking assessments and writing of quality project proposals in emergency environments
    * Strong knowledge and experience in designing M&E frameworks (systems and tools) for education projects in a remote management environment
    * Experience of working with state and non-state partners on issues of education policy formulation and implementation of education projects
    * Conversant with curriculum development, teachers training, girls’ education issues and learnercentered/friendly teaching methodologies
    * Capacity to work and travel in an insecure and often stressful environments
    * Good understanding and experience in child rights programming approaches
    * Excellent understanding of issues of diversity and in particular gender child participation and children situation analysis and mainstreaming
    * Proven outstanding skills and experience in writing donor project reports
    * Fluency in spoken and written English
    * Proficiency in using computer applications
    * Ensure staff effectively manage Raise teams’ awareness of Emergency Education by ensuring staff members attend EIE training and share learning
    * Improve team work in education team by establishing joint planning processes and information sharing across projects
    * Periodic meetings held with education team to ensure common understanding of donor compliance and progress against indicators
    * Ensure effective systems are in place for remote management

Child Safeguarding and Code of Conduct

Because Save the Children's work is based on deeply held values and principles, it is essential that our commitment to children's rights and humanitarian principles is supported and demonstrated by all members of staff. Save the Children's Code of Conduct sets out the standards which all staff members must adhere to.

We work with children, communities and governments all over the world and we believe in the right person for the job regardless of where you come from and how you identify yourself. We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the Safeguarding of children from abuse.

Candidates applying for this post, therefore will be subject to child safeguarding checks

Applications should be forwarded to: vacancies@scsom.org

Latest date for receiving applications is on Saturday 15th Sept 2010, 15:00 pm
Only short listed individuals will be notified.
Save the Children is an equal opportunities employer and highly encourages women to apply.