PROGRAM BACKGROUND:
The IRC began working in Ethiopia with a safe water intervention for pastoralists and their livestock in response to drought in the Somali Region in 2000. IRC Ethiopia currently works in 20 refugee camps across four regions, implements a long-standing emergency response mechanism nationwide, and supports rural communities in six regions with longer-term development programming. IRC’s targets conflict- and/or natural disaster-affected communities (which include camp-based refugees) and remote, under-served Ethiopian communities (including those internally displaced). The Ethiopia program implements most IRC sectors including many multi-sector programs, particularly in our refugee camp programs. IRC provides emergency education, both formal and non-formal, psychosocial support and vocational training for youth, child protection, water supply improvement, sanitation promotion, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, reproductive health education and services, and community well-being initiative (CWI) prevention of and response to gender based violence.
The IRC seeks a dynamic and highly experienced professional for the position of Assistant Education coordinator responsible for on-going and new education programs in Ethiopia. The successful candidate will also provide technical backstopping and cross-sectoral collaboration for the enhancement and success of other IRC programs, and play a key role in new program design and development in further Ethiopian contexts.
SCOPE
Under the supervision of the CYPD Coordinator, the Assistant Education Coordinator will be responsible to oversee the proper management of Education programs, grants and human resources under the CYPD sector. He/She will also be responsible to ensure program quality, completion of activities within the project period, and identifying new areas for program expansion and improvement. The Assistant Education Coordinator will ensure that programs are implemented in line with policies and standards governing humanitarian intervention. The position is based in Addis Ababa with 50% travel to the field sites for technical assistance, support, monitoring and evaluation of program activities.
The Assistant Education Coordinator will report to the CYPD Coordinator and liaise on a regular basis with the Assistant Child Protection Coordinator, Assistant Youth and Livelihood Coordinator, CYPD Managers, Field Coordinators as well as Field Managers, and field program staff. The Assistant Education Coordinator will also liaise with Ethiopian local government officials and program clients as required.
Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Technical Quality and Project Management
· Provide direction and monitor staff in their implementation of project work plans and quality of technical activities, including program budget oversight
· Ensure appropriate methodologies and technical approaches are developed for all program activities working with the CYPD Coordinator and Education Technical Advisors to ensure global best practices are applied to programming
· Work closely with the CYPD Coordinator to ensure alignment of Education programming with IRC global strategic plan and relevant theories of change
· Contribute to development of country office’s sector-relevant strategic direction and plans including ongoing development of Education programming, staffing and management structures
· Along with senior program staff and the Technical Unit/Advisors, support the development of Standard Operating Procedures and Guidance Notes for program activities
· Ensure regular monitoring and modification of ongoing programming as required
Project Monitoring and Reporting
· Prepare relevant and quality IRC and donor reports as per agreed-upon schedules (monthly, quarterly and/or annually) on grant activities, indicators and achievements.
· Work closely and coordinate with IRC logistics, finance and grant staff to ensure timely and compliant program activities and expenditures; including active participation in procurement, supply chain, grant and other meetings
· Together with the CYPD Coordinator and Accountability and Learning Coordinator, develop and implement a full monitoring and evaluation framework for Education activities as well as learning strategies, and adapt them to the different program methodologies.
Human Resources Management
· Provide technical direction and managerial oversight of Education staff to include 7 officers, and provide advising and guidance to staff across other sectors (e.g., CWI, WASH, etc.) on integrated programming.
· Set specific goals and expectations and provide regular, positive and constructive feedback to direct reports
· Conduct interim and annual performance reviews in a constructive and timely fashion, ensuring any performance issues are addressed through the appropriate channels.
· Support the CYPD Coordinator to promote a strong team spirit
· Build capacity of the team under his/her supervision in basic assistance and educational support methodologies, as well as management capacity, both individually and through conducting/coordinating staff training exercises
· Help to recruit and screen Education program staff as needed
Program Design, Coordination & Representation
· Support the country team to investigate and pursue new funding and program development opportunities, contributing to technical design and components of project proposals and concept notes.
· Develop and maintain effective coordination and long-term relationships with external stakeholders including partner agencies/NGOS, government departments and ministries, community-based organizations, private sector partners, donors, and others in accurately and professionally representing IRC positions, promoting long-term strategies and resolving problems/conflicts.
· Actively advance IRC’s connections to Education actors at a local, regional and national level, seeking avenues for partnership, collaboration and coordination of activities to ensure sustainability of interventions
· Maintain the IRC’s relationship with consortia implementing partners and closely work for smooth project implementation.
· Together with the CYPD Coordinator, regularly engage with the Education Technical Advisors and other Specialists to benchmark programming to IRC standards and ensure application of best practices.
· Participate in IRC and external working groups and communities of practice around Education to advance Education strategies, disseminate research and program successes, discuss implementation challenges, and share best practices
· Support the sharing of information and learning across Education related programs
Other
· Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs
Minimum Requirements/Qualifications:
· MA/MSC in Education, Educational Management and planning and/or related certification with 3 years’ experience or BA/BSC with 6 years’ experience in humanitarian response, with specific experience in Education programming
· At least 2 years senior level management experience
· Prior experience working in emergency settings or insecure environments preferred
· Strong program/technical and budget management skills, planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills
· Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties
· INGO experience required; experience with coordination systems or advocacy preferable
· Must be capable of applying skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including direct implementation, advisory functions, training and the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills to others
· Personal qualities: works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well, has a strong sense of humor
· Fluency in English and Amharic is required