Somalia: Education Programme Manager - Puntland

Education Programme Manager - Puntland

TEAM/PROGRAMME:Somalia/Somaliland County Office

LOCATION: Somalia/SL – Puntland (Gardo/Garowe with regular travel to project sites other field offices as necessary)

GRADE: TBC (Competitive Package)

POST TYPE: National or International

Child Safeguarding:

Level 3: the role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff

ROLE PURPOSE: The Education Program Manager is responsible for planning, organising, directing, coordinating, monitoring and evaluation of Save the Children International’s education programme (including primary/secondary education, teachers training, skills training and employment and capacity building of education administrations) in Puntland. The Manager is expected to lead a diverse team comprising of different sub-sectors of education and hence expected to possess extensive professional knowledge and experience in education planning and management in the stated subsectors and proven track record in mentoring and developing education staff /managers. The Manager is expected to introduce and manage innovative approaches for improving access, quality and equity of education in both development and emergency context. The Manager will play a key role in establishing and maintaining sound working relationships and partnerships with local education administration bodies, local and international NGO partners.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Area Representative - Puntland

Dimensions: Save the Children works in Puntland with a current staff of approximately 110 staff and current expenditure of approximately [US$15] million each year.

Staff directly reporting to this post: Functionally 4

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Programme Development

· Initiate, lead, organise and undertake (as applicable) together with education team needs assessments and surveys that form the basis for initiating or developing new projects in relation to primary/secondary education, teachers training, skills training and employment and capacity building subsectors

· Play an active role in initiating and preparing of concept notes and proposals in all sub-sectors of education mentioned above

· Ensure that all assessments and proposals are prepared taking into account SCI’s Theory of Change and Child Rights Programming (CRP) principles and approaches based on the global and country education strategies

Project/Program Implementation

· Work closely with Head of Education and subsector technical specialists in planning, technical execution, monitoring and reporting of all education programmes/projects

· Manage implementation of all education programmes of SCI in Puntland in accordance with requirements stipulated in the programme documents

· Ensure that detailed action plans are prepared and implemented for all education subsectors of education implemented in Puntland

· Ensure that projects are implemented in accordance with the work plans and the involvement of partners and concerned stakeholders at all levels

· Support project implementing partners in preparing plans for implementing project activities and ensure coordination within and among projects and partners.

· Provide support to implementing partners and ensure that they apply appropriate project implementation strategies and approaches as indicated in the project documents

· Ensure that SCI and its partners implement project activities in a most efficient, effective and sustainable manner

· Provide qualitative management and technical leadership in introducing and/or strengthening Save the Children’s education programme in Puntland

· Ensure that sound project/program monitoring and evaluation system/tools are developed and applied and thereby ensure that individual project progress (activities and outputs), results and immediate objectives (outcomes) and impacts are systematically tracked, documented and shared as appropriate.

· As security permits to travel project sites of SCI and partners in Puntland and conduct regular monitoring of projects together with project and MEAL Team

· Ensure the participation of children/target groups in the project management cycle based on CRP principles and approaches

· Organise regular project review meetings involving all stakeholders and partners in Puntland and ensure that planning/implementation of projects are informed by the outcomes of the reviews. This includes regular steering committee meetings and following up of agreed action points between SCI and consortium members

· Ensure that in coordination with MEAL team good practices and lessons are documented and shared internally and externally as appropriate

Coordination and Collaboration

· Ensure that all SCI supported education programmes are implemented using a Sector Wide Approach in general and in close coordination with SCI and other actors and partners operating Puntland

· Establish good working relationship with MOE and their offices at regional and district levels and ensure that they take a leading role in planning, managing and monitoring of project activities

· Maintain close technical collaboration with like-minded (strategic) and other stakeholders engaged in education sector in Puntland and ensure that up to date information is maintained as to their activities and plans that could help identify areas of collaboration/coordination and planning of our future actions.

Report Preparation and Submission

· Ensure timely project monitoring reports are produced and shared with SCI programme implementation staff, MEAL Manager and partners for action

· Ensure that SCI local partners in Puntland submit timely and adequate project technical and financial reports as per the reporting requirements

· Together with appropriate finance/grant management staff verify completeness/ appropriateness of partners’ financial report before compilation and submission to donors

· Provide technical support to local partners in order for them to prepare and submit required reports

· Prepare timely and high quality project progress and completion reports that meet donor requirements.

People Management, Mentoring and Development

· Ensure that all education team members understand and are able to adapt their roles in both emergency and development contexts

· Manage the education team; define expectations, provide leadership and support as needed

· Ensure the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate; ensure availability of and support appropriate professional development opportunities for staff in education

· Incorporate staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems into team building process

· Oversee that all Education staff proactively build and maintain technical skills and competencies required for leading and/or inputting for first class programmes – both development and emergency nature

· Manage the performance of all direct reports in Education through: effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, measureable objectives, ongoing feedback, periodic reviews and fair and unbiased evaluations; coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities; recognition and rewards for outstanding performance; documentation of performance that is less than satisfactory, with appropriate performance improvement workplans

· Support the development of an organisational culture that reflects our dual mandate values, promotes accountability and high performance, encourages a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation, and frees up our people to deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service for our members and donors.

Budget Holding/Management

· Act as primary budget holder of all education projects/programmes in Puntland

· Take part in preparation of education project/programme budgets

· Prepare programme cash flows and manage programme budget as per SCI minimum standards and donors’ requirements

· Monitor programme budget utilisation (budget/expenditure) against programme implementation progress and propose necessary adjustments and/or actions

COMPETENCIES AND BEHAVIOURS

Delivering Results:

· Maintains a broad strategic perspective at the same time as an awareness of the detail of a situation

· Establishes clear and compelling objectives with teams and individuals and monitors progress and performance

· Creates and applies measures and metrics to track performance

· Holds others accountable for achieving results and challenges underperformance

· Demonstrates financial awareness and a concern for cost effectiveness

Working Effectively with Others:

· Enables people from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives to contribute to positive outcomes

· Breaks down silo working and challenges behaviors that are not collaborative

· Actively listens to new and different perspectives and experiences of those they work with

· Proactively supports team members and trusts their capabilities

· Knows when to follow and lend leadership to strengthen other leaders

• Recognises when trust is broken and seeks to resolve conflict and re-establish trust

Problem Solving and Decision Making:

· Gathers the right information and uses critical thinking to make effective and timely decisions

· Knows when to involve others in a decision

· Demonstrates awareness of the wider external influences that impact on decision making

· Analyses and exercises judgment in challenging situations in the absence of specific guidance or knowledge of the full facts

· Evaluates the opportunities and risks of each idea and solution to make informed strategic decisions

Develop Self and Others:

· Gives regular positive and constructive feedback to others

· Identifies clear development needs and development plans through regular constructive reviews of their own performance (and their team’s where appropriate)

· Creates space for others to learn and provides challenging and stretching tasks and assignments when people are ready for them

· Coaches others to learn from their experiences on the job and to use the resources available to them

Innovating and Adapting:

· Openly talks about doing things differently, pushing the boundaries and ways of working to drive improvements

· Demonstrates flexibility in following processes and procedures, while remaining true to the organisation’s values

· Anticipates change and adapts their (and team’s) plans and priorities accordingly

· Builds the confidence of others in their own ability to develop new ideas and embrace change

· Generates learning for the organisation and evidence for the impact and quality of our work

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Post-graduate degree in education or a related field with additional training in education planning and management; project planning and management techniques

• Recommended a minimum of six years of relevant hands on experience in managing diversified (primary/secondary education, teacher training, skills training, capacity development of education administrations) and large scale education programme in the context of both emergency and development

• Proven experience of developing and managing high quality, innovative and cost-effective education projects in fragile and insecure environments, preferably in Somalia context and with International NGOs

• Demonstrated skill and experience in writing up high quality donor reports

• Proven experience of working with local/national governments and capacity building of systems, partners and staff

• Ability to extensively travel for project monitoring and provide on-site technical support to field teams

• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching

• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international and matrix management environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures

• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in

• Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours

• Ability in managing stress and deliver timely results in context of having competing and pressing priorities

• Fluency in English, both verbal and written, required

• Commitment to Save the Children International values

Interested candidates are required to submit a CV and mandatory cover letter quoting the Job Title and Vacancy Announcement No. SCI/SOM/16/16 on the subject line. The file name of the CV and attachments must be the applicants name and sent to Somalia.vacancies@savethechildren.org. For more information please visit www.somaliangoconsortium.org

Applications close on 24^th June 2016.

Disclaimer:

Save the Children International does not charge any kind of fee at whichever stage of the recruitment process and doesnot act through recruitment agents

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted

Female candidates are encouraged to apply