Senior Education Specialist

The Opportunity

The Senior Education Program Specialist will act as technical role model for the existing education specialist and will lead on supporting the operationalization and contextualisation of SCI’s technical approach to Education and Education in Emergencies, as per the Syria Response Strategy and Programme Offer. He/she is expected to work closely with the Education Technical Advisor, based in Amman, to oversee the contextualisation and implementation of education-related assessments, programme design, technical quality and learning in collaboration with the MEAL team. He/She will closely work with Child Protection and other Technical Advisors (FSL, Nutrition, WASH), to ensure the close coordination with thematic teams to support strengthened integration programming and implementation. The role holder will also interact on daily bases with Field Managers, Area Coordinators and various other stakeholders in North East Syria. She/he will have a focus on ensuring safe and quality programming, while working with other sector specialists to ensure effective integration and information sharing, particularly at the programme design phase. This role will also be responsible for supporting the implementation of quality and safe programs.

Together with Education Specialist she/he will oversee the quality of the implementation of Education field activities, ensure monitoring & evaluation of the interventions, and lead on donor reporting. The role holder will also play a leadership role within area office team, supporting and building the capacity of national staff, partners, and relevant stakeholders and providing technical support to the existing Save the Children Education programmes to increase impact and enable positive change for girls and boys in northeast Syria. This includes close coaching and mentoring of the program implementation team and partners.

The Senior Education Programme Specialist will mentor and build capacity of the existing education specialist and will oversee together with the Education Specialist, the start-up of the new education projects and will play a strategic role in the establishment and effective scale up of Save the Children’s multi-sector response in northeast Syria, and is in line with the Country Strategic Plan for Syria response.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Head of Programs

Staff reporting to this post: 1 – Education Specialist

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

S/he will be expected to mentor, coach and build the capacity of the program implementation team in the assigned field locations. Working with the Head of Programmes, Education Specialist and the Education Technical Adviser to support the contextualisation and implementation of Education response plans. Based on the Education Programme Offer, s/he should support the following areas as a co-lead effort with Education Specialist, as appropriate:

• Contribute to the education programme in North East Syria through supporting the contextualisation and implementation of needs assessment tools, in coordination with the relevant education stakeholders.

• Contribute to program design, proposal development, log frame development, quality monitoring and reporting.

• Ensure that the program adheres to the principles and framework of safe programming.

• S/he will link with other sectors of Child Protection, Nutrition, Health and emergency response/ preparedness to ensure that the needs of the children are addressed comprehensively and that synergies are considered at the design phase.

• Support in development of context-relevant quality benchmarks and adaptations

• Responsible for preparation of timely quality programme and donor reports on project activities in compliance with internal SC requirements and any relevant external donor requirements.

• Working closely with the Monitoring & Evaluation team put in place a sector M & E plan, ensuring this links to reporting requirements, and capacity build technical field staff in carrying out the work.

• Conduct safe programming audits and reviews and provide feedback and technical support to improve programming and programmatic approaches.

• Working closely with HoP, support fundraising for education, including routine gap analysis, development of high quality concept notes and proposals, and engagement with donors’ technical advisers.

• Monitor the program quality against the agreed program logframe and SCI global indicators.

• Contribute to timely and high quality programme and donor reports on education activities in compliance with internal SC requirements and any relevant external donor requirements.

• Ensure that the minimum standards of humanitarian relief are maintained in accordance with the Minimum Standards for EiE in Humanitarian Settings, the Sphere Charter and Red Cross Code of Conduct.

Capacity Building:

• Identify 6 months capacity development plan based on discussion with Education Specialist and on recommendations provided in Education capacity Building consultant report as well as the needed follow up after 6 months.

• Working closely with Education Specialist to provide on the job training and capacity building: shadowing, supportive supervision, observation and regular debriefing will be important tasks for this role.

• Identify learning and training needs with relevant partners, authorities and CBOs and facilitate trainings to support and build Education and EiE capacities in the community together with existing Education Specialist.

• Identify learning and training opportunities for Save the Children staff and partners and support and build the capacity of staff at all levels in the organization.

• Recommend actions and support their implementation for a strong hands-on capacity building for Save the Children staff and partners and work as a mentor and role model for less experienced staff.

• Review the Education Specialist job description and main tasks based in identified needs for programs and in consultation with Education TA.

Representation & Advocacy & Organisational Learning:

• Together with Education Specialist, ensure that Save the Children's work is coordinated with efforts of other agencies and Government, and take a leadership role within Interagency Coordination forums, ensuring the specific needs of children are being addressed.

• Develop a strong learning agenda and oversee that there is constant and high quality transformation from implementation to organisational Learning

• In collaboration with Save the Children Education colleagues, feed in learning, experiences and evidence to relevant global Education advocacy objectives.

Child Safe Guarding:

• Ensure that SCI Child Sage Guarding policy and systems are in place and endorsed at all levels in the organisation.

• Ensure that and all staff and partners are trained in CSG and the policy and Code of Conduct signed.

In order to be successful you will bring/have:

QUALIFICATIONS:

Essential

• 5-8 years’ experience working in the field of Education in Emergencies including in a first phase emergency response

• Education to Masters level in Education or a relevant subject and/or equivalent field experience

• Previous experience of capacity building, mentorship and coaching.

• Previous experience of programme management across multiple locations

• Previous experience of preparing successful funding proposals for donors

• Demonstrated experience in leading assessment activities and of designing, managing, monitoring and evaluating education programmes in emergencies for international NGOs.

• Proven capacity to supervise, train and coach staff in EiE technical skills and in delivering training to teachers

• Experience of applying relevant interagency humanitarian frameworks and standards in education in emergencies (for example INEE Minimum Standards)

• Experience of representation, including on coordination mechanisms (e.g. Cluster or working groups), and working with the Ministry of Education

• A high level of written and spoken English

• Excellent communication skills. Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy

• Strong influencing skills and experience in advocacy

• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.

• Commitment to the aims and principles of SC. In particular, a good understanding of the SC mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support.

Desirable

• Language skills in Kurdish and Arabic

• Experience or knowledge of working and living in relevant regions/contexts We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector.

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday

• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,

• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/careers

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy..

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