Education Manager

Background of IRC:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities that support them, as well as with those who remain within their homes and communities. At-work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. IRC leads the way from harm to home. Began work in Ethiopia, 1999 in response to severe drought that happened in Ethiopia’s Somali region. Currently, providing assistance in ten different regions implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response. 

Job Overview:   

The Education manager is responsible for delivering the target planned results as agreed in the Play Matters, Minderoo and EHF Education in Emergency Responses project plan. S/he will play an important role in planning, implementing, monitoring and reporting of the education sector. S/he will also support the education team to effectively address the needs of boys, girls, men, women and people with special needs in the education sector.

Major Responsibilities: 

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Develop and implement the Education strategic initiatives in compliance with the IRC’s programming, mission, vision and strategic goals. 

• Ensure IRC’s education programs are well represented in various platforms such as Interagency Regional and sub-regional cluster coordination meetings and share updates as well as action items from the meetings.

• Identify critical humanitarian needs of crisis affected community members and secure funding opportunities for the education program through rapid needs assessment, concept note & proposal development.

• Document lessons learned in education projects and ensured that lessons are translated into program scaling up. 

• Provide support to the education program team through on-the-job training, mentoring and technical guidance by collaborating with technical coordinators.

• Liaise, coordinate, and work closely with IRC operational staff (i.e., HR, Supply Chain, and Finance) to ensure timely and effective program planning and implementation, and to jointly address issues affecting program delivery as they arise.

• Take additional responsibility for miscellaneous tasks or projects not falling under the responsibilities underlined in this job description as requested by immediate and matrix manager.

Project Planning and Implementation

• Support the education team to develop work plans, procurement plans, and spending plans in a timely manner and liaise with Addis-based SC for procuring goods and services with accurate specifications and realistic costs.

• Provide remote and onsite technical support for the quality implementation of projects in collaboration with the education team and CO technical team.

• Set up periodic (bi-weekly) check-in meetings with the education team (emergency) to update progress, spot bottlenecks, and suggest and implement solutions.

• Actively participate in the project cycle meetings to reflect on the needs, success, and challenges of the project and document and apply lessons learned.

• Ensure that INEE Minimum Standards are applied during the design, implementation monitoring, and evaluation of the projects and make corrective actions ( if any).

• Monitor budgets versus actual expenditures (BvA) on a monthly basis, reflect on variances amounting to greater or equal to 5% and guide the field team to take appropriate action based on the status of spending on a specific project.

• Document the number of clients in each project with age and gender disaggregated and file for future use and reporting.

Grant Monitoring and Reporting

• Conduct regular site monitoring visits and provide support for the team for taking corrective measures.

• Document key findings of the internal and external assessments for planning purposes.

• Review reports from the team and provide feedback.

• Deliver well-reviewed reports to the technical team in Addis within the given timeframe.

• Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Coordinator to ensure that monitoring and evaluation systems are in place as well as inputs are provided in a timely manner.

Staff Management and Development.

• Engage in technical supervision and training of education staff to fulfill the minimum skills set across both the education sectors.

• Share insights on the performance management of education staff with the CPE Coordinator, Program Manager and Field Coordinator.

• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions and support them in following personal staff development plans.

Representation, Coordination and Advocacy

• Collaborating and coordinating with another sector team, on co-designing, implementing, and monitoring education-other sector initiative projects to ensure comprehensive delivery and quality outcomes.   

• Engage and maintain effective/professional working relationships with key partners, including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors in emergency and recovery programs.

• Represent IRC in cluster, coordination and working group meetings at regional levels to share experiences and challenges with other actors. 

Safeguarding Responsibilities: - 

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion, and cohesion in IRC [team/office]

• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue, and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies,

• MA/BA in Social Work or Educational Planning and Management (EDPM); Educational Leadership, Development Management; Development Economics or related field of studies.

• 3 years for MA holders and 4 years for BA holders relevant experience in international NGOs preferably in a protracted refugee context; and at least two years of managerial experience.

• Excellent professional track record with a minimum of 3 years of management-level experience within an NGO working in child protection/education in emergency/ humanitarian program implementation in conflict or immediate post-conflict environments.

• Experience in managing and/or technically supporting emergency programs related to education.

• Strong monitoring and evaluation experience.

• Proposal and report writing skills.

• Computer literate.

• Experience in working with multicultural and diversified workforce.

• Must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Strong ability to organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks, and maintain attention to detail.

• Fluency in English required

How To Apply

Candidates meeting the above qualifications are encouraged to apply only through the below IRC On-line recruitment website: 

IRC Career Site: - https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/job/req53234/Education-Manager

Please include 3 references from current and former employers.

Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.

Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information. 

• Name of the position you have applied for 

• Date of application 

• Summary of  your qualifications and experience 

• Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

• Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible also email address 

• Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees. 

IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer.  IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability. 

IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients. 

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons. 

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances.