Education Jobs

Job Title: Education Coordinator - Pastoralist Education Project
 

Position Code: SCI EDU WAJ
 

Team / Programme:Programme Development and Quality

Location: Wajir (1 year with possibility of extension)
 

Grade: 3

Post Type: National 
 

Child Safeguarding:  Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people

Role Purpose: The Education Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring high-quality execution of the Strategic Breakthrough Investment Funds pilot project activities in Wajir. 

S/He must bring program management skills with a proven track record in education and a sound technical background in programme delivery. 

They should also have experience managing complex programming delivery in marginalized communities in a nomadic setting. 

The individual will be responsible for managing the pilot programme in Wajir and ensuring maintenance of high professional standards through continuous mentoring and follow-ups.

S/He will play a key role in monitoring and evaluation of programmes and provide appropriate guidance where necessary. She/he will ensure and strengthen links between Education and existing Health and Nutrition programs in Wajir.
 

Scope of Role: 

Reports to: Area Program Manager with technical reporting to the Nairobi-based Education Advisor

Dimensions: Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners. 

Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH. In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined the programmes of SC UK, SC Canada and SC Finland to create a single operation in Kenya. 

In February 2014, we completed a second transition, which saw us join forces with the British INGO, Merlin, and merge their health and nutrition programmes with our own. Save the Children now has an operational presence in Bungoma, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Nairobi, Turkana and Wajir. 

We work through partners in many other parts of the country. We have a staff complement of around 300 staff and an operating annual budget of approximately US$25 million in 2014.

Pastoralist Education Project: Save the Children has received funding from Save the Children UK to develop of a signature approach for Pastoralist Education and is in the process of starting the implementation of a Pastoralist Education pilot programme in Wajir County.  

This project is expected to significantly contribute to knowledge on what works for pastoralist education and provide a model that can be replicated in other areas. 

It is also expected that evidence from the pilot will influence national policy especially around nomadic education and support scaled up, cost-effective interventions for children in pastoralist communities. This is also in line with Save the Children’s Theory of Change.

Save the Children will work with the government of Kenya at both national and county levels and communities to facilitate the piloting of the various interventions. 

Staff directly reporting to this post: None

Key Areas of Accountability:

Programme Delivery

• Lead in the development of annual detailed implementation and procurement plans; monitor performance against work plan deadlines, ensure accurate data collection on performance indicators.
• Lead the implementation of the pastoralist education pilot project, including training and materials adaptation as appropriate, as well as monitoring  outcomes.
• Support in the development of, conduct and/or supervise trainings for targeted schools Boards of Management, teachers and communities as appropriate, to ensure programming meets quality standards.
• Plan, organize and implement quality community sensitization forums in partnership with the community.

Partnerships for social mobilisation

• Develop partnerships with religious groups, women’s groups, community leaders and other organised groups in the community to orient them on the project goals and to solicit their involvement in the implementation of the project.
• Collaborate and coordinate with other aid agencies, governmental institutions and community level structures in order to ensure the success of the pilot project and promote sustainability of education initiatives.
• Represent Save the Children in county and national fora to share good practice and ensure the achievement of advocacy and policy objectives.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) team for monitoring and evaluation of programme activities including taking corrective action where necessary; preparation of monitoring reports, documents and lessons learned.
• Support the development and implementation of an accountability mechanism for participants in the pastoralist education pilot project.
• Lead in the dissemination of communication research findings, and ensure exchanges and sharing of experience, lessons learned, best practices, and new methods to government officials, programme staff, and other SCI partners as well as more widely within the organisation.

Grants Management and Reporting

• Coordinate with finance and awards team to ensure effective budget monitoring for the project in line with donor requirements and contractual obligations, including Grant opening, mid-term and closing meetings
• Oversee project activities budget expenditures and ensure they are allowable and allocable according to SCI and donor regulations; review monthly Budget vs. Actual and expenditure sheets and collaborate with the finance department to ensure accurate expenditures and reporting.
• Ensure timely production of technical project progress reports as well as donor reports as per the agreed timelines.

Skills and Behaviours (our Values in Practice)
 

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in education, an advanced degree is preferable;
• Minimum of five (5) year’s work experience in managing education programs especially within nomadic settings;
• Demonstrable award management skills with experience of managing awards from donors;
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to be respectful, kind, sensitive to culture and religious beliefs;
• Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mind sets;
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in;
• Experience in managing programmes in complex security settings;
• Ability to write high quality donor reports;
• Fluency in English, both verbal and written, required.  Swahili preferred;
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions;
• Motivates others while identifying with Save the Children’s mission.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation skills
• Knowledge of Somali language
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Commitment to Save the Children values and willingness to abide by Child Safeguarding Policy.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are required to submit a CV and mandatory Cover letter to Kenya.jobapplications@savethechildren.org indicating the Position Code & Title on the subject line by 22nd January 2015. 

Due to the urgency of these positions applications will be reviewed as and when they are received. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.