Background/IRC Summary: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 28 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

Position Summary:

IRC is seeking Education Manager for a five-year project, “PlayMatters”, funded by the LEGO Foundation. This position will be a part of the larger PlayMatters initiative to increase play-based learning opportunities for nearly 1 million pre-primary and primary school aged refugee and host community children impacted by the humanitarian crises in East Africa and living in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda. This project seeks to build children’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical skills through play in their homes, schools, and communities and will be implemented in partnership with War Child, Plan International, Ubongo, Behavioural Insights Team and Innovations for Poverty Action.

The Education Manager will be responsible for ensuring that PlayMatters consortium and IRC staff identify, engage, and influence key education partners in Ethiopia responsible for and engaged in promoting learning outcomes for refugee and local children ages 3 to 12. This includes collaboration with government, UN and other humanitarian coordination decision makers, education implementing partners, and large scale development initiatives to improve learning through play.

The Education Manager will report to the Field Coordinator at the field office level with additional oversight from the country level PlayMatters project team; work closely with the camp based education officers, ARRA, SCI, WEO specialists and other implementing partners to integrate Learning through Play (LtP) into existing preschool, primary school, Accelerated Learning Programs (ALP) and child friendly space activities targeting children in refugee and host community. S/he will also assist in the development/adaptation and testing of developed content and approaches for teachers, parents and children. S/he will also assist to map education stakeholders and existing teaching and learning materials for preschool and primary school children in Ethiopia and support to establish a framework for LtP proficiencies and quality LtP standards. In doing so, the Education Manager will ensure the type of engagement in design and implementation necessary to achieve joint priorities and objectives of providing play based learning opportunities for all children.

Job Responsibilities:

• Undertake mapping of existing teaching and learning materials being used in the refugee and host community schools against a framework to identify areas of integration, adaptation, and development of content;
• Based on behavioral insights mapping and human centered design research, identify prototypes of content and delivery of content for teachers, parents and children
• Engage with field level coordination leads, implementing partners, school leaders, parents and children through structured co-creation processes
• Support the development/adaptation of training content for teachers in refugee and refugee host communities through participatory and consultative process involving local teacher education colleges and other education stakeholders.
• Support the delivery of trainings to education staff, preschool and primary school leaders in collaboration with teacher education colleges/teacher trainers using a cascade model;
• Adapt content and key LtP messages targeting parent/caregivers and dissemination strategy to reach wider audiences;
• With support from the Senior Play Content Adaptation and Training Manager, establish a framework for LtP proficiencies and quality LtP standards;
• Update key messages and communication materials on play based learning to reflect the Somali context targeting refugees and host communities;
• Support and supervise the implementation of LtP activities in refugee and host community schools and facilitate exchange of learning;
• Provide technical support to Education staff to conduct regular mentoring and coaching of ECCD facilitators and primary school teachers;
• Monitor project implementation, track progress and achievements and produce quality reports;
• Work closely with the M & E officer to put in place mechanisms and processes for regular review of project data and learning;
• Ensure quality budget management through BvA analysis on monthly basis;
• Develop measurable procurement, activity, spending plans and stick to them to avoid any over and underspending;
• Act as a focal person in all matters related to PlayMatters project in the field and collaborate with key education partners in refugee and host community;

• Advanced degree from an accredited university in education management and planning, curriculum development, or related field;
• Minimum of 5 years of experience implementing education programs, teacher training, parental education ;
• Proven track record of and knowledge of engaging with government, UN and NGOs;
• Proven success in developing educational/training content and delivery;
• Strong interpersonal skills, both oral and written;
• Fluency in English required.

Reports to: Field Coordinator based in Melkadida field office with additional oversight from the PlayMatters technical team based in Addis Ababa.

Working Environment: The Education Manager will work in Melkadida field office and be provided regular administrative and logistics support to perform his/her responsibilities. The position holder is required to travel 50% of his/her time to project sites for technical assistance, support, monitoring and evaluation of project activities.

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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 implements policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Preference will be given to qualified female candidates!