ECD Content and Quality Manager - Beirut - FOR NATIONAL CANDIDATES ONLY

Background:

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 reaches over a million children annually with education and child protection programs in 25 countries around the world.

In response to the influx of Syrian refugees to Lebanon in mid-2012, IRC opened a country office and launched humanitarian assistance programming. IRC operates throughout Lebanon, with the main office in Beirut and field offices in Qobayat, Zahle, Tripoli, Tyre and Mount Lebanon. IRC’s programs assist Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese in host communities across multiple sectors: education, livelihoods, protection, women's protection and empowerment and child protection in close coordination with the Lebanese Government and broader Humanitarian Community.

High-quality Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs provide the foundation for children’s future academic success, health, prosperity and wellbeing. A large body of scientific evidence emphasizes the need for increased investment in early childhood, particularly for children experiencing conflict, crisis and displacement; these children are extremely vulnerable to the long-lasting effects that prolonged stress has on the developing brain.

In December 2017, Sesame Workshop and the IRC were awarded the MacArthur Foundation’s inaugural 100&Change grant to make real progress toward solving a critical problem of our time. With this extraordinary investment of $100 million, an equal investment from the Lego Foundation, and many other grants, our partnership will transform the development, language, early reading, math, and social-emotional skills of a generation of children ages 0-8 affected by the Syrian war. For more information, please visit: http://refugee.sesameinternational.org/.  

Job Overview:

The ECD Content and Quality Manager ensures that the design, content, technical implementation and monitoring of the IRC inclusive ECD program are in line with appropriate technical guidelines and meet high quality standards. The position strongly backs up the ECD team, by providing technical oversight and support, and plays a key role in ensuring harmonization of best practices across geographical areas. The position is responsible for integration of Ahlan Simsim content across platforms, development and adaptation of ECD content, benchmarks, and standards with partners and government, with guidance from the Regional Technical Lead and HQ.

Major Responsibilities:

• Directly manage and support the Senior ECD Content and Quality Officer
• Develop benchmarks and standards in coordination with the regional and HQ TU, to monitor overall program quality;
• In collaboration with the RMEAL team, ensure efficient monitoring and evaluation of the program’s quality, with lessons learned and feedback loop feeding into adaptations and decision-making;
• Design, develop, adapt, and integrate content and new methodologies, as relevant to all implementation platforms:

• Technical and quality support in the design, implementation and monitoring of the inclusive ECD program activities and strategies;
• Oversee content development and adaptation for the ECE program, with partners, MEHE, and CERD as relevant;
• Oversee content development for early childhood nutrition with relevant partners;
• Oversee content adaptation, integration for the Reach Up and Learn program;
• Liaise with Regional Technical Lead and HQ, for content development, integration, adaptation, and updates;
• Ensure knowledge and best practices sharing;
• Closely collaborate with the Training and Capacity Building Manager for the roll-out of all of the above.
• Support the development or selection of strategies, technical materials and tools for pilots and initiatives related to inclusive ECD activities;

• Whenever required, be the representative of IRC ECD for content, quality, donor visits, local governance, etc.;
• Analyze technical gaps and program impact at the community level for quality and content-related activities/services;
• Analyze lessons learned and share best practice;
• Act as key focal point for relevant ECD partnerships, especially ones involving design of content/curriculum;
• Oversee the quality of data collection;
• Conduct field visits as needed;
• Finalize high quality and timely donor reports in collaboration with ECD colleagues and other relevant IRC departments;
• Write regular reports including progress against targets, all implementation details and challenges;
• Organize and attend regular meetings with relevant stakeholders to ensure a coordinated and streamlined approach across target areas;
• Collaborate with relevant ECD technical and field teams to optimize the ECD technical program implementation;
• Timely identification and discussion of content and quality issues with IECD Coordinator.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:  IECD Coordinator
Position directly supervises:  ECD Senior Technical Officer
Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: ECD Training and Capacity Building Manager, ECD Managers in Tripoli, Akkar, and the Bekaa, ECD Officer in Mount Lebanon, RMEAL team, Deputy ECD Coordinator, Senior Partnerships Officer, regional Ahlan Simsim Technical team, HQ TU for ECD/Education.

External:  relevant government entities (MEHE, CERD, MOSA, etc.), local NGOs and INGOs, UN agencies, local ECD stakeholders, donors, Sesame Workshop, New York University

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor degree in education or any relevant related field
• At least 3 years of professional experience in the field of ECE or ECD
• At least 2 years of experience working with communities and overseeing community-level programming/services (teaching, classroom observation, awareness sessions, parenting, etc.)
• At least 2 years of professional experience managing people
• Demonstrated knowledge of ECE curriculum design and implementation
• Demonstrated knowledge of developing new community-level awareness raising and assessment tools
• Demonstrated experience in overseeing data collection and M&E activities
• Demonstrated capacity to lead a team (organize, plan and oversee)
• Demonstrated capacity to write clear and thorough reports
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, and capacity to maintain excellent working relationships with relevant stakeholders
• Demonstrated capacity to perform well under pressure with overlapping deadlines in a challenging environment
• Fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English
• Adhere program implementation to IRC policies at all times, including confidentiality and safe identification/referrals

Preferred:

• Working experience with an NGO/INGO
• Master degree in education, social sciences, development, or any relevant related field.

Working Environment:  

The position is based in Beirut.