Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Capacity Building Senior officer - Beirut

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 22 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.

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. The IRC’s educational interventions strive to help children and youth gain valuable skills and knowledge that will increase their opportunities and life chances and contribute to their well-being and livelihood. The IRC supports formal and non-formal learning activities that lead to tangible learning outcomes in literacy, numeracy, socio-emotional learning, and marketable skills and promotes the protection and psychosocial well-being of conflict-affected children and youth.

Job Overview/Summary:

USAID’s “Quality Instruction towards Access and Basic Education Improvement” (QITABI 2) is a five-year program seeking to improve learning outcomes for all students in public primary schools in Lebanon awarded to Word Learning.  The International Rescue Committee (IRC) will lead the social and emotional learning (SEL) component of the program. The SEL capacity building Senior officer will be responsible for conducting trainings on SEL for the QITABI 2 program, working in close collaboration with the consortium lead, government stakeholders, and other partners. He/she will support the development of SEL materials within QITABI 2. He/she will train consortium parents, of CERD master trainers and DOPS counselors, and others as needed, in line with overall consortium objectives. He/she will further support the training of teachers and school leaders alongside government and consortium partners.

Specific Responsibilities:

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

SEL Training Content Development

• Develop SEL training content for master trainers, teachers and school leaders.
• Provides technical support to QITABI 2 partners master trainers, teachers and school leaders in the areas of SEL work planning,  Coaching and  training plan development.
• Develop training and coaching content to improve classroom and school climate through healing spaces
• Engages in the development and delivery of SEL training materials, tools and manuals as well as review and share program-specific tools / resources / curricula.
• Supports in the material development, including but not limited to instructor guides, participant guides, and job aides of SEL content for use with students and corresponding training materials
• Support in the development of content to improve classroom and school climate through healing spaces.
• Support the development of SEL training videos.
• Refine SEL materials based on learning from tracking and monitoring the use of developed materials.

Capacity-Building

• Proactively collaborate with QITABI 2 lead World Learning, government stakeholders, and other partners to ensure SEL integration and links throughout the program and provide SEL technical support as needed.
• Support in the Development of training activity work plans that include assignment of responsibilities among team members and deadlines.
• Facilitates training workshops and coaching meetings, and is responsible for developing agendas to achieve stated group goals, documenting progress, agreements, and issues and providing follow up assistance to groups.
• Coordinates skills training, and other human resource development initiatives for Qitabi II partners and CERD Master trainers and DOPs coaches.
• Build the capacity of CERD trainers and DOPS counselors at the national level through ongoing training and coaching
• Support the training of partners and government stakeholders on SEL.
• Mentor and coach teachers on SEL through CERD trainers, DOPS counselors, and field-based facilitators.
• Supports the development of documentation and written materials relating to the program, including reports and workshop materials.
• Assists with training logistics.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Reporting.
• Develops training reports.

Learning and development

• Maintains and expands technical knowledge in instructional design and training delivery by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, and participating in professional organizations.
• Stays abreast of advancements in the SEL training field, benchmarks programs, and analyzes their potential application to the  Qitabi II.  
• Identifies learning methodologies and tools that most effectively build the capacity of project staff.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: IRC SEL Material Development Manager
• Position directly supervises: None, consultants as needed
• Other Internal and/or external contacts:
• Internal:  Regular communication with QITABI 2 team, other consortium members
• External: Train government stakeholders and partners as needed

Job Qualifications:

Education: Master’s degree in education (Specialized Education, Ortho-pedagogy), developmental psychology or relevant field or equivalent combination of education and experience is required, especially in material development and TOT

Work Experience: A minimum of 5 years in training on education programs is required, with a focus on SEL, in Lebanon. SEL training and capacity-building is required. Demonstrated experience working on donor funded projects with similar scopes of work preferred. 

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies: Demonstrated expertise in SEL, program design and implementation, and training. Strong verbal and written communication skills. 

Language Skills: Fluency in Arabic and English required.   Proficiency in French is an advantage.

Working Environment: This position will be based in Beirut, Lebanon, with up to 30% travel within the country required.

All IRC staff are required to adhere to IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and IRC country employment policies.