Education Program Manager - Zahle

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Education Programme Manager will manage the implementation of the education programming across the Beqaa Region. The Programme Manager is expected to lead on overall programme delivery, budget management, staff and team management, partnership management, inter-agency and local government representation. S/He will be responsible for the identification of sectorial needs in the Beqaa Region, will contribute to proposal and strategy development, and will ensure that Education programmes are implemented in a timely manner within the project period, with a focus on quality.

The Education Programme Manager will ensure that all aspects of work are undertaken in accordance with Save the Children’s Policies.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3:  the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Area Manager

Staff directly reporting to this post: Education Project Manager & Education Coordinator

Budget Responsibilities: as per SCI scheme of delegation.

Role Dimensions: Accountable for Budget Management including forecasting and expenditure, proposal and reports writing, local partner management, multi-programmes implementation management, decision making, internal and external representation, team management and capacity building.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY :

Programme Implementation/Management

• Ensure the implementation of Education interventions within the project period, with a focus on quality programming while ensuring targets are met
• Ensure effective management of the Education programmes, including budget management, developing and monitoring programme work plans, and overall management of Education teams.
• Oversee the implementation of quality education activities across multiple locations.
• Ensure a safe programming approach and ensure risk assessments and mitigation plans are in place for child safeguarding.
• Work closely with logistics, finance and human resources teams to ensure procurement, systematic payments and recruitment plans are in place, respectively, and ensure relevant follow-up. 
• Prepare timely programme and donor reports on education project activities in compliance with internal SC requirements and any relevant external donor requirements.
• Integrate education with other core sectors, ensuring close collaboration particularly with Shelter, WASH, Food Security and Livelihoods.
• Ensure that minimum standards are maintained in accordance with the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, the Inter-Agency Case Management Guidelines, the Sphere Charter and Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies Minimum Standards.
• Work closely with the MEAL team to ensure the effective monitoring and evaluation of programmes.
• Work closely with the MEAL to put in place accountability measures, ensuring that feedback from all relevant stakeholders is considered in programme design.
• Identify opportunities and material to contribute to communications and media work, and support the facilitation of media visits.

Programme Design/Development:

• Lead the monitoring and evaluation processes of Education activities.
• Feed in the design of activities according to implementation lessons learned and community feedback.
• Work closely with Area Manager on identification of gaps in education services within the areas of implementation, support fundraising for education, including providing input into the development of high quality concept notes, proposals, and budgets.
• Work with the Education Technical Advisor to develop innovative approaches to increase access to Education opportunities for children of all ages.

Team Management and Capacity Building:

• Identify staffing needs and participate in the recruitment processes for Education programme in Zahle Area Office.
• Assess training needs within the education teams and develop an overall capacity-building plan.
• Ensure that the team follow weekly work plans and develop weekly reports.
• Provide regular constructive feedback to direct reports, following SCI’s Performance management procedures, and support direct reports in performance management of their team members
• Ensure that all education staff are complying with code of conduct, Child Safeguarding, and other SCI policies.

Partnerships Management:

• Responsible for identification of local partners for implementing of education interventions funded through SCI and responsible for partnership management to ensure programme delivery.
• Support in the completion of partner assessments and work closely with partners on development of proposals and budgets for their sub-award agreements.
• Ensure capacity building of local partners implementing education interventions.
• Provide continuous programme management and facilitate technical support to partners to ensure timely quality programming.
• Work with HR/Finance/Logs teams to ensure partners are receiving adequate support from support sections
• Facilitate induction and training sessions, and the roll out the capacity building plans for SCI partners.
• Support the programme team of partner organization in implementing operational work plans and setting clear targets and activity plans per programme sites.
• Oversee and work with partner’s staff to review monthly progress reports.

External Relationships/Representation:

• Ensure that Save the Children's work is coordinated with efforts of other agencies, ensuring the specific needs of children are being addressed.
• Continuously represent SCI in coordination meetings, forums, and Education Working Groups in the Beqaa Region and be an advocate for children’s right of protection and wellbeing.
• Ensure community acceptance and maintain engagement with local government (municipalities and relevant local representatives of ministries).
• Build and maintain positive relationship with (I) NGOs, local governance structures, and relevant UN agencies.

General:

• Ensure that SCI activities are implemented in accordance with SCI policies, SCI child protection strategy and national guidelines and frame works.
• Comply with Save the Children’s policies and practices with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Degree in Education, Social Work, Human Rights Law, International Relations, Development Studies, or other relevant field. Master’s Degree is a plus;
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic;

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential:

• Excellent MS Office skills;
• Significant project management experience;
• Demonstrated experience in successful delivery of programmes in humanitarian or development contexts;
• Experience in coordination with local and international NGOs, representation with donors and humanitarian actors; 
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills. Prior proven track record in successful coaching is an asset;
• Experience in working with at-risk children and families;
• Ability to analyse information, evaluate options and to plan strategically;
• Demonstrated ability to analyse qualitative and quantitative data and to develop databases and data collection tools;
• Experience in team management, including staff training and capacity building of organisational staff and partner staff; and
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles including rights-based approaches.

Desirable:

• Experience working at community level with a wide range of stakeholders;
• Ability to identify the main gaps in education services in the given context to inform a holistic response for children;
• Knowledge of established inter-agency standards and guidelines in education;
• Flexible, adaptable, ability to improvise;
• Results orientated.

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Safeguarding our Staff

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.