Education Adviser

ROLE PURPOSE:

Following the start of the conflict in Ukraine, thousands of people fled to neighbouring countries including Poland which welcomed more than 2 million refugees. Save the Children is newly registered in the country and is scaling up a programmatic response with local civil society partners and municipalities including Krakow and Warsaw. The programme provides informal and non-formal education, child protection and psychosocial support, and a cash and voucher program to newly arrived refugees to Poland

The overall aim of the Education Adviser will be to monitor the needs and gaps, design appropriate interventions, and guide staff and partners in the initiation of programmes to address violations of children’s right to education and protection.

The post holder will ensure that programmes are designed in alignment with international quality standards and that the team has the appropriate level of capability to implement and monitor the programme. The post holder will be expected, with limited support, to lead on sectoral assessment, programme design and master budgeting, coordination, and support fundraising, recruitment, and procurement.

The Education Adviser will also be expected to play a leadership role within a response team, through 360 degree support to colleagues and work to ensure that broader sector coordination mechanisms are functioning effectively. In most circumstances, the post-holder will be expected to mentor and/or build capacity both international and national staff colleagues.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Programme Support (typically will be for large/complex emergencies working with limited support):

• Lead on technical assessments in coordination with other SC thematic areas and/or other external sector agencies, ensuring assessment findings are documented and that all assessments include a specific analysis of children’s needs.
• Lead on developing sector strategy and master-budgets and contribute to Save the Children’s overall response strategy ensuring that it is compatible with both the overall education sector Strategy
• Lead on fundraising for Education (and integrated programming), including development of high quality concept notes and proposals, and engagement with donors’ technical advisers.
• Prepare and oversee programme implementation to ensure timely delivery of programme activities (for example, monitoring against log frames, individual performance management work plans).
• Prepare timely programme and donor reports on project activities in compliance with internal SC requirements and any relevant external donor requirements.
• Working closely with the HR team, lead on identifying technical staffing needs (both national and international) for emergency programmes, and ensure rapid recruitment, induction and training of new staff.
• Identify programme supplies needs and coordinate with the logistics team to put in place a sensible phased procurement plan.
• Working closely with the Monitoring & Evaluation team put in place a sector M & E plan, ensuring this links to reporting requirements, and capacity build technical field staff in carrying out the work.
• Working closely with the accountability lead put in place sector accountability mechanisms, ensuring that feedback is incorporated into programme design and learning disseminated to the wider sector.
• To ensure that the minimum standards of humanitarian relief are maintained in accordance with the Sphere Charter and with INEE Minimum Standards for Education in Emergencies.
• Carry out advisory visits to country programmes in order to design new programmes, develop proposals or review/monitor/evaluate ongoing grants.
• To ensure integration (where appropriate) with other sectors, especially looking to strengthen the links between Education programmes and protection. To encourage teams to have an integrated approach to emergency responses.

Capacity Building:

• Develop learning needs assessment and capacity building plans for both SC and partner staff, linking capacity building initiatives to wider opportunities identified via coordination and networks.
• Coach and mentor Technical Coordinators and national level counterparts and link in to wider organisational talent development mechanisms as well as Education sector counterparts with little or no emergency experience.

Representation & Advocacy & Organisational Learning:

• Help shape broader sector strategies through influence of and leadership within inter-agency coordination forums, ensuring the specific needs of children are being addressed. This may involve taking on a co-chairing role where needs demand.
• Take the initiative in documenting lessons learnt, best practice and case studies to shape in-country strategies and programme approaches and contribute to broader sector learning.
• Pro-actively identify advocacy opportunities, case studies and research opportunities which link with wider organisational strategic objectives and turn these into action.
• Play a leadership role in shaping communications and media priorities in line with thematic priorities, acting as a spokesperson when required.

General:

• Demonstrate leadership in relation to Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.

‘COMPETENCIES FOR THIS ROLE:

1. Applying Technical and Professional Expertise
   Applies the required technical and professional expertise to the highest standards; promotes and shared best practice within and outside the organisation
   Level required: Accomplished

2. Delivering Results
   Takes personal responsibility and holds others accountable for delivering our ambitious goals for children, continually improving their own performance or that of the team / organisation.
   Level required: Leading Edge

3. Problem Solving and Decision-Making
   Takes effective, considered and timely decisions by gathering and evaluating relevant information from within or outside the organisation

Level required: Leading Edge

1. Advisor: Leading and Inspiring Others
   Demonstrates leadership in all our work, embodies our values, and articulates a compelling vision to inspire others to achieve our goals for children.

Level required: Accomplished

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Previous experience of working in large-scale emergency response
• Experience of working in high resource settings
• Previous experience of managing a team of international and national staff
• Previous experience of quality oversight across multiple locations
• Commitment to, thorough understanding of, and ability to train staff in participation and accountability approaches
• Demonstrated experience in leading assessment activities and of designing, managing, monitoring and evaluating education programmes for NGOs
• Experience of applying relevant interagency humanitarian frameworks and standards in education in emergencies (for example INEE Minimum Standards)
• Demonstrated ability to set up monitoring & evaluation systems in large complex programmes.
• Demonstrated ability to set up learning and development processes for a large team
• Experience of senior level representation, including cluster coordination
• Experience of developing and negotiating successful partnerships with institutional donors
• Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports
• Excellent communication skills
• Proven ability to influence change at an operational and strategic level.
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• A high level of written and spoken English
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Commitment to the aims and principles of SC. In particular, a good understanding of the SC mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support

Desirable

• Polish or Ukrainian language skills
• Experience or knowledge of working and living in relevant regions/contexts

We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector. This Role is offered on the basis of International terms and conditions. Also, interviews will be held on ongoing basis, adverts will be closed once a person is identified.

For non- EU citizens; Visa is to be obtained.

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations.

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.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.