Education Social Scientist

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking to recruit a qualified, flexible, and enthusiastic professional to work for its non-formal education programme in Epirus as an Education Social Scientist.

About the job

Under the supervision of the Education Team Leader and with the technical guidance from the Protection Manager, the Education Social Scientist will support the daily operations of activities in the Homework and Creative Activities Centers (HCAC) in open accommodation sites in Epirus, where DRC implements non-formal Education activities. They will support children’s access to formal education, promote parents’ engagement, monitor child protection cases within the non-formal education activities and support children and their families, ensuring the application of child safeguarding, gender and protection mainstreaming.

Responsibilities:

• Organize and facilitate frequent parent meetings to promote parent’s engagement in children’s education and identify challenges regarding children’s access to education.
• In coordination with the members of the NFE team, conduct one to one meeting with parents/guardians to provide psychosocial support to families and resolve educational problems arising during formal and non-formal education activities.
• Monitor access to formal education for school-age children (4 to 15) and youth (16-18) residing in DRC supported sites in Epirus.
• Support the identification of out of school children (OOSCs) and liaise with public schools and local authorities to ensure children’s enrolment and attendance to formal education.
• Organize targeted educational activities within the NFE team, to promote psychosocial wellbeing and support children and families at risk to access quality services through referrals to DRC program activities and other actors.
• Support the facilitation of intercultural education activities and workshops for refugee children and youth provided by DRC NFE teams.
• Support the development of educational material, ensuring quality and consistency to protection values (protection mainstreaming).
• Support child protection cases among NFE students and follow-up, when necessary, in coordination with the Child Protection agency and in line with thereferral pathways.
• Ensure children at risk receive individual support through safe and dignified referrals to specialized services and follow-up to confirm access to services.
• Develop and maintain updated educational service mapping for services available to children and youth on site and in the urban context.
• Ensure preparation of required project and work plans, in coordination with the Senior Teachers and the Education Team Leader.
• Support the facilitation of group activities through provision of information sessions, recreational and other community activities.
• Adhere to DRC’s Code of Conduct and help to create and maintain an environment that prevents child safeguarding violations and promotes the implementation of DRC’s child Safeguarding Policy.
• Ensure that relevant project data and Means of Verification (e.g., participant lists, Parental Group Discussion minutes) are accurately collected and comply with internal reporting systems.
• Contribute to education needs assessments and support results-based planning
• Contribute to the preparation of timely and high-quality progress reports.
• Maintain effective communication with other DRC departments and external actors.
• In collaboration with the Education Team Leader, liaise with Ministry of Education focal points (RECs) to support the registration and attendance of refugee children to formal education.
• Contribute to coordination with relevant Government Authorities, Civil Society Organizations and other relevant stakeholders and represent DRC in interagency meetings as required.
• Attend and participate in assigned meetings, activities, and trainings.
• Attend NFE meetings and support the development of the NFE programming from a psychosocial perspective.
• Contribute to continual improvements in DRC programming and ways of working, through identification and communication of challenges, gaps, recommendations for improvements and lessons learnt.
• In collaboration with the team, contribute to the development and design of DRC’s education program and activities.
• In day-to-day tasks ensure relevant accountability to internal DRC and Donor policies.
• Any other duties as may be assigned by the Education Team Leader relevant to the achievement of NFE objectives.
• Any other tasks assigned by the line manager in line with overall response in the area of deployment.

About you

To be successful in the role we expect you to possess the following:

• University degree in Social Sciences, Social Work, Psychology, or other related field.
• Training or courses in child protection/safeguarding and NFE will be considered an asset.
• Excellent verbal and written English skills.
• Excellent verbal and written Greek skills.
• Strong Computer literacy.
• At least 2 years working experience as a Social Scientist for vulnerable individuals residing in formal and informal settings (including open accommodation sites).
• Work experience in educational settings will be considered an asset.
• Work experience with vulnerable children or youth will be considered an asset.
• Experience of community-based or community mobilization work in a humanitarian context is highly regarded.
• Strong team spirit and ability to work both on own initiative and as a part of a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team.
• High professional ethics.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

• Designation of Duty Station- Location: Epirus Region-Roving
• Band: H
• All allowances will be provided to the employees (Christmas, Easter, Vacation bonus)
• DRC provides training opportunities to develop and strengthen the quality of its services as well as its staff members’ professional and personal development.