Education Technical Advisor

ROLE PURPOSE:

As a member of the Programme Development & Quality (PDQ) Team, the Education Advisor will be responsible for developing and implementing education strategy for the country office including humanitarian, early recovery and development. In close coordination with the program operations team, the Education Advisor will provide technical guidance and oversight in the development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of all education activities, ensuring that they are implemented in a high quality and timely manner. This includes developing and implementing technical capacity building plans for SCI and partner teams. The Education Advisor will play an active role in growing our education portfolio, providing technical leadership on developing high quality concept notes and proposals in close coordination with awards, partner organizations and the field teams. Key aspect is the development and maintenance of strong relationships with Government, donors, UN, INGOs and local partner counterparts. The Education Advisor will represent SCI and ensure ongoing coordination in the humanitarian Cluster/Working Groups and with the Ministry of Education in Erbil and the Ministry of Education in Baghdad, closely collaborating with SCI advocacy and communications team.

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.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: PDQ Director
Staff reporting to this post: (None
Budget Responsibilities: None
Role Dimensions: The TA will work closely with Ops Field offices to provide technical guidance on quality implementation, will also work with other TAs and BD PDQ to develop high quality programme design and proposal. The TA will also work with Regional office TA and respective Member offices on programmatic and strategic matters

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY :

Programme Development and Support:
* Lead on development and implementation on a full spectrum (0-18 years) Education Strategy and contribute to Save the Children’s Country Strategy Plan (CSP). The implementation and adjustment of the strategy should be in collaboration with SCI education team in the field and key stakeholders such as Ministry of Education, and other authorities, UN and national education counterparts.
* Lead on development of high quality concept notes and proposal development
* Works closely with SCI teams across various departments (Program Operations, MEAL, Awards, Advocacy and Communications) to ensure a unified Education Strategic vision.
* In close collaboration with other sector Advisors, ensure Education Strategy efficiently integrates with other sector approaches, ensuring holistic child development across sectoral lines (Child Protection, MHPSS, WASH, Child Rights Governance, Food Security and Livelihoods, etc.).
* In coordination with Business Development, lead on fundraising for the Education sector, including development of high quality concept notes and proposals, and engagement with donors’ technical advisers.
* Contribute to and ensure quality implementation for education programmes and donor reports are in compliance with internal Save the Children requirements and any relevant external donor requirements.
* Work closely with the HR team, lead on identifying Education staffing needs and ensure rapid recruitment, induction and training of new staff. This includes support the Field education team in the recruitment of new staff preparing questions for test and interviews.
* Work closely with MEAL team to lead on designing Education technical assessments in coordination with other SC thematic areas and other external sector agencies, ensuring assessments are clearly identifying children’s education needs.
* Work closely with the MEAL team, put in place a national Education sector MEAL plan, ensuring that the MEAL plan is linked to reporting requirements. Ensures proper training is provided to education staff in field on how to collect comparable and aggregated quality data.
* Work closely with MEAL team to support information management and lead on technical analysis of data and technical reporting of the assessments.
* Work closely with MEAL to implement the Education Quality Benchmarks and regularly update them as needed, in consultation with the education field team.
* Provide technical support to Education teams through regular monitoring visits to the field offices to ensure quality programming is being implemented.
* Ensure child participative principles is institutionalized within education programming.
* Ensure that the minimum standards of humanitarian relief are maintained in accordance with the Sphere Standards, INEE and Red Cross Code of Conduct.

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 partner staff, Education Team and national level counterparts and link in to wider organisational talent development mechanisms.
* Oversee development and delivery of technical training materials that will improve aspects of Education work within the partner organizations and across Save the Children

Representation, Advocacy & Organisational Learning:
* Represents Save the Children in Education Working Group/Cluster. Works with UNICEF, UNHCR and other key education actors to develop high quality sector strategy documents (HRP, HNO, 3RPetc.) and represents the sector in regional and national forums. This may involve taking on a co-chairing role where needs demand.
* Work in close collaboration with education field team to ensure Save the Children representation at the education working group/cluster at Governorate levels.
* Ensure that Save the Children’s planning and work is coordinated with efforts of other agencies and Government, and take a leadership role within Interagency Coordination forums (including Education Cluster Strategic Advisory Group – SAG), ensuring the specific needs of children are being addressed.
* In collaboration with Child Rights Governance, lead key policy and advocacy initiatives and turn these into action with local and national stakeholders feeding into international advocacy efforts.
* Play a leadership role in shaping Education programming communications and media priorities in line with thematic priorities and collaborate with Communications, Advocacy and Program Operations to ensure quality communication products and visibility materials.
* Take the initiative in linking global SCI resources including Common Approaches with Country office, documenting lessons learnt, best practice and case studies to shape in-country strategies and programme approaches, and contribute to broader sector learning.

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.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
Accountability:
* holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
* holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
Ambition:
* sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
* widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
* future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
Collaboration:
* builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
* values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
* approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
Creativity:
* develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
* willing to take disciplined risks.
Integrity:
* honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
QUALIFICATIONS

* University Degree in Education or similar field
* Minimum 5 years’ experience of working in Education programmes in a humanitarian or development context including at least 2 years working in a leadership position

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
(Essential

* Previous experience of working with a National or International NGO, or UN Agency in capacity of Education specialist or advisor
* Capacity to support the development of monitoring & evaluation systems for education programme in large complex programmes
* Knowledge and experience of implementing key education programme measurement instruments such as EGRA/EGMA, IDELA, ASER etc.
* Demonstrated ability to set up learning and development processes for a large Education team- including blended approaches
* Previous experience developing projects/proposals for institutional donors with medium to high levels of compliance requirements, e.g. ECHO, UNESCO, USAID, BHA, BPRM, FCDO, and European donors.
* Knowledge of key education standards, in particular INEE
* Familiarity and experience with Education Cannot Wait modalities
* Proven ability of mentoring, coaching and training on Education related topics.
* Experience of senior level representation with govt and donors
* Experience of developing and negotiating successful partnerships with institutional donors
* Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project concepts and proposals
* 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 proficiency in English is required

Desirable
* Experience or knowledge of working and living in Iraq
* Previous experience with Save the Children or being familiar with Save the Children Common Approaches
* Kurdish and or Arabic language skills

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 workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:
Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also 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.

Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.