Jobs at Creative Associates-LEARN to Read Project

Job Summary:      

Work under the leadership of the COP to support technical teams to implement programs that improve early grade literacy through enhanced school leadership and teacher training, improved instruction and assessment, community-based initiatives, and enhanced learning delivery systems.  

Essential Duties:  

•  Provide technical direction and guidance to technical team members, working with the COP to craft technically-sound state workplans that align to project core strategies,
• Support development of implementation strategies and work plans; coordinate day-to-day management of technical staff and technical management of the program in the Abuja and field offices.  
• Facilitate knowledge management, communications, and information flow for program implementation.  
• Oversee and ensure technical soundness in overall approach and implementation of partners’ scopes of work.  
• Support high quality timely report preparation, including quarterly and annual reports, and ensure reporting compliance to USAID, home office, and government counterparts.  
• Maintain awareness of work plan budgets and expenditures; assist technical teams to set up and implement appropriate systems for program implementation.  
• Build strong technical team management structure to enable productive and collegial team functioning with program partners and stakeholders.  
• Represents the project in local, national, and international meetings and events in the absence of the COP. 
• Any other duties as may be assigned. 

Qualifications

Minimum Required Education & Experience, Skills and Abilities 

• Master’s Degree or higher in relevant field such as education, management, social sciences, or development studies required.
• At least ten years of experience in management of international development programs 
• At least seven years of experience managing high-quality education for development programs required, early grade reading programs preferred. 
• At least five years of experience in senior program management, including direct supervision of professional and support staff required. 
• Demonstrated experience working in the education sector in Africa region, preferably sub-Saharan countries.
• Demonstrated experience includes work in policy advocacy, monitoring and oversight, capacity development in the education sector.
• Prior experience with USAID-funded programs is required
• Prior experience in awarding and managing grants to local organizations to promote education-related goals.
• Fluency in spoken and written English required. Proficiency in Hausa is preferred, but not required. 

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Position Summary:

The Chief of Party is responsible for the overall planning, implementation and management of the project as well as the achievement of the goals and objectives of the project in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Reporting & Supervision:

The Chief of Party reports to the Senior Project Director based in Headquarters and supervises project staff.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Oversee operational management of the activity
• Supervise activity implementation and ensure the activity meets stated goals and reporting requirements
• Serve as primary liaison to USAID, implementing partners, and key education stakeholders in country, including government officials, civil society organizations, and other donor-funded implementing partners
• Establish and foster collaborative partnerships with organizations working in education and related subjects; oversee the coordination of partner organizations/subawardees.
• Determine annual priorities, develop work plans, and ensure program responds to changing conditions and operating environments, in conjunction with USAID and Creative Headquarters
• Oversee and ensure technical soundness in overall approach and project activities; ensure that GESI principles and local capacity strengthening are fully integrated into implementation
• Oversee project operational, financial, and administrative systems and processes, ensuring streamlined and compliant project management
• Supervise, mentor, and manage a diverse program team to deliver impact within agreed upon timelines
• Provide overall technical, administrative, and financial oversight of the contract, including program planning, budgeting, and MEL
• Oversee the development and submission of project workplans, quarterly and annual reports, and other program materials and coordinate program activities across multiple states
• Manage in-country staff to ensure that the project is achieving all deliverables on time and with quality
• Ensure that technical, financial, and administrative activities are carried out according to USAID and Creative's policies and procedures
• Ensure the appropriate implementation of accounting, personnel, IT, and operating procedures are consistent with Creative’s policies as well as tailored to meet local needs
• Serve as the legal representative for the project and the local Creative office to oversee and ensure compliance with local laws and fiscal laws and regulations
• Work in partnership with the Senior Project Director in the Home Office. Engage in frequent, routine communication so that the Project Director is aware of both progress and potential issues, and solicit assistance and input as needed to ensure that performance meets or exceeds technical and financial contractual requirements
• Recruit, hire, and manage staff and consultants as needed to carry out activities
• Manage subcontractors, both international and local, to ensure that their performance meets or exceeds technical and financial contractual requirements
• Maintain and develop Creative's relationship with USAID and successfully manage the project's relationship with local governments/ministries and other stakeholders
• Support implementation of Creative's security protocols and provide leadership in handling security-related issues
• Maintain a working knowledge of project financials, working with and supporting the project’s financial personnel to ensure that appropriate systems and procedures are in place and being followed
• Represent the project in local, national, and international meetings and events as appropriate
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience:

• Master’s Degree or higher in education planning, public policy, management and administration, social science or related and relevant field required.
• At least 10 years of experience in relevant management, supervisory and technical experience working with programs that are of a similar scope and scale to this project is required. (At least 7 of these years must be in a management/leadership position);
• Previous COP experience on projects of similar size and scope;
• Experience managing USAID-funded projects;
• Demonstrated experience improving evidence-based education programming, capacity building and professional development, including rural, multilingual, and underserved populations;
• Ample experience in project design, policy dialogue, strategic planning and implementation, education reform and national-level quality improvement and classroom reforms;
• Political savvy and experience interacting effectively with numerous ministry institutions and senior-level national and subnational-level government officials;
• Demonstrated ability to work in complex, politically charged environments, work across different cultures, and manage diverse teams to deliver impact within agreed upon timelines; and
• Fluent English; strong oral and written communication skills.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• A focus on education policy change implementation, program/project management, curriculum, bilingual education or early grade literacy;
• At least 10 years’ experience in the education sector in Sub-Saharan Africa is desired, preferably with experience in Western sub-Saharan Africa;
• Prior experience in policy advocacy, monitoring and oversight, capacity development in education sector, and experience in awarding and managing grants to local organizations to promote education-related goals.