Senior Education Consortium Coordinator at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Location: Maiduguri ( With travelling to other states in the North East)

Scope of Work/Description

• The IRC Nigeria is currently expanding its education portfolio in the northeast of the country in line with its five-year Strategic Action Plan (SAP).
• A priority outcome for the country program is that girls and boys enroll in and attend safe, functioning, responsive education services.
• The IRC aims to both rebuild, reequip, and staff damaged school infrastructure and enhance the quality of education through curriculum improvements in formal and non-formal institutions, with a particular focus on social and emotional learning.
• In partnership with Creative Associates, the IRC intends to implement a twenty month project under the Education in Emergencies (EiE) component of DFID’s North-East Nigeria Transtion to Development Proramme (NENTAD) that aims to deliver an effective response to the basic needs of vulnerable people impacted by the crisis in northeast Nigeria.
• The EiE project will reach more than 100,000 children and adolescents in Borno and Yobe states with quality formal and non-formal education services, including literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional skills.
• The Senior Consortium Coordinator will be responsible for the overall coordination and management of the DFID EiE project as serve as the consortium focal point.
• The Coordinator will ensure quality program implementation, including providing strategic guidance to consortium staff and overseeing budget management, performance management, M&E, partnership management, and relationships with external actors including government authorities, humanitarian working groups, and project partners.
• S/he will be responsible for maintaining regular contact with all consortium partners and the donor.
• S/he will report to the Deputy Director of Programs and will receive technical guidance from an in-country Education Coordinator and the IRC’s Education Technical Unit.
• This position is contingent on funding.

Responsibilities
Program Management:

• Take the lead in project planning and coordination to ensure timely and quality implementation of all program activities
• Provide strategic guidance in unifying approaches between programs and consortium members in different geographical areas
• Organize periodic meetings in order to discuss program progress; record and follow up on the execution of agreed action points
• Provide technical and managerial direction and guidance in line with the program’s expected outcomes
• Develop key project planning deliverables using results based management approaches and tools
• Develop specific strategies for cross-cutting themes (capacity building, gender equality, environmental sustainability) for the program
• Maintain open and effective communication amongst the consortium and project team members
• Oversee day-to-day coordination and delivery of project activities in conjunction with staff and partners
• Ensure that program activities are conducted in a timely and professional manner in line with the program work-plan and in full coordination with national and local authorities as well as other partners.
• Coordinate with local authorities to facilitate the participation of local communities in the
• planning and implementation of activities and undertake periodic reviews of program activities to assess effectiveness, efficiency, achievement of results and compliance with procedures.
• Represent the consortium and the IRC to DFID and other external stakeholders, effectively communicating challenges, successes, and contextual changes throughout the course of the project.
• Draft portions of program monthly narrative and financial progress and interim & final reports in coordination with the grants unit to share with the donor.

Financial & Office Management:

• Establish and oversee a financial management system for the program
• In conjunction with the finance team, develop and monitor the project budget and ensure regular reporting to the donor

Human Resources Management:

• Manage the consortium team including a finance manager, M&E manager, partnerships manager, and program manager
• Supervise, guide and evaluate the work of program staff and consultants
• Oversee human resources management issues such as employment policies and practices, in line with local law

Other:

• Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.

Key Working Relationships

• Position Reports to: Deputy Director of Programs
• Position directly supervises: Finance Manager, M&E Manager, Partnerships Manager, Program Manager
• Other internal and/or external contacts: grants unit; finance, HR and supply chain departments; Education Coordinator

Professional Standards

• The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.
• In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Job Requirements

• University degree in Development Studies, Education, Sociology, or other related field
• At least 8 years of relevant professional humanitarian or development experience with an international organization, including extensive exposure to education programming
• At least 4 years of experience in a managerial position and demonstrated capacity in office management, including capacity building of staff
• Familiarity with DFID or other international donor guidelines strongly preferred
• Excellent budget planning and management skills, previous experience effectively managing multi-million dollar grants required
• Previous experience managing diverse teams to deliver results on short timelines, including the development of spending plans, procurement plans, and work plans
• Strong verbal communication skills and effective in representation and liaison with external actors
• Excellent spoken and technical writing ability in English, including report writing
• Promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle stress and pressure with professional grace
• Previous experience in an insecure or conflict-affected setting strongly preferred
• Experience with remote management preferred

Working Environment

• The position will be based in Maiduguri, Nigeria with frequent travel throughout Borno and Yobe states.
• The situation in northeast Nigeria continues to be volatile and the security phase is orange or red depending on location.
• This is a non-accompanied position.