Education Advisor at Mercy Corps

Reference No: ABV/DEVPRGGM/2018/00003
Duration: 2 Years

Program / Department Summary

• The Educating Nigerian Girls in New Enterprises (ENGINE) II Programme is funded through the Girls’ Education Challenge (GEC) of the Department for International Development (DFID) and is implemented across the four Nigerian states of Kano, Kaduna, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Lagos. Mercy Corps leads the implementation of the programme.
• ENGINE II (April 2017-March 2020) is a sequel to ENGINE I (October 2013 to March 2017); in its first phase, the programme was successful in reaching out to over 24,000 marginalised girls out of which, 21,162 girls were retained from the above mentioned four programme implementing states.
• The primary objective of ENGINE II is to increase the learning outcomes (literacy and numeracy) of the total 21,162 retained girls, who are now aged between 17 to 23 years old. Alongside, it also aims at facilitating/supporting girls into transition to higher grades and/or economic opportunities.
• It also works toward ensuring sustainability of the programme activities through ownership by the government, school stakeholders and community members after the programme lifetime.

General Position Summary

• The Education Advisor will be responsible for leading the education component of the project.
• S/He will be responsible for developing the teaching learning approach for ENGINE II by working in close collaboration with the government agencies such as, Ministry of Education, Education Resource Centre, SUBEB (State Universal Basic Education Board), NERDC (Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council), Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Development and the programme team across the four Nigerian states of Kano, Kaduna, Lagos and Federal Capital Territory.
• This position will ensure ENGINE II implementation is responsive to improving the learning outcomes of the marginalised in-school and out-of-school Nigerian girls.
• S/He will report to the Deputy Programme Manager of ENGINE II with dotted reporting line to the Policy and Governance Manager.

Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision:

• Support the development of the overall vision and strategic plan for the teaching learning/education approach for the programme.

Programme Management:

• Provide technical leadership for the design, formalisation, and management of ENGINE II’ teaching learning/education intervention for both in-school and out-of-school girls.
• Lead the teachers’ professional development interventions for ENGINE II.
• Develop monitoring tools for the education approach by working in close collaboration with the programme Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team.
• Review the findings from the MEL team and provide appropriate strategies to the programme management team.
• Lead and develop adaptation of the ENGINE II education approach for Lagos, Kano, Kaduna and FCT.
• Review and develop the teaching learning manual for ENGINE II, with focus on literacy and numeracy.
• Develop instructional materials to improve the learning outcomes.
• Conduct frequent field visits to the programme implementing sites to monitor the activities.
• Integrate gender, Do No Harm and Child Protection as a cross cutting themes across all proposed education interventions.

Team Management:

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Supervise, support hire and orientation of new team members as necessary.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Implement performance planning and management systems, establish performance expectations with team members, and regularly provide constructive feedback on team members’ performance.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Finance & Compliance Management:

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations related to emergency programming.
• Draft and /or review scope of work to hire and manage any technical consultants, including review for technical efficacy and contract budget.

Influence & Representation:

• Identify, build and manage collaborative partnerships with governments and other stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.
• Proactively form relationships community members to complement DfID funding.
• Represent ENGINE II on different forums on education issues at technical and strategic planning.

Security:

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies
• Work closely with Mercy Corps Nigeria country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of the team in all aspects of its implementation process.

Organizational Learning:

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum NCE (National Certificate of Education) and/or Bachelor's in Education, Masters' Degree preferred.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressive work experience in the education sector, including experience working in the development sector in implementing education programme.
• Proven experience in developing teaching learning materials.
• Proven experience in coordinating teachers’ professional development programme.
• Proven experience in developing, reviewing and drafting training materials.
• Strong understanding of Nigerian education policies and formal and non-formal education systems.
• Demonstrate strong understanding on Do No Harm, Child Protection and Gender principles.
• Should be able to develop M&E tools such as, teachers’ needs assessment, student learning assessment and pre-and post- tests.
• Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues in high security environment. Experience managing a multi-organizational team (international and national partners) is a plus.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English required, including report development, writing and editing.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Demonstrated experience working with country-level ministries and government officials, Ministry of Education experience preferred.

Success Factors

• The successful candidate will combine exceptional leadership, management and technical skills with a focus on innovative interventions to engage adolescent girls in improving their learning outcomes. S/he will have an outstanding ability to develop, implement and manage innovative and complex programs within the current and future program structure of Mercy Corps in the region. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential.
• The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
• Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.