Director, Education Science and Culture at Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Role Overview

• Under the direct supervision of the Commission in charge of Humanitarian & Social Affairs, the Director Education, Science and Culture organizes and provides his/her expertise in the areas of his/her skills and carries out any other task assigned to him/her by the higher authority, to design and implement technical projects/programs, in accordance with the objectives targeted by ECOWAS.
• He/She coordinates the management of the activities of his/her Directorate.

Role And Responsibilities

• Organize the Directorate
• Approve in the first instance the Programs and requests of the divisions.
• Supervise the effective implementation of the Programs.
• Control the presence or absence of agents under his authority.
• Assign tasks to staff based on opportunities.
• Present written and/or oral reports to the Commissioner on the status of program implementation and the life of the Directorate in general
• Establish a mechanism for working in synergy between the divisions but also between the Directorate and the other management entities of the Commission.
• Plan the budget and program implementation plan.
• Anticipate any action that could promote better implementation of programs and assigned tasks.
• Manage the department’s budget based on reality and availability of funds.
• Check the availability of funds before any expenditure.
• Allocate to each division a budget threshold likely to enable the effective implementation of programs.
• Analyse each program for decision purposes.
• Prioritize budget allocations based on the relevance and importance of the program.
• Establish a mechanism for monitoring the activities of the Directorate.
• Lead management meetings.
• Supervise the daily management of the Directorate.
• Motivate staff to work in Synergy and harmony.
• Revise working documents and/or Staff Memos
• Submit detailed reports to the Commissioner.
• Advise the Commissioner on the quality of Consultants, Resource Persons, and the advisability or otherwise of recruiting them.
• Consider the needs of consultants and others of the divisions.
• Explain by administrative note for the need to understand Top Management, the reasons, or the necessity of this type of temporary recruitment.
• Advise staff on their sovereign role and/or responsibilities as a civil servant and/or agent in the Department.
• Communicate regularly with staff on the need to work as a team and in synergy.
• Inform staff whenever necessary about respecting working hours and places.
• Encourage staff to put more effort into their work.
• Diagnose real staff weaknesses if necessary.
• Evaluate the real skills of the staff in the event of failure.
• Intensify refresher training if necessary.
• Raising awareness to create a decent working climate and environment within the department.
• Modernize the staff working environment.

Academic Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s Degree (or equivalent) in Education, Primary Education, Social Sciences, or in a similar field from a recognized University.
• 12 years of professional experience, including 6 years of relevant international work and 5 years at a supervisory level.
• Advanced technical knowledge of theories, principles, and methods in areas of education, primary education, scientific innovation, social sciences, and knowledge of global initiatives e.g. EFA, NEPAD, and their effective application in development programs and policies.
• Knowledge of theories and practices in programme/project management in education, monitoring and evaluation, training and capacity development in education, alternative basic education, curriculum development and in promoting of science.
• Knowledge of West-African education issues, relating to culture, children and women and technical competence in policy analysis and development, strategic planning, program planning, development, and management.

Age Limit

• Be below 50 years old. This provision does not apply to internal candidates.

Ecowas Key Competencies

• Senior leadership experience in establishing strategic partnerships, working collaboratively, and building consensus with multiple internal and/or external stakeholders on complex issues in a multi-disciplinary governmental or international organization.
• Knowledge of the ECOWAS mandate, strategic plan/priorities as well as the economic, political, and social state/trends of Member States, as pertains to own scope of work.
• Consistency in actions, values, methods, confidentiality, ethics, measures, principles, expectations, and outcomes which connote a deep commitment to do the right thing for the right reason, regardless of the circumstances.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Heads of Institutions, elected officials, and statutory employees to facilitate compliance, build engagement, resolve conflicts, and obtain support for change.
• Ability to respect chain of command in an appropriate manner.
• Ability to promote a culture where people hold themselves personally accountable for results.
• Ability to provide leadership, management, and technical oversight for all project activities and program deliverables in accordance with ECOWAS legal and administrative practices and standards.
• Ability to conduct periodic reviews of staff performance in keeping with the ECOWAS performance management system and to mentor staff to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity, and teamwork.
• Ability to oversee project management, internal controls, and stewardship of financial resources and to address issues in a confident and capable manner whilst making decisions that exemplify impartial and non-partisan decision-making.
• Ability to exercise the initiative and resourcefulness necessary for simultaneously addressing a variety of stakeholder needs, pursuing multiple tasks, and achieving positive outcomes.
• Ability to create synergies with client groups and others to achieve objectives in setting and monitoring service standards and indicators.
• Ability to motivate and engage others in promoting or adopting best practices in client services.
• Ability to identify and improve services and client interactions through appropriate networks and to create innovative ways of addressing these in an accountable and transparent manner.
• Knowledge of anti-discriminatory/human rights regulatory environment and ability to advance strategies to foster an inclusive working environment and healthy organization respectful of cultural diversity and gender equality and free from harassment and discrimination.
• Understanding of diverse cultural views especially within West Africa, being sensitive to group differences, gender issues and ability to contribute to, advocate for, and/or develop policies which are gender sensitive and responsive to various cultures.
• Ability to foster a diverse and inclusive interactive work environment that can effectively bring together a wide spectrum of ideas and experiences to solve problems, develop projects/programs and improve results.
• Ability and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Ability to remain objective in managing conflict regardless of cultural differences /positions, gender differences, and encourage other staff to overcome cultural and gender bias and differences.
• Understanding of the ECOWAS organizational structure, workplace culture and dynamics.
• Ability to apply knowledge of ECOWAS legal framework, strategic priorities, and operational standards to develop/modernize policies and programs and/or to implement policies and programs in a sustainable and effective manner.
• Well-developed business, social and political acumen, demonstrating a strong commitment to the vision and mandate of ECOWAS coupled with a broad knowledge of the economic, political, and social situations and trends in Member States.
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills on matters relating to policy and strategy development important to the realization of the ECOWAS mandate and the improvement of outcomes for Member States.
• Ability to analyze reports as well as socio-economic and institutional dynamics and recognize areas of potential obstacles or challenges and develop innovative solutions or alternatives to address barriers and achieve strategic/operational priorities.
• Ability to anticipate and interpret the effects of environmental changes (social, economic, and political), and its impact and make recommendations.
• Ability to identify/address strengths and weaknesses, stimulate creativity, reduce resistance to change and improve the achievement of strategic objectives.
• Ability to make prudent decisions relating to the management of human, financial and material resources.
• Ability to actively listen and understand perspectives of others to make informed assertions, decisions, or recommendations.
• Ability to build multiple external collaborative relationships to support strategic and operational objectives; identify the key issues and accommodate the key players with well thought out communication and stakeholder management plans.
• Ability to communicate with clarity and conviction, make compelling presentations which promotes new insights, ideas and perspectives and a better understanding of issues and challenges.
• Exhibit active listening skills to encourage stronger communication amongst team members, to show care and make them feel valued and to drive employee engagement in all institutions and agencies.
• Excellent negotiation and conflict management skills focusing on building and nurturing effective and collaborative relationships.
• Proficiency in information communication technologies (ICT).
• Fluency in oral and written expressions in one of the ECOWAS official languages of the Community (English, French & Portuguese). Knowledge of an additional one will be an added advantage.
• Ability to prepare plans, set clear objectives in a consistent manner and have effective oversight of performance management practices to ensure that goals and standards are met.
• Ability to set effective goals/results and manage change in a manner that demonstrates resilience, composure, and a positive outlook in an environment of uncertainty and ambiguity.
• Ability to enable the development of organizational and individual talent throughout the implementation of strategic, operational, programme, project, and individual plans.
• Ability to implement plans, mobilize/engage people, identify critical success factors, mitigate risks, monitor indicators and feedback, initiate corrective measure, and build capacities for sustainability.
• Ability to institute rigorous monitoring, and evaluation practices and to learn from setbacks and mistakes to ensure continuous improvement.

Assessment method: Assessment of qualified candidates may include a written exercise and a competency-based interview.