Education Officer at Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)

Job Summary

Under the supervision of the Education Supervisor, the Education Officer is responsible for the day-to-day field supervision and quality assurance of JRS' Education in Emergencies (EiE) activities across learning facilities in the project location. Based full-time in Sokoto, S/He provides on-site pedagogical support and coaching to teachers and learning facilitators, monitors enrolment, attendance, retention and learning outcomes, and ensures that learning environments remain safe, inclusive and protective. The Education Officer works closely with head teachers, School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) and community structures to promote enrollment and ensures effective integration of WASH-in-schools and protection/MHPSS referral practices in line with INEE Minimum Standards and JRS programming approaches.

Key Responsibilities of the position

• Provide regular on-site supervision, mentoring and pedagogical support to teachers and learning facilitators in temporary learning spaces and supported schools.
• Conduct frequent monitoring visits to learning facilities and track enrolment, attendance, retention, completion and learning outcomes, disaggregated by sex, age and disability.
• Support the planning and delivery of teacher training and continuous professional development, including coaching on learner-centred, psychosocial-sensitive and inclusive teaching methods.
• Coordinate the timely distribution and proper use of teaching and learning materials, recreational kits and other education inputs at field level.
• Support the identification and enrolment of out-of-school children, with particular attention to girls, children with disabilities and the most vulnerable, including into catch-up and accelerated learning programmes.
• Strengthen the functionality of School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) and Parent-Teacher Associations, and support community mobilization and sensitization for education.
• Promote safe, inclusive and protective learning environments and ensure the integration of WASH-in-schools practices in supported facilities.
• Identify protection and psychosocial concerns among learners and refer cases to the Protection/MHPSS Officer through the established referral pathways.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date education records and submit timely, quality field reports and data to the Education Officer.
• Support the verification and payment of facilitator incentives in line with JRS and donor procedures.
• Liaise with Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs), head teachers and community leaders at field level, in coordination with the Education Officer.
• Ensure compliance with the Internal Rules and Procedures of JRS in all education activities.
• The tasks and responsibilities defined in this job description are non-exhaustive and can evolve depending on the needs of the project.
• Promote PSEA and safeguarding standards within JRS and amongst the beneficiaries it serves.

Required Profile

Qualifications

• Minimum of an NCE, Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Education, Educational Administration or any related field. 
• Professional / Work Experience: Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in Education programming, with previous experience in Education in Emergencies (EiE) or working with IDPs, refugees and host communities considered a strong advantage.

Experience and Skills

• Good knowledge of pedagogy, teacher support and classroom management.
• Familiarity with Education in Emergencies, INEE Minimum Standards and inclusive education principles.
• Strong skills in coaching, mentoring and supervising teachers and facilitators.
• Good data collection, record-keeping and reporting skills.
• Working knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and mobile data collection tools is an advantage.
• Ability to work in hard-to-reach and stressful locations.
• Good interpersonal, listening and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while taking initiative and showing a sense of responsibility.
• Well organized, thorough and able to meet deadlines.
• Strong commitment to child safeguarding and protection-sensitive programming.
• Ability to integrate the local environment into operations, in its social, cultural and historical dimensions.

Qualities

• Adhere to JRS values and abide by the code of conduct and other policies.
• Proficient command of the English language (written and oral).
• Good command of Hausa Language is required.
• Proven work experience in multicultural and stressful environments.
• Ability to adapt to working conditions and tasks that may change with the reality of the field.

Preference will be given to qualified indigenes of Sokoto State.

Applicant are advised that JRS does not require any payment during the recruitment process. Any request in this direction should be reported immediately as it is contrary to our values and practices.