Education Project Manager-ECDE at Save The Children

The “Provide Support for Save the Children’s Early Childhood Education in Nigeria” project, also known as the NGA Whitehurst Education Project, is designed to build a robust evidence base demonstrating the impact and value of supporting the developmental needs of children aged 3–5 across all vulnerable groups, races, ethnicities, and cultures. The aim is to enhance their learning, development, and resilience.
The project will engage children, caregivers, teachers, communities, and key stakeholders to advocate for and co-develop an Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) model that can serve as a catalyst for increased investment from the Nigerian government and donors. All project approaches, strategies, and interventions are gender-sensitive and uphold the highest standards of child safeguarding.
With technical support from head of education and the head of program implementation the Education Project Manager will provide technical and operational support to the project team to implement all Education activities for the project. The job holder will also be working closely with stakeholders at the community, LGA and State level.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

Project Management and Coordination:

• Oversees the coordination and implementation of the Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) project across the BAY States, Nigeria in line with the design of the project, SC Standards, and donor requirements.
• Establish, maintain, and strengthen linkages in the design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, reporting of Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) project and contribute to assessments (baseline, end line assessment).
• Ensure accurate project documentation, including collection of monitoring data and tracking of progress on output indicators; utilize data to contribute to reports as required.
• Develop and maintain relationships with schools, communities, community leaders and parents/caregivers to ensure buy-in, sustainability and Do No Harm to the children at home and community. 
• Create and sustain positive working relationships with the partners, government officials and other key stakeholders in collaboration with Advocacy Team of SCI to work with relevant education authorities to support the review of the national policy on ECDE.
• Oversees the planning, coordination, and implementation of the project activities at the States, LGAs and schools/community level and share lessons learnt, case studies and human-interest stories within SCI and externally to the partners and donors. 
• Monitor and ensure timely and quality reports are submitted as per the reporting requirements to the Education Sector Lead, Awards Focal Point and Operations Team.
• Working closely with Education Sector Lead to ensure quality program design, delivery, documentation and reporting of education activities in the respective States.
• Operational Planning and implementation
• Overseeing the implementation and budget performance in line with the approved project plans and budgets.
• In close coordination with the Education Sector Lead, provide support in developing, planning, and monitoring project detail implementation plan, procurement plan, phased budget, MEAL Plan with documentation and reporting for all Education interventions in the State.
• Ensure the project is implemented on time and within approved budget (fund summary).
• Work closely with the head of program implementation and the finance focal person to review monthly transaction list in preparation for monthly BVA and APRM meetings. 
• Recommend technical solutions to speed up the implementation and budget performance in line with the project plan and budget.
• Effectively support the projects staff in developing annual plans, in line with best practices for education project design and Save the Children International planning guidelines and ensure compliance with the agreed work plans and that program objectives and targets are being achieved in line with the funding proposal.
• Maintain high standard of safeguarding, transparency and accountability during program design and support in expediting implementation while ensuring integrity and timeliness of project duration and meeting program objectives, compliance with donors & Save the Children policies.
• Provision of regular operations and implementation updates to the Project and State Team Leads on project progress and challenges to allow for timely interventions and corrective actions by the management.
• Ensure the timely reviews and adjustments for the project operational and implementation plan and budget as may be required from time to time. 
• Finance and Narrative Reporting and Budget Management
• Work in close collaboration with the Head of Programme Implementation and support from Head of Education to prepare and review timely and high-quality progress and end of project narrative and financial reports which are in accordance with the donor reporting schedule and formats.
• Review all program financial and narrative reports ensuring that donor guidelines have been followed and high standard met. The project deadlines meet in reporting and keep a track record of reporting (Narrative and Financial).
• Organize, facilitate quarterly follow-ups, and progress review meetings to address key performance issues from the reports.
• Overseeing the budget performance to ensure that project implementation is on course as per the detailed implementation plan, procurement plan and phased budget. 
• Conduct project monitoring, suggest necessary revisions and prepare draft reports for corrective actions. 
• Ensure that the budget variance analysis (BVA) is monitored and reported as per in time and with accurate information.

Safeguarding

• Ensure safe programming in the planning, implementation, monitoring, training of teachers and construction/rehabilitation of classroom environment across the ECDE project period.
• Adhere to the Do no Harm principles across the entire steps within the Program Management Cycle

QUALIFICATIONS  

• Degree in Education or other related fields (master’s degree in early childhood development and education is an advantage). Experience in managing integrated programs across different thematic areas such as Education, teacher education, Early Childhood Development and Education, Teacher Professional Development (TPD), Child protection, child rights or governance is a must.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• At least 5 years of accrued working experience in program implementation with an International NGO and those applying partnership approaches is desirable. 
• Experience in strategic thinking and planning skills, being able to set priorities, prepare manageable plans and to evaluate progress.
• Experience of working on and supporting the implementation of ECDE interventions in humanitarian or development setting is an added advantage.
• Ability to coach, mentor and build the capacity of ECDE teachers in a humanitarian or development setting will be an added advantage.
• Experience of working with diverse group of stakeholders at the community, LG, State and National levels.
• Strong analytical skills and strategic planning abilities.
• Ability to establish and maintain cordial relations and perform effectively as a member of a team.
• Willingness to travel and work in hard-to-reach areas, occasionally under strenuous conditions.
• Computer literacy and excellent documentation skills are a must.
• Availability and willingness to work extra hours during times of humanitarian responses.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Ability to intervene with crisis management or troubleshooting as necessary. 
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching.
• Excellent time management and planning capacity.
• Fluent English language skills (written and verbal) and Local language skills (Hausa, etc.).