Senior Education Officer-OTL at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Role Purpose

The purpose of this role is to support the daily implementation of the USAID OTL-funded education project.

Dimensions of the Role

• The post holder will directly implement the project and also document lessons learned, support assessments, and monitoring and evaluation of the Education in Emergencies components of the IRC.
• He/she is responsible for assessment, response analysis, design, and capacity building of the education officers.

Major Responsibilities.

• Responsible for overseeing the team of Education Officers’ day-to-day implementation of the OTL activities.
• Works with state-based program officers on TPD, safety, youth, and inclusion to ensure harmonized implementation approaches.
• Enhances coordination, documentation, and reporting across the state’s LGEAs to support information management.
• Ensures Education Officers have needed training and resources to support clients in given LGEAs.

Accountabilities

In collaboration with the Project Manager:

• Support in documenting lessons learned and best practices of the pilot project.
• Support the Project Manager, Institutional Capacity Strengthening Manager, and Access to Education Lead in designing the Project Implementation Plans.
• Ensure the execution of the Project Implementation Plan and work closely with the National implementing partners on the project.
• Will work closely with the National partners in the execution of the Formal, and non-formal (ABEP) education components of the project.
• With support from the M&E team design a Monitoring plan and simple data collection tools to ensure monitoring and data collection of key project indicators.
• Will be responsible for the formation, strengthening, and training of the Community structures (SBMCs, PMCs, CBCPCs), etc.
• Will play a key role in the mobilization and engagement of the community and stakeholders in the implementation and monitoring of the project.
• Will be responsible for school supervision, and data collection.
• Will support in organizing and facilitating teacher training and assessments.
• Support assessment of the Education sector in the state of implementation
• Review, assess, and update the education situation in areas affected by an emergency.
• Highlight education issues requiring a response – both immediate (less than 2 months) and medium term and make recommendations on specific PLAN actions required. Ensure core commitments to children are taken into consideration.
• Ensure key data from assessments can be used as a baseline for program evaluation.  If additional baseline data is required to evaluate children’s learning outcomes, then work with appropriate colleagues to collect this additional information.
• In collaboration with national and international Education actors, map current institutional response capacities – including conducting an education-specific 5Ws.
• Support in designing appropriate education interventions based on the outcomes of assessments and the context.  The inclusion of quality issues in education and learning outcomes is really important.
• Ensure that issues of early gender, protection, DRR, and conflict sensitivity are factored into the program design.
• Ensure the IRC guidelines, Education cluster standards, and INEE Minimum Standards, are considered in implementation and documented.
• Provide regular updates to the Education program manager, on progress, priorities, and constraints – verbally and in writing on an agreed frequency. 
• Support the implementation of and represent The IRC in emergency education coordination mechanisms including any relevant cluster.

Qualifications

• University Degree or equivalent in Education, Social Science, Social Work, Psychology, or related fields
• Minimum of 4 years relevant working experience in Education in Emergencies
• Experience working in emergency settings.
• Good knowledge and understanding of DO NO HARM principles and established international child protection standards.
• Experience with participatory approaches to education, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, or other related areas.
• Experience working with IDPs, refugees, and other vulnerable populations (ideal)
• Previous experience directly providing services to children at risk and victims of abuse, exploitation, and violence.

Desirable:

• Strong ability to work independently, organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills, creativity, and flexibility
• Works well in and promotes teamwork, is comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible, and able to handle pressure well.
• Ability to read and write in both English and other languages appropriately in Northeast Nigeria.

Behaviors:

• Creates a strong sense of purpose and commitment within own part of operations and with stakeholders.
• Holds self and others to account to deliver agreed goals and standards of behavior.
• Demonstrates a high degree of professionalism/integrity.
• Provide good and adequate administrative and logistical support to enable programs to meet their agreed financial and program outcomes.
• Actively seeks support in addressing difficulties in the execution of duties.
• Strategic thinking and effective contribution to own work and Organizational development.
• Sound judgment and decision-making in complex situations.
• Strong emotional intelligence including self-awareness.
• Leads by example to motivate the high performance of others.
• Very strong commitment to continuous learning.