Requisition ID: req50991

Job Title: ECD Technical Manager

Sector: Education

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Amman, Jordan

Work Arrangement:

Job Description

BACKGROUND:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity, and hope to millions uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

In 2007, the IRC began providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable and crisis-affected people in Jordan in response to an influx of Iraqi refugees and the strain on host communities. Following the eruption of the Syrian war in 2011, hundreds of thousands of refugees crossed into Jordan. The ongoing insecurity in Syria and the growing needs of refugees have strained Jordan’s resources and infrastructure and exacerbated pre-existing issues like water scarcity and high unemployment.

As resources become more limited, refugees and host communities have fewer economic opportunities and become more vulnerable. The IRC’s new strategy for Jordan shows our commitment to improving the safety, health, education, and economic well-being of people affected by conflict, in camp-based (Za’atari, and Azraq camps) refugees and urban-based refugees, and in coordination with the humanitarian community and the Government of Jordan.

JOB OVERVIEW

The ECD program manager will direct and coordinate all aspects of IRC’s ECD program, which includes ECD interventions in response to the Syrian crisis. With direct management support from the ECD Coordinator, the ECD program manager will ensure that the goals and objectives of the projects are met in a timely and effective manner according to the Theory of Change (ToC). The ECD manager will work closely with other sectors to effectively harmonize and integrate the ECD program across the different sub-sectors of IRC, bringing them in line to have integrated and high-quality services to clients. The ECD manager will manage other specific duties & responsibilities including Business Development & Context Analysis/Research, Staff/Talent Management & Performance, Partnerships & Coordination. The ECD manager will report to the ECD Coordinator.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Content Development and Technical Quality

·       Lead content development, adaptation, and review initiatives for Jordan country program.

·       Oversee the quality of the work and deliverables of content development of consultants.

·       Contribute to regional content development and adaptation initiatives.

·       Work collaboratively to integrate the ECD program with other program sectors where appropriate, particularly with ECD and ECD programming.

·       Compile and prepare quality monthly and periodic project progress reports, as well as final reports, and feed in other information as required by donors, the Regional Office, and the Technical Unit.

·       Develops the ECD curriculum activities to enrich the curriculum of IRC partners in close collaboration with ECD Partnership Manager.

·       Provide technical support and quality oversight on activities implemented by IRC and collaboration partners.

·       Based on observations, provide recommendations on how to improve programmatic quality

·       Develop and share resources and tools for quality improvement.

Business Development & Context Analysis

·       Ensure implementation of developed plans for program evolution in collaboration with the ECD Coordinator with existing donors and new donors.

·       Follow up and ensure availability of resources for conducting impact evaluations or studies on best practices for program modality evolution in coordination with the ECD Coordinator.

·       Manage the technical development of new proposals and initiatives for IRC Jordan in line with the Strategic Action Plan (SAP) and in coordination with ECD Coordinator. 

Capacity building

·       Develop a capacity building plan for ECD staff.

·       Lead on planning and execution of training and workshops for IRC ECD staff and partners.

·       Support development of program learnings .

Coordination and representation

·       Coordination and liaison w/ RTT and other ECD technical staff.

·       Represent the program in technical committees.

·       Represent the program in conferences, workshops, etc.

Staff/Talent Management & Performance

·       Provide ongoing mentorship and guidance to direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, and providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback.

·       As required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these by the National Staff Employment Policies.

·       Approve and manage attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.

·       Adhere to and act by the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Position Reports to ECD Coordinator

Position directly supervises: ECD Officer

Key Internal Contacts:other IRC Jordan Programs such as Communication, MEAL, Partnerships, Grants, Supply Chain, and Finance departments.

Areas of focus:

·       Technical quality, content development and capacity building.

·       Technical contribution to scaling pathways.

·       Technical support to partners.

·       Development of tools and learnings

Skills

JOB REQUIREMENTS

·       Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, education management, or a related field.

·       Minimum of 5 years of professional experience managing (designing and implementing) ECD  programs in both humanitarian and development contexts.

·       Strong organizational, interpersonal, and team-building skills.

·       Strong writing and analytical skills, including MEAL and assessment data framework for use in program decision-making and humanitarian advocacy.

·       Experience working with and coordinating with local authorities, donors, UN bodies, NGOs, INGOs, and other stakeholders including grass-root organizations.

·       Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

·       Competent in Windows, MS office programs, emails, and relevant ECD databases.

Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies:

·       Promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible, and able to handle pressure with professional grace

·       Ability to plan, prioritize, coordinate, and manage human resources.

·       Demonstrated strong interpersonal and intercultural communication with success working both within a team and independently.

·       Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances.